In This Issue

• THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN = THE KINGDOM OF GOD
• THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD
• THE "SEAL" OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• A THOUSAND TIMES...NO!
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN = THE KINGDOM OF GOD

In Mark 1:14, Mark tells us that Jesus preached the "gospel of the kingdom of God." The word "gospel" is the English translation of a Greek word that means "good news." The good news was that the kingdom of God promised by the Old Testament prophets was about to become a reality.

John the Baptist had preceded Jesus by six months, and his basic message had been the same: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). Note that one of these passages refers to the kingdom as the "kingdom of heaven,' while the other uses the term "kingdom of God." Some Bible students have assumed that these are two different kingdoms. In this lesson, we will help our readers to learn that these terms are simply two ways of speaking about the same kingdom. In Matthew's account of the gospel, he almost always used the term "kingdom of heaven." This most likely was because Matthew was a Jew and wrote his account of the gospel, perhaps as early as 42 a.d., while the Jewish influence was still strong in the early church. Scholars have pointed out that the Jews held the name of God in such reverence that they rarely if ever spoke it. They virtually never used the term Jehovah (or Yahweh, as the case may be), but substituted a phrase meaning "the Lord." Likewise, they tended to use the word heaven when they were talking about God. For instance, in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus depicts the penitent young Jew returning home, saying, 'I have sinned against heaven (Luke 15:18) Of course, his sin was actually against God, not against the place where God dwells. But the young Jew was so careful to not use God's name in vain, that he probably scarcely used God's name at all. Instead he substituted the word "heaven."

But whereas Matthew usually spoke of the kingdom as the "kingdom of heaven," the other three biographers always referred to it as the "kingdom of God." Perhaps the clearest proof that the two terms were used interchangeably is provided by looking at parallel passages from the different accounts of the same incidents. For instance, Matthew's parallel statement to Mark 1:14-15 says, "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17). Notice that in quoting the same speech, Matthew used the term "kingdom of heaven," Mark used the term "kingdom of God." They are one and the same.

There are many other parallel passages that will underscore this truth. In Matt. 19:23-24, both terms are used interchangeably in the same passage. Truly, Jesus and John did not foretell two coming kingdoms, but one. That kingdom was at hand, and it came into being shortly after their work of preparation.

--CRJ

THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD

In Rom. 4:17 the beloved Paul says "God calleth those things which are not as though they were." That is, God knows the future just as well as He knows the past. Albert Barnes says, "That is, those things which He foretells and promises are so certain, that He may speak of them as already in existence. Thus in relation to Abraham, God instead of simply promising that He would make him the father of many nations, speaks of it as already done. 'I have made thee,' etc. In His own mind or purpose, He had so constituted him, and it was so certain that it would take place, that He might speak of it as already done."

God knows the future and often tells it years before it happens. The Old Testament prophecies fall into this category. When God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations, He didn't put him on a stage and make him an actor in a drama written and stereotyped before it happened. He didn't take from him that volition which God has given to all people. God simply knew what would take place before it happened because He is omniscient! In Isa. 44:28, God said a man named Cyrus would liberate His people. Did He put Cyrus on a stage and make him do what He had said 200 years before the man was born? Not hardly. God simply knew what Cyrus would do and talked about it before it happened. Did Judas do Christ a favor by betraying Him, just because the Lord told him he would before it happened? No, Jesus, being omniscient, knew what Judas would do but did not tamper with his choice. Was Peter a stereotyped actor on a stage in denying Christ, simply because Christ had said that he would? Not hardly. When Peter said in 1 Pet. 1:19-20 that the precious blood of Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, did Adam and Eve do God a favor in sinning just because God said they would? No, they were not actors on a stage, written and stereotyped before they had existence. Neither was Judas, Peter, Cyrus, Abraham, or others who were told what they would do years before it happened. Think it over.

--Ward Hogland, Northside Conway Courier, Conway, AR

THE "SEAL" OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"Bro. Turner: Your comments on the Holy Spirit as a 'seal' (Eph. 1:13) would be appreciated" (A.I.B.).

Reply: This request was accompanied by an excellent paper showing careful study, which I will incorporate in reply.

Deity has distinctive roles of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But God is ONE and the eternal characteristics of God are inherent in all roles. One cannot serve the Son without serving the Father; one cannot live by the Spirit without living by or in the Son. We "know" God (are intimately related) to the extent we obey Him (1 Jn. 2:3-6); and God dwells in those who love one another, dwell in love, confess Jesus as Son of God (4:12-16). Now the connecting link for all of this is God's word: Spirit inspired revelation that must be objectively approached, believed, and followed by man (Rom. 10:13-17). It is little wonder that the same Greek word for "indwelling" of God (2 Cor. 6:16) and the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:11) is also applied to the "indwelling" of the word of Christ (Col. 3:16) and faith (2 Tim. 1:5). I agree with my correspondent that "The indwelling of Deity within the Christian figuratively describes the closeness of the relationship that is sustained between God and the believer." Think this over carefully!

The "seal" (Eph. 1:13) is a mark of ownership. Being approved of God, although affecting our feelings and the hope within us, is not subjectively determined. The "mark" of God is given only after we "hear" and "believe" or, as put in Acts 2:37-38, we hear, repent, and are baptized. The promise of the Spirit was closely related to the Abrahamic promise (Gal. 3:14-29, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2) and embraced all blessings enjoyed "in Christ." We believe those who make "sealed with... the Spirit" an "inner peace" determined by our "feelings" are ignoring the general context of revelation.

Paul taught that those who truly have God's Spirit "walk" in Him, show His "fruit" in their life (Gal. 5:16-26). The assurance we have of mercy and forgiveness is contingent upon a life of faith, of trying, of pressing toward the mark (Rom. 8:13-17, Phil. 3:12-15). And in this very endeavor we, by God's grace, "partake of the divine image" (Phil. 2:5-f; 2 Pet. 1:3-f).

The miraculous and extra-ordinary manifestations of the Holy Spirit are included in many statements made to people of the first century (Acts 2; 5:32) for confirmation was still necessary. But the "earnest" of our inheritance is something that extends far beyond those early days when the word was being delivered. It is a "down payment" on our future glory. Expositor's says, "it is clear that what is in view here is not the... miraculous gifts of the Spirit, but that ... In which all believers shared, which was the subject of ... OT prophecies ...and of which a new heart, a new spirit, was to be the result." God-likeness in the saint, partaking of the divine image, being holy as He is holy (I Pet. 1:16) or pure as He is pure (1 Jn. 3:3), etc., is "seal" and "earnest" of the heavenly glory.

-- Robert F. Turner, Plain Talk, April 1981

A THOUSAND TIMES...NO!

Ever notice that you can say "no" a thousand times, but all those no's are canceled by one "yes"? "No, you can't have a cookie, can't have a cookie, can't have a cookie! Okay, yes!" The cookie will be eaten! To concede and fail you don't have to say yes as many times as you must say no to remain steadfast and succeed.

A thousand no's to fornication are deleted by one yes that robs one of his virtue and virginity. A thousand no's to adultery are swept away by a yes that destroys family, home and soul. A thousand no's to drugs are erased by a yes that opens the door to all kinds of destruction and excess. A thousand no's to stealing are forgotten by a yes on our record when we stand before the law. A thousand no's to pornography are overwhelmed by a yes that writes indelible images in the mind. It applies across the board to all sin.

While it is certainly true that forgiveness in Christ is available for any sinful yes decision we make, this must not be seen as license to make that errant decision even once. We are called to completely die to sin (Rom. 6) -- it is to have no part in us, or us in it.

Parents often tire of the "May I have a cookie?" question and finally concede with a yes. Kids know this. Satan knows this. We tire of saying no and looking different from others. We tire of our "no" answer causing abstinence from activities that appear pleasurable and fun. We tire of always being the one to say no. In time, sin nags us to the point where we finally want to say, "Okay, yes just this time." How much more can God expect us to resist -- how many more times must we say no?

The Hebrew writer reminds us, "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin" (Heb. 12:4). We're not just talking about saying no to the point of alienation and missing out on some of life's pleasures. Resisting "to bloodshed, striving against sin" means saying no to sin until it kills us! That means a thousand times no to the sin that tempts us from within and from without. And when we have said no a thousand times it is then time to say it a thousand and one times, and more!

-- David Diestelkamp, Think on These Things, Feb./Mar, 2002

No enemy is so near that God is not nearer.

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