Christ is King
Christ is King
The apostle Paul wrote to a young gospel preacher, urging him,
"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable,
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times
he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of
kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in
the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen,
nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (I
Timothy 6:14-16). There is never a time for any Christian to
ignore the commands of Christ, our one King of all kings. There
is no way to keep His commands other than spotless and
unrebukable. In the time we have together today we will look at
Christ, our Lord and King. Please stay tuned.
The West End church of Christ presents this program each week at
this time. Our purpose is to help you have a better
understanding of the Bible. We also hope you will come to
understand and know us. We offer nothing other than that which
we find in your Bible. At any time, should you hear anything
from us that you do not believe is biblical, please call that to
our attention. We will not deliberately be wrong about anything.
We invite you to meet with us today. At 9 this morning we have
Bible classes for all ages, followed at 10 for worship. We meet
to worship again this evening at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 7 p.m. we
have more Bible classes for all ages. Our meeting house is
located at the corner of Parkside Drive and Old Morgantown Road,
just across from Lampkin Park. Please come visit and see what
the church of Christ is like.
We publish a small paper twice a month. It is a teaching medium
only. It is free. There is no subscription price. There is no
obligation. In it you will find a number of biblical themes
discussed in short lessons. If you want this paper, write a note
or card to West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive,
Bowling Green, Kentucky. You also may call 842-7880 and we will
put you on the mailing list. We do not ask for nor do we accept
contributions, donations, or gifts for this paper.
The passage cited at the outset of our study is a beautiful
tribute and eulogy to Christ. Paul writes to exalt Christ as the
all powerful Lord and King He is. The powers of mankind, when
all combined, can not touch the hem of His garment. He is
superior to all power, all of man's accomplishments, and rules by
accepting the voluntary obedience of His subjects. No human
government can long endure where Christ does not rule and reign
in the hearts of men and women. No earthly power can overthrow
His rule. Decadent Rome under the most ruthless Caesars could
not remove the loyalty and allegiance Christians showed to Jesus
as their true king.
Pilate asked the Savior, "Art thou king of the Jews?" He knew
Jesus was not a political king over some world empire. He also
knew that this Gallilean prisoner posed no political threat at
all to the Roman rulers. There was something Pilate did not
know. He did not know the universal structure and spiritual
nature of Christ's kingdom. He had no idea that the kingship of
Christ extended far beyond one province, nation, and race of
people. Pilate never came to know that Jesus is the one and only
true king over the lives of all who submit by faith to His rule
of love.
Jesus answered Pilate. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my
kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I
should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not
from hence" (John 18:36). Since Jesus was not restricted in His
rule to one nation or race of people He announced that the
kingdom over which He rules is spiritual -- from above and not of
the order of governments men establish. He said of His kingdom,
"The kingdom of God comes not with observation, neither shall
they say, Lo here! or lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is
within you" (Luke 17:20-21).
Apparently Pilate was puzzled over the Master's response because
he asked Jesus, "Are you a king then?" Pilate was smart enough
to see that Jesus was no ordinary king. The fact of the nature
of the Lord's kingdom had not penetrated his mind as yet, but
this time he does not ask, "Are you king of the Jews," he wonders
if the man is a king in any respect.
Jesus then replied, "You say that I am a king. To this end I was
born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should
bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears
my voice: (Verse 37). The nature of the kingdom is spiritual.
It pertains to the spiritual needs of mankind. It was never
designed to meet all social or physical needs of mankind. It is
so closely connected with saving man spiritually that truth is
its essential ingredient. Thus, Jesus came into the world was
born to bear witness of the truth. In His life He personified
truth. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man
comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). Jesus is not one
aspect of truth, nor is he merely a truthful man -- He is truth
itself. Truth concerning man's spiritual need is singular --
encompassed in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of Almighty
God.
Since the kingship of Christ and truth are inseparable, let us
look at truth in relation to the kingdom of Christ. We do this
by first identifying truth. What is truth? Pilate apparently
asked this very question out of despair, sarcasm, or plain
disgust. Hardly could this profligate provincial ruler
understand the absolute quality of truth. Pilate was a pagan and
the pagan world could admit there is one final and perfect truth.
He was little different than most people in our generation.
There are many today from all over the world who are skeptical
about truth. Because they are so full of theology, philosophy
and human wisdom, it is too difficult for them to admit to such
narrow thinking. They cannot believe there is only one source of
divine truth. By our vanity and learning we have conditioned
ourselves to be broad-minded and liberal in our ideas. So many
have rejected the Christ of the Bible, because one cannot accept
Jesus Christ and not accept His truth. He is truth.
Truth is always absolute and consistent with itself. If it is
not absolute -- how can it be said to be truth at all? Jesus
gave only one source of absolute truth in His word, the New
Testament. Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your
truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
Rejection of the one truth is tantamount to self-condemnation.
Listen: "He that rejects me and receives not my word, has one
that judges him, the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). Beware friend. You may
be broad minded and liberal now, but the day is coming that when
you will stand before Christ in judgment. You must give Him
your answers. The word He has revealed in the Bible will judge
you.
There are four essentials for a ruling king. There must be the
(1) office of king, (2) a territorial domain, (3) subjects to
govern, and (4) a law.
Christ is our king right now. The wise men came to Herod at the
time of Christ's birth with a question. They asked Herod, "Where
is He that is born king of the Jews? We have seen His star in
the East, and are come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:2). Herod was
greatly disturbed when he heard them mention a king of the Jews.
Ancient kings were always on guard against insurrection and
rebellion. They were suspicious of anyone who might seek to
usurp their rule. Kings of all ages become jealous over their
dynasties. Herod was no exception.
The unsettled king asked these wise men where Christ was to be
born. Now listen to the answer and know that Jesus Christ is the
true king. "And they said to him, in Bethlehem of Judea, for
thus it is written by the prophet, 'And thou Bethlehem, in the
land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for
out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people
Israel" (Matthew 2:5-6) This was a direct quotation from Micah
5:2. So, prophecy affirms His kingship.
The greatest tragedy ever enacted by men was the brutal slaying
of Jesus on the cross. Even in such a horrible tragedy a triumph
comes. He is affirmed to be king even at the cross. An
inscription was written and placed on the cross under the orders
of Pilate. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews"
(Matthew 27:37). Pilate publicly stated, "I find no fault in
Him." He knew His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. He knew
what many dispensationalists and millennialists need to learn.
Pilate knew that Jesus posed no threat at all to any earthly
ruler. This destroys the very heart and core of the
premillennial doctrine that Christ intended to set up an earthly
kingdom. Jesus denied it; Pilate knew it and admitted it.
The territory of His Kingdom is the world He sent the apostles
out into the entire world with the message of His salvation.
Matthew 28:18-20 tells us that after He was raised from the dead
and before He ascended He said, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world. Amen." These men were so committed to Christ
as king that nothing stood in their way to block their compliance
with His order. By the time the letter to Colossae was written
the disciples had carried out the Great Commission. Paul wrote;
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not
moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;
whereof I Paul am made a minister" (Colossians 1:23). Paul, at
the time he wrote the Ephesian church, recognized that Jesus, was
far above "all principalities, and powers, and might and dominion
and every name that is named and all things are under His feet"
(Ephesians 1:20-22).
The subjects of His kingdom are those who submit to Him by faith
and obedience. The initial royal command by which one enters His
kingdom is recorded in John 3:5. It is the first act of
obedience by faith. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except a man is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God." People must be born again to enter that kingdom. Just how
are they born again? They are reborn spiritually. Jesus said,
"Not everyone that says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is
in Heaven" (Matthew 7:21). The process of rebirth means that a
sinner turns to God by doing His will. This starts with faith,
produced by divine revelation. "So then faith comes by hearing
and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Faith thus
established proceeds to obedience from the heart. "God be
thanked that whereas you were servants of sin, you have obeyed
from the heart that form of teaching, being then made free from
sin you became servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18).
The water of John 3:5 is water baptism. Paul said that he and
all in the church at Colosee were "buried with Him in baptism,
wherein also they were risen with Him through faith in the
operation of God" (Colossians 2:12). These people had been
translated out of the power of darkness and had been translated
into the kingdom of God's beloved son (Colossians 1:13). It is
clear they were born again by water and spirit, translated into
the kingdom. This happened when they were buried with Christ in
baptism and raised into a new life (Romans 6:3-4). The question
that should deeply concern each of us is whether we really
believe Jesus is king in our lives or not. Faith in Christ leads
one to repent of past sins, and be baptized in water for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38). This delivers that individual
from the power of darkness and translates him into the kingdom of
life, light, and love.
The law of the kingdom of Christ is His own word. Jesus said,
"Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John
8:32). It is by our obedience to truth, through the spirit that
we may have a purified soul (I Peter 1:22). Truth is the word of
God (John 17:17). I urge you to enter His kingdom right now by
submitting to His kingly rule. Do it today by being born again
of water and the spirit. If we can assist you, please let us
know.
If you have a question about this study today, please let us hear
from you. Remember, we offer a free paper to those who ask for
it. To get it write West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside
Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101 or call 842-7880. Thank you very
much for being with us this Sunday -- hope to have you in the
same radio audience next week. Till then, good bye and God bless
you.
Radio Sermon No 109 Page 1
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Children's NT Studies
