Judgment in the Kingdom

August 20, 2023 Background Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1 - 21 Lesson Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:1 - 6, 17 - 21 The kingdom of God on earth consists of all people who have the Spirit of Christ within them. In short, Christians are citizens of the kingdom of God. It is through the presence of the Spirit within Christians that God reigns on earth. Since all we have on earth are real people, then the situation within the kingdom of God gets complicated. The weakness of human flesh causes complications in the kingdom. When Christians allow the Spirit of Christ to reign in them, we live in humility. I believe there is little doubt that humility should be a defining trait of a Christian. But that is not always the case not continuously! Sometimes, pride sneaks in. Pride permeated some local Christian congregations as early as the first century. An attitude of pride is indeed a slippe1Y slope to be on. We are humbled by the experience of salvation. The moment of salvation brings such an overwhelming sense of gratitude in us towards the Most High God. In that moment, we see ourselves as spiritual wretchedness in need of God's grace. There is no place for pride at the instance of salvation. As we grow spiritually from that moment, worldly temptations again invade our thinking. Thus begins the struggle of the Spirit against the flesh. Human pride resists the thought of absolute dependence on the Spirit of Christ in us. Pride promotes independence and self-acclamation. Pride causes human judgment to be an ongoing issue among Christians. Pride seeks titles and positions of authority and influence. The Spirit seeks the position of a servant who is dependent on his Master. Where there is spiritual elevation, it is from the role of a servant to the role of a steward. Neither servants nor stewards own anything. All that a servant has belongs to his Master. All that a steward manages belongs to his Master. Whether one is a servant or a steward, it is understood and accepted that everything belongs to God. Joseph was a good example of that in Egypt. He lived most of his life in Egypt as either a servant or a steward. Joseph never forgot who he was or where he was. Joseph knew he was a Jew, and he knew he did not belong in Egypt. But throughout his tenure in Egypt, whether servant or steward, Joseph did all to the glory of God. Joseph's example is the context all Christians should live within. However, pride causes us to forget this context. Our pride causes us to judge others by seeing ourselves as better than them. Paul wanted the Christians in Corinth to think of the apostles as servants of Christ and stewards of the revelations of God. As such, God judges the apostles based on the inner person. Human judgment was of no importance to the apostles. If the Corinthians could see Paul and Apollos that way, then they could apply the same understanding within their congregation. Paul sent Timothy to them to remind them of this, Paul would visit them later, but he wanted their attitudes to be right before he arrived. Paul had the apostolic authority to correct them, but he preferred not to do it. He wanted to come and share with them in a loving environment. It is sometimes amazing how quickly we forget who we are in Christ. Pride within a congregation prevents true fellowship among Christians. Those who have the greatest rank within the kingdom of God take on the lowest rank within the kingdom on earth. They become examples of servants of Christ for others to see and emulate. When that happens, there is no room for Christians to judge each other. Then judgment in the kingdom will be left to the only one qualified to do so. Within the kingdom, God judges all. Robert C. Hudson August 10, 2023

The Nature of the Kingdom

August 13, 2023 Background Scripture: Romans 14:10-23 Lesson Passage: Romans 14:10-23 "Mind Your Business" is another way of thinking about today's lesson. The scripture for the lesson IS from Paul's letter to the church in Rome. In this letter, Paul addressed some of the internal issues within the congregation. This lesson is a reminder that each person is unique. And each of us will stand before God and give an account of the deeds done in our bodies. That's enough to encourage us to stay focused on our own unique situations. It is also enough to encourage us to avoid creating difficulties for others. It is enough that people must give an account of themselves without us making it more complicated for them. For example, if I am not a dietician, then no one needs my approval to determine their diet. What a person chooses to eat, or not eat, is their business. Yet, Christians sometimes take it upon themselves to get involved in very trivial matters that don't concern them. Left to our own devices, many of us will dare to tell others what they should eat and what they should refrain from eating. That was happening within the congregation in Rome. If a person has the option to choose what they will eat, then that choice becomes an obvious personal decision. It does not require the consent of a committee or a congregation. Group, or herd mentality, is a common human problem. People in groups tend to behave in a similar manner. Their general behavior establishes a "group norm". After a while, members of the group will treat unique individuals with disdain if they fail to fall in line with the group's behavior pattern. This is common human behavior. However, it can become destructive behavior when it involves a group of Christians. Each Christian must come into a saving faith through a personal encounter with the living God. Only through acknowledging and confessing the Lord Jesus Christ does this happen. It is good for Christians to congregate to strengthen each other in the things of the Spirit. In fact, the gifts of the Spirit are given to individuals for the benefit of the group. I believe every Christian should be affiliated with a local congregation. That congregation should be one where they can grow spiritually, and their spiritual gifts are allowed to minister to the needs of others. This is what makes for a healthy congregation. When "herd mentality" infiltrates the group, then problems will follow. Rather than ministering to each other, they will begin to control each other until nothing worthwhile is being done. This can lead faith-based groups to devolve into cults. In cults, everyone tends to do the same thing, and nobody deviates from the group's norm. Differences are discouraged although the Spirit gives Christians different gifts. Once the major things are brought in line in cults, then the trivial matters are addressed. That brings us back to the notion of a common diet. The group decides what foods are acceptable and what foods are not. It leaves no room for individual spiritual growth. In general, experienced people make different decisions than inexperienced people. A new convert to the Christian faith may be skeptical about specific foods or drinks. As they grow in grace, their skepticism will give way to biblical knowledge and application. Mature Christians should patiently allow others to grow spiritually; that's what happened to each of us. When Christianity becomes conformance to rules and regulations, then it is no longer about a personal relationship with Christ. This is not the kingdom Jesus established on earth. Within the kingdom of God, groups are not held accountable. Each person must give an account of themselves. Therefore, it behooves all Christians to "Mind Your business." Robert C. Hudson August 3, 2023

Inheriting the Kingdom

August 6, 2023 Background Scripture: Galatians 5:13 -26 Lesson Passage: Galatians 5:13 - 26 I don't know anyone who doesn't want to be included as an heir on somebody's will. Frankly, that's the stuff some daydreams are built on. We imagine some wealthy benefactor admired us from a distance and secretly made us the main heir on their last will and testament. And we inherit more than we could possibly ever ask for. If that were to happen, we could only indulge in it temporarily. When our life is over, then someone else will inherit the same. Here's some good news: God has included us in His will! He has not admired us from a distance. On the contrary, we have given God every possible reason why we should not be included in His will, We are included because of our relationship with God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God has appointed Jesus Christ heir of all things. We are listed as joint heirs with Christ. As such, we will inherit eternal life and share in Christ's eternal glory. James, Paul, and Peter wrote about the heirship of all Christians—Jews and Gentiles. Again, the heirship is only valid because of a person's relationship with Jesus Christi It is around this condition that our lesson revolves. I will say emphatically that a person who has been saved by God can never lose their salvation. The word of God bears that out. God does not save us based on some future terms and conditions that depend on us. If a person's salvation depended on their ability to talk, act, or live a certain way, then none of us would be saved if we continue to live in this world beyond the time God saves us. The thief on the cross who confessed Jesus just before his death made it; he was saved and then he died. Christians who continue to live in this world are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. In today's lesson, Paul helps Christians discern between the actions, or cravings, of the flesh and those of the Spirit. It is important for us to know the difference. A saved person has a desire to live for God and a desire to satisfy the flesh. Read it again! This is the lusting of the Spirit against the flesh and the flesh against the Spirit. Christians are schizophrenic psychologically. If a person is not saved, they have no desire to do God's will—that goes against the only nature that is within them. That doesn't mean they don't desire to do good things. But their desire to do good things has nothing to do with God. Verse twenty-one has the keyword in this lesson: "practice" ("which do" in King James Version). This word describes the evil tendencies of one's general behavior. Paul listed what is practiced because it is natural and there is nothing else in the person fighting against it. To sin without any guilt or God-consciousness about it is indicative of being lost. This lesson serves as a warning to anyone who thinks they are saved but they are not. Practicing religious behavior (church attendance, stewardship, listening to spiritual music, etc.) does not lead a person to salvation. We are saved because we believe and confess that Jesus died on Calvary's cross for our sins, and God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Because we are saved, God has sealed us with His Spirit as proof. The indwelling Spirit of Christ fights against our flesh, and He leads us to produce the fruit of the Spirit. All this gives us assurance that we are the children of God and joint heirs with Christ. If a person is saved, their name is written in the will of God. Christians crave ungodly things, but we also have the urging of the Spirit inside of us fighting against it. As we follow the lead of the Spirit of Christ within us, we live according to God's will for us in this life, and we have the assurance that we will inherit the kingdom. Robert C. Hudson July 26, 2023