"THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM"
The Righteousness Of The Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
- To enter the kingdom of God one must be born again...
- Involving faith, repentance and immersion in water on man's part
- Jn 3:3-7; Mk 16:16
- Involving grace, mercy, and the renewal by the Spirit on God's
part - Tit 3:5-7
-- Such are conveyed into the present kingdom of God's dear Son - cf.
Col 1:12-14
- To enter the kingdom of God one must make their calling and election
sure...
- With a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and
Pharisees - Mt 5:20
- With diligence in growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ - 2Pe 1:5-9
-- Such will receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting
kingdom of Jesus Christ - cf. 2Pe 1:10-11
- In this lesson, we focus our attention on the righteousness of the
kingdom...
- That surpasses the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees - Mt
5:20
- That produces holiness without which no one will see the Lord - He
12:14
-- Though required, still makes us dependent upon God's mercy - cf.
Lk 17:10; Tit 3:5
[In His sermon on the mount, Jesus had much to say about the
righteousness of the kingdom. Beginning with "The Beatitudes" (Mt
5:3-12), we learn of the...]
- NECESSARY ATTITUDES (Mt 5:3-12)
- THESE ATTITUDES INCLUDE...
- Poverty of spirit (i.e., humility) - Mt 5:3
- Mourning (e.g., over sin) - Mt 5:4
- Meekness toward God and others - Mt 5:5
- Hungering and thirsting for righteousness - Mt 5:6
- Merciful toward others - Mt 5:7
- Purity of heart (i.e., desire for holiness) - Mt 5:8
- Makers of peace - Mt 5:9
- Willingness to endure persecution for the kingdom and for Jesus
- Mt 5:10-12
- THESE ATTITUDES CAN LEAD TO...
- The kingdom of heaven - Mt 5:3,12
- Comfort (e.g., from the burden of sin) - Mt 5:4
- Inheriting the earth (i.e., living a blessed life) - Mt 5:5;
cf. Ps 37
- Being filled with righteousness - Mt 5:6
- Obtaining mercy - Mt 5:7
- Seeing God - Mt 5:8
- Being called children of God - Mt 5:9
- A great reward in heaven, i.e., the kingdom of heaven! - Mt 5:10-12
[With these necessary attitudes, we are more like to display the conduct
necessary for the kingdom. Which Jesus describes as He continues His
sermon on the mount...]
- NECESSARY CONDUCT (Mt 5:13-6:18)
- LETTING YOUR LIGHT SHINE...
- You are the salt of the earth - Mt 5:13
- You are the light of the world - Mt 5:14-15
- Let your light shine, that men might glorify your Father - Mt
5:16
- WITH A HIGHER STANDARD OF CONDUCT...
- Avoiding not just murder, but anger - Mt 5:21-26
- Avoiding not just adultery, but impure thoughts as well - Mt
5:27-30
- Avoiding divorce because of what it does - Mt 5:31-32
- Avoiding flippant oaths by speaking truthfully - Mt 5:33-37
- Responding to evil with good - Mt 5:38-42
- Loving your enemy and those who mistreat you - Mt 5:43-48
- Doing charitable deeds to be seen of God, not men - Mt 6:1-4
- Praying to be seen of God, not men - Mt 6:5-15
- Fasting to be seen of God, not men - Mt 6:16-18
[This higher standard of righteousness can appear daunting. Yet it
helps to have the right priorities which Jesus also discusses...]
- NECESSARY PRIORITIES (Mt 6:19-34)
- REGARDING WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE...
- Let your priority be laying up treasure in heaven - Mt 6:19-20
- For where your treasure is, there your heart (emotions,
devotions) will be - Mt 6:21
- If you have an evil eye (i.e., covetous, Pr 23:6), you walk in
darkness - Mt 6:22-23
- You cannot serve both God and mammon (earthly treasure) - Mt
6:24
- REGARDING WHAT COMES FIRST...
- Don't worry about life, food, clothing, for God will provide
- Mt 6:25-32
- God's kingdom and righteousness (i.e., His will) must take
priority - Mt 6:33-34
CONCLUSION
- We could continue on into the next chapter, where Jesus...
- Details additional aspects of the righteousness of the kingdom
- Mt 7:1-12
- Exhorts us to be diligent and use caution - Mt 7:13-20
- But let's conclude by noting carefully what Jesus says...
- About doing the will of His Father in heaven - Mt 7:21-23
- It is not sufficient to be religious, or even active in doing
things for Jesus
- What is crucial is that we do the Father's will as revealed by
Jesus
- About being doers of His word, and not hearers only - Mt 7:24-27
- It is not sufficient to be good listeners (e.g., good
churchgoers)
- We must be doers of the Word as well!
- In view of such warnings, we should seek to be diligent in
developing...
- The necessary attitudes (that will make us receptive to the
Father's will)
- The necessary conduct (that is harmony with the Father's will)
- The necessary priorities (that will make the Father's will number
one)
- The necessary conduct (i.e., righteousness of the kingdom) may seem
daunting and beyond our ability...
- But if we have the necessary attitudes
- And are willing to set the necessary priorities
-- God will help us with the necessary conduct! - cf. Ep 3:16,20; Php
4:13
Can it be said that our righteousness surpasses the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees...?