Sunday Re Cap (26th Apr 2009)

Citizens of the Kingdom (Part 2)

Text: Matt 6:19-34

1. We are lovingly instructed by our LORD to seek 2 things to help keep us in perspective.
   
   1. Seek God's Kingdom.
      
   2. Seek His Righteousness.
      
   3. The Result? all these things shall be added to you.
      

Need to emphasize that all revelation has to line up with the word of God. God will not tell us to commit adultery, murder, cheat, lie, crime, etc. Our church stand is we are opposed to sin but we love the sinner because Jesus died and rose again for the sinner to free us from our sins. We are vehemently opposed to sin.

Most of us have a pretty good idea of what the Kingdom of God is all about. So why aren't we seeing all things being added to us?

1. No revelation of RIGHTEOUSNESS! Without a revelation of righteousness, we cannot appropriate the benefits of the Kingdom.
   
2. Righteousness unlocks the KINGDOM within us!
   

• When Paul said that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, he meant that just as Jesus is righteous before the Father, so are we. (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 4:17).
  
• 2 Cor 5:21 also says that God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. This means that even though Jesus did not commit any sin, He was punished as if He had committed sinful acts. God is completely just and fair and because of Jesus punishment for sins that he did not commit, we are deemed righteous for righteous acts as if we have done them!
  
• Does this mean that we will go out and sin and just say, "we are the righteousness of God in Christ"?
  
  • Heb 8:10: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
    
  • I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
    
  • (11) "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
    
  • (12) "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."
    

These are the 4 clauses of the New Covenant. When we get a revelation of v12, we allow God to perform the first 3 clauses. We allow God to write His laws on our hearts, God will be our God and we His people and finally, we will know God intimately! How can we sin?

Continued next week….