WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.080 Just to highlight the book that I mentioned a few times, so this is kind of the book I found 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:13.120 ! really helpful on this subject of prophet, priest and king. So on the book so it's called Man of 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:19.280 ! Sorrow's King of Glory by John T. Rhodes. He's the IPC minister up in Leeds. It's an excellent book. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:23.760 He's a really good writer so I recommended this. It's kind of it's a book about the person of Christ 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:29.760 in the first half so one person, two natures, how to understand Christ as being God our man. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.799 And then it moves into his work, prophet, priest and king. So I recommend that's on the bookstall 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:41.280 at the back of church. All right let me pray and we'll jump straight in. 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:55.519 Heavenly Father we thank you that we can meet here freely and in safety. We thank you that that you 00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:03.440 protect us, that you have a king over us, over your church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you help us to 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:10.960 to know him better, to understand his work and his rule and appreciate it even more in our lives. We 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:17.439 would we find great comfort and reassurance knowing that Christ is king and in his name we pray. Amen. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:23.759 So we've come to the end of our series on prophet, priest and king. And the big thing that I wanted us 00:01:23.759 --> 00:01:31.840 to see in all of this is that Christ's work of salvation, when Christ saves us, his work isn't 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:40.159 just this general work of salvation and he zaps this thing called salvation down. No, his work of 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:47.840 salvation is the work of a prophet, priest and king. So God, if you remember, God has always used 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:53.280 prophets, priests and kings to save his people. You see that throughout the Old Testament because 00:01:53.280 --> 00:02:01.120 those three offices, those roles solve our three problems of sin. So prophets cure ignorance, priests 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:08.960 cure guilt and kings free the enslaved. And all that's wrapped up in Christ. In fact, the name Christ 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:16.000 means the anointed one. And prophets, priests and kings were the anointed ones in the Bible. So when 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:23.120 we say Jesus Christ saves us, what we're saying is Jesus, the prophet, priest and king saves us. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:30.480 And so look how the shorter catechism puts it. Question 23, what offices does Christ execute as our 00:02:30.480 --> 00:02:38.640 redeemer? So what does Christ do to save us? Christ as our redeemer executes the offices of a prophet, 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:45.519 priest and king, both in his state of humiliation on earth and exaltation in heaven. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:53.439 Christ, in order to redeem us, to save us, executes the office of a prophet, priest and king. 00:02:54.239 --> 00:03:00.479 And so that's how we should understand all his work in this world and in our lives. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:07.199 And last week, Harry showed us how Christ's work on the cross was the work of a king. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:13.199 So look again at the shorter catechism, 26. How does Christ execute the office of a king? 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:20.479 Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us and in 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:29.120 restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. So look at that last phrase, Christ came into this 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:35.599 world with enemies to conquer. So John T. Rhodes in this book, again I'll recommend it. 00:03:36.239 --> 00:03:43.839 John T. has this helpful phrase. He says, Christ's work of salvation wasn't only a search and rescue 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:52.319 mission, it was a search and destroy mission. In order to rescue us, he had to conquer three enemies, 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:58.560 sin and Satan and death. Three enemies that were keeping us from God. 00:04:00.480 --> 00:04:08.080 And today I want us to see that Christ's work as king, it was on the cross, but it also continues today. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:15.920 And we've seen that with all the offices so far, haven't we? All those offices continue today and that includes king. 00:04:17.520 --> 00:04:23.920 But I first want us to see what does that actually mean for Christ to still be king? 00:04:24.960 --> 00:04:31.520 If Christ conquered all our enemies and his enemies on the cross, what else is there to do? 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:38.959 Why do we still need a king? Well, let's jump straight in. The first thing to see is this. Christ is reigning now. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:47.519 Christ is reigning now. Look at Hebrews 8.1. We looked at this passage a few weeks ago to see Christ's priesthood in heaven, 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:53.680 but it shows us something else. Hebrews 8. Now the point in what we are saying is this. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:05.500 We have, right now, we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:14.740 So Christ right now is a high priest in heaven, but also what is he doing there? 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:20.420 He is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:05:20.420 --> 00:05:27.520 So this is a picture of reigning and ruling with God. 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:33.420 So God reigns and is in control over all things. He is God. 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:42.259 And Christ is there, sat next to God, reigning with him, enthroned in heaven with him. 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:49.800 Obvious question, what type of person sits on a throne and reigns and rules? 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:51.460 A king. 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:58.500 Christ, when he went to heaven, he went to be a king to rule over creation. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:00.520 That this was his coronation. 00:06:01.780 --> 00:06:03.600 There are kind of more things to say about Christ. 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:08.860 He always was king, but when he entered heaven, he was coronated. 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:09.900 He was enthroned. 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:16.779 Now, you might want to ask, but hold on, Jesus is God. 00:06:17.979 --> 00:06:20.500 Hasn't he always been ruling from heaven? 00:06:21.799 --> 00:06:25.560 Was God not ruling, but now he is ruling? 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:29.500 Are there two kings ruling? 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:30.819 What's going on here? 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:33.420 Well, let's be clear. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:41.379 First of all, God always is and always has been and always will reign and is always king. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:43.800 So Psalm 103. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:49.860 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens and his kingdom rules over all. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:52.019 1 Timothy 6. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:57.920 He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the king of kings and the Lord of lords. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:03.580 God is and always has been king over all creation. 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:04.259 Unchanging. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:05.819 Think back to our doctrine of God. 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:07.180 God never changes. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:08.460 He is always king. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:15.840 Perfectly ruling creation, looking after it, telling creation and history where to go and what to do. 00:07:16.020 --> 00:07:16.840 God is king. 00:07:17.180 --> 00:07:17.280 Okay? 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:27.259 And so let's ask again, what is then the, what's different with Christ entering heaven? 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:30.759 Well, think about who Christ is. 00:07:30.859 --> 00:07:34.579 He is God, but he's also man. 00:07:36.039 --> 00:07:41.979 And so what is new here as he enters heaven after his resurrection and sits on the throne? 00:07:42.239 --> 00:07:43.459 What's new here? 00:07:43.459 --> 00:07:50.000 There is now a human being ruling over creation as well. 00:07:52.019 --> 00:07:57.000 And this is significant because this is how creation was always meant to be. 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.959 So think back to our being human series a few months ago in Sunday school. 00:08:02.919 --> 00:08:03.740 Think back to Adam. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:05.459 How did God create Adam? 00:08:06.359 --> 00:08:09.599 What was Adam's role and task in creation? 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:10.820 Do you remember? 00:08:10.960 --> 00:08:13.540 He was to have dominion. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.740 That's kingship over creation. 00:08:18.580 --> 00:08:20.480 So God rules over all. 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:20.840 Okay? 00:08:21.640 --> 00:08:30.240 But he set a man to be his under king, his vice regent, to rule for God's over creation. 00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:39.160 So he was to be God's representative on earth, his mediator over creation, to rule for God. 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:47.980 And so the world was meant to be how God intended it by Adam implementing God's rule. 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:52.759 He was meant to work it and keep it and guard it, rule it. 00:08:54.039 --> 00:09:00.500 And so think, this world, this isn't just kind of a blank canvas world, but this world is a kingdom. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:08.000 And it's designed to have a man ruling over it, God's king. 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:10.539 That was always the case from the beginning. 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:16.100 This world is meant to be God's kingdom with his king on the throne. 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:25.320 And that world was meant to be a world and a people who obey and serve God with this king set over it. 00:09:26.300 --> 00:09:29.139 So think to creation, just look here. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:36.360 Creation, it was intended to have, you have the world here with all the people, 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:41.820 it was intended to have a man ruling over it. 00:09:43.680 --> 00:09:44.120 Adam. 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:51.600 And he was meant to rule over it, to implement God's rule perfectly, 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:59.480 so that God's world would be how he wanted it, with all his people worshipping and serving God. 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.200 That's why I've got the arrows pointed up. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:02.360 They're pointing in the right direction. 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:07.779 They're loving and serving God in the right way because the king is set over it. 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:09.420 The right king is set over it. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:17.139 But in the fall, that king, Adam, fell from his throne, didn't he? 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:21.519 And when that king falls, he's a giant. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:23.200 Remember, what falls with him? 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:24.840 All his kingdom. 00:10:26.060 --> 00:10:27.399 It all falls with him. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:32.079 And so creation, the kingdom of this world, it became ruined. 00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:33.559 So we're in the fall here. 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:34.919 It became ruined. 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:38.840 And so Adam was meant to be. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:42.340 So that's the desire of it. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:44.100 He was meant to be over it. 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:48.100 But in the fall, he lost his throne. 00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:49.059 Okay? 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:57.859 And instead, a new king took that throne. 00:10:59.439 --> 00:11:00.559 He was Satan. 00:11:04.619 --> 00:11:11.099 Satan began to rule as a king over creation. 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:20.159 And so, when a king like that is over creation, all these enemies are let loose in the world. 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:26.779 Sin and Satan himself and death and all of Satan's minions. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:31.560 And he wasn't ruling by God's will, by God's standards. 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:36.319 He was ruling this world, by his own will, against God. 00:11:37.239 --> 00:11:38.299 So that was seven. 00:11:41.819 --> 00:11:48.639 And so, that's why Satan is called the god of this world. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:52.199 And the prince of the power of the air. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.340 He's called that for a reason. 00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:00.220 Satan became like a king over this world. 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:04.320 Now, you've got to realise he's not the true king. 00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:05.700 And he isn't God. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.060 He doesn't have that power. 00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:09.980 But he does have real power in this world. 00:12:11.160 --> 00:12:13.900 And so this world became an evil kingdom. 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:17.700 With hearts turned away from God. 00:12:18.040 --> 00:12:19.759 The opposite of what it was meant to be. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:25.120 And in our sin, we all follow this king. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.419 That's what Ephesians 2 says. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.240 We follow the prince of the power of the air. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:34.039 I read, you might have this book. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:34.799 You might have seen this book. 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:35.659 The King and the Dragon. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:36.779 I think it's on the bookshelf. 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:39.500 I read this to Lydia sometimes. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.419 And this is a great book. 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:45.740 Kind of talking about how this world has fallen. 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:48.720 And how Satan, who's pictured as the dragon. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.519 That has taken over this world. 00:12:50.660 --> 00:12:52.000 And so it's got this paragraph there. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.160 I'll read it to you. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.700 A dragon came prowling. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.660 And what a strange thing. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:01.500 He thought he could sit on the throne and be king. 00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:05.220 The king replied, no, I do not think that's right. 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:07.940 And chased off the dragon back into the night. 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:10.740 But wanting to take his revenge on the king. 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.460 The dragon then tried to destroy everything. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:15.120 There you go. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.399 I recommend buying that book. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.519 As well as John T's. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:23.139 That's what has happened in the fall. 00:13:26.819 --> 00:13:31.459 And so although God continued to reign over all things. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.259 He's still God. 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.299 Always in control. 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:36.399 Always in charge of all things. 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:39.740 Although God is there. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:45.879 There has always been a need for a man to be set back on that throne. 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:52.139 To become king and to rule this creation properly. 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:54.360 And therefore to restore it. 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:58.480 Because that is salvation. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:04.060 That is how sinners and this fallen world can be saved. 00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:08.579 We need a king to be set back on that throne and rule properly. 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:14.239 And when Christ, after his resurrection, entered into heaven. 00:14:14.979 --> 00:14:18.759 And sat down at the right hand of God's throne. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.779 He did just that. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:25.699 Christ, when he went to heaven. 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:30.199 Took back the throne over creation. 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:42.699 And this is why the Father says to the Lord Jesus in Psalm 110. 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:48.860 So this is David writing about God and Christ being king. 00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:49.220 Okay. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:55.180 So the Lord, God, says to my Lord, the Christ. 00:14:55.820 --> 00:15:00.600 Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:04.940 Rule with me and destroy all the enemies of this world. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:12.680 God has made Christ the true man and the true mediator, middle man. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:16.320 To rule over and restore creation. 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:21.600 And what does this king need to do to do that? 00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:29.560 He needs to bring all these rebels, all these rebellious enemies under control. 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:36.419 And so there's a specific purpose and direction to Christ's rule. 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:45.379 As king, Christ isn't kind of just generally ruling over creation and just keeping it under control. 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:49.059 No, there's a specific purpose and direction. 00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:58.619 Christ is ruling as a saviour to restore creation, to defeat the enemies against his rule. 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:03.179 And to bring human beings under his rule. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:10.279 In other words, Christ is ruling now to bring in his kingdom. 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.240 God's kingdom. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:20.179 And so is it any surprise why Christ's first words of his first sermon are, does anyone remember? 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:25.000 The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.240 Repent and believe in the gospel. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:32.779 Christ came to bring in the kingdom of God. 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.740 And that involves two things. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.560 First, defeating sin on the cross. 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:41.220 That's when his kingdom broke in, his rule began. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:47.700 But in heaven, he took his throne over all creation. 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:51.720 And now he's free to take the world back for himself. 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:54.740 To defeat the remaining evil. 00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:56.759 To expand his kingdom. 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:59.920 And to bring people into that kingdom. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:03.720 To turn the rebels' hearts back to God. 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:07.700 And that is what Christ is doing now in heaven. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.480 So you can kind of think of it like this. 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:13.779 He won the war on the cross. 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:18.740 But now there are kind of still these ongoing skirmishes and battles. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:22.180 And now he's in heaven kind of clearing all that up. 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:26.140 And so, what's happening now? 00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:28.560 He's expanding his kingdom. 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.680 You can see that. 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:32.840 He's expanding his kingdom into this world. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:38.880 Turning rebels back and restoring what the world should be. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:42.200 And now it's happening under Christ's rule. 00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:46.740 And this is why we pray, 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:49.580 Your kingdom come, in the Lord's Prayer. 00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:52.780 So when we say that, we are praying, 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:56.580 Lord, we know that Jesus is king now. 00:17:57.300 --> 00:17:58.480 With all authority. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:00.900 But there's still opposition in this world. 00:18:01.020 --> 00:18:03.160 And so we ask, Heavenly Father, 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:08.500 bring your kingdom and your rule more and more into this world. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:17.320 And so if Jesus is king and rules with a specific purpose, 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.880 as saviour to conquer these remaining forces, 00:18:20.780 --> 00:18:24.360 if that is the purpose and direction of his ruling, 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:28.140 what is the centre of all that work? 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:32.640 Exactly where and how is he doing that? 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.940 Where are enemies coming into his kingdom 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.620 and turning their hearts back to God? 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:41.580 It's in the church. 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:48.320 The church is where Christ is specifically working 00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:52.220 and ruling over in order to bring his kingdom. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.520 So look at Ephesians 1. 00:18:54.519 --> 00:19:08.779 Do you see what it's saying here? 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:12.079 Christ has been given his throne over all things, 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:16.379 but that kingship is given for something in particular. 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.860 It's given to the church. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:23.860 The church is kind of like the spearhead of his rule. 00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:26.100 It's like Jesus says, 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:29.280 I'm ruling over all things, controlling all things, 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:33.080 doing all of this for the church. 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:38.000 And all history has to come into that plan for the church. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:42.579 So think of it like this. 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.140 Here we go. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.819 This is kind of like the third picture of an outstanding standard. 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:51.919 So God ruling over all things, 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:54.619 sets his Christ, the king, over all creation. 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:59.259 But the focus of Christ's rule, 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.000 it's on the church. 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.879 I've kind of picked the church as a building. 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:05.539 Of course, the church is all across the world, 00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.659 throughout time and space, 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.399 kind of picturing it just as that. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:11.320 So in his church, 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.860 that's the focus of his rule. 00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:18.220 And so he rules over his church specifically. 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.080 And through that, 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:23.460 from the church comes his kingdom. 00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:25.800 It spreads all from there. 00:20:26.040 --> 00:20:27.500 The church is kind of like an engine, 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.160 the driving force of the kingdom. 00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:32.280 And so it all stands out from there. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:40.880 Which, if you just think about all this, 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:44.140 this is quite a remarkable thing to think about. 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:47.600 So Jesus has taken the throne of heaven. 00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:49.920 He's ruling over all creation, 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.920 galaxies, planets, nations, 00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:55.040 kings, governments, cities, lives, atoms, everything. 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:57.900 Ruling over all of it 00:20:57.900 --> 00:21:01.460 for the sake of us. 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:06.780 For our good, for our growth, 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:09.559 all out of love for us. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.759 He's doing it. 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.539 So that's why Romans 8, 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.299 this is a familiar verse, 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.720 a comforting verse. 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:19.799 And this is why this is so powerful. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:23.619 And we know that for those who love God, 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:26.279 all things work together for good. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:31.000 The church is the centre and focus 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.899 and goal of Christ's rule. 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.299 So it's kind of like, 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:37.440 whenever Christ commands something from heaven, 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:40.259 his first thought is always us 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.180 when he does that. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:45.039 And so we need to realise that 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.960 there's a close relationship 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:50.220 between the kingdom and the church. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.559 And I want you to see that. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.559 Just to see this one thing. 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.819 Break out into groups. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.079 I think it's on the next page. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.119 Yeah, turn over your page. 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.240 Break out into groups. 00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:02.319 Look up these passages 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.220 and answer this question. 00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:05.659 How do you enter the kingdom of God 00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:08.359 and come under Christ's restoring rule? 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.119 So just look up those two verses. 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.799 Shouldn't take long. 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.079 Break out into groups. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:13.139 Let's see that. 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.139 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:43.120 Thank you. 00:22:43.140 --> 00:23:13.120 Thank you. 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:43.120 Thank you. 00:23:43.140 --> 00:24:13.120 Thank you. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:15.140 Thank you. 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:16.220 Okay. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.620 What do we find? 00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:19.520 So what's the first one? 00:24:19.800 --> 00:24:20.200 Colossians. 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:25.440 Paul Felix, what did you come up with, Colossians? 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.900 How do you enter the kingdom of God and come under Christ's rule? 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:30.340 He has to deliver. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.360 Yeah. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.259 Yeah, exactly. 00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:37.780 And there's like a little clause at the end. 00:24:38.780 --> 00:24:40.780 What does that delivering involve? 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.079 The forgiveness of sins. 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.079 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.519 Exactly. 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.059 Yes. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.859 Yeah. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.039 You enter his kingdom by having your sins forgiven. 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.079 How about John 3? 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.619 Iona, did you get to that one? 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:57.000 But you need to be born again. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.519 Right? 00:24:58.299 --> 00:25:01.379 I think how are we born again? 00:25:01.459 --> 00:25:02.579 Well, it's by the spirit. 00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:04.619 But what is that involved? 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.819 John 3, 16. 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.980 It's believing in his son. 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.079 It's faith. 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.679 Right? 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:17.579 So you enter this kingdom by having your sins forgiven and being born again. 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:21.199 Which is exactly how you enter something else. 00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:22.919 The church. 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:27.859 You enter the kingdom by entering the church. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:33.960 Now, let me just say here that the kingdom and the church are not identical. 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:34.720 Okay? 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:36.919 There's a lot to say about this. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:41.220 But the activity of the kingdom, it's slightly broader than the church. 00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:46.419 And if you think to new creation, the new creation would be all of God's kingdom. 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:51.120 But that's not necessarily, you know, plants and trees aren't the church. 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.460 Right? 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:56.180 So the church and kingdom aren't identical. 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.759 But they are inseparable. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:02.240 Where the church is, so is the kingdom. 00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:07.740 And the church is the center, the driving force of the kingdom. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:12.539 And as his church grows, that means so does his kingdom grow. 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:15.279 You can't have the church growing but not the kingdom. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.759 Right? 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:19.100 That the church is the center of his rule. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:25.080 And so that should really shape how we understand Christ as king today. 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:34.539 He's restoring this world and bringing his kingdom by ruling over and growing his church. 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:39.299 And this shows us what kind of kingdom this is. 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:41.899 This is a spiritual kingdom. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:46.359 This kingdom is a matter of salvation and forgiveness. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:49.240 Eternities, hearts, loyalties. 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:55.779 Christ is bringing his kingdom and his rule and expanding it and conquering enemies. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.819 Not through force. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.299 But through forgiveness. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:02.839 And raising people to life. 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.839 Born again. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:07.899 And this is such a genius plan if you think about it. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:10.339 If we were enemies of God, right? 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.859 We were enemies of God. 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:16.179 And Satan had his power by us following him. 00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:18.479 We were kind of Satan's army. 00:27:19.419 --> 00:27:22.259 What did Christ do with us? 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:28.779 He is defeating his enemy by bringing them onto his side. 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.879 He's converting them. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:38.020 And so Christ advances his kingdom not by annihilating sinners. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:41.060 But by bringing them onto his side. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:43.200 So you forgive the sinner. 00:27:44.060 --> 00:27:46.000 And not only have you defeated the enemy. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:49.860 You've also grown the kingdom by bringing them onto your side. 00:27:52.520 --> 00:27:53.760 And so it's a genius plan. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:01.160 And just like any king, not only does he conquer and defeat, he protects his kingdom. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:06.059 Christ is our king watching over us right now. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:16.240 And all this, understanding Christ as king, this is how we know as God's people, this is how we know we will make it to the end. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:21.720 This is how we know Satan will never snatch us from God's hand. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:25.420 This is how we know the church will never disappear. 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:28.079 It's because Christ is king. 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:34.019 And he's working all things in this universe to protect his church, to protect us. 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:37.940 And so think of Christ as king. 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:43.940 Whatever you face in work or at home or in your family. 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:48.579 And it just gets, it starts to get scary to be a Christian. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:51.559 And temptation seems to overwhelm us. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:54.679 And it feels like the devil is attacking us personally. 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:58.599 This is why we don't need to panic in those moments. 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:04.879 Because Christ is king and he's ruling over all and protecting your life. 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:09.099 And so this is the big thing I want us to see today. 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.919 Christ is reigning now. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:13.419 And he's reigning over his church. 00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:15.619 We are the center of his kingdom. 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:20.439 Okay, but now let's ask another question. 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:23.679 How is Christ doing this? 00:29:24.939 --> 00:29:30.019 How does Christ rule and advance and protect his kingdom? 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:32.000 Because think about it. 00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:37.179 A king only really rules if you see his rule, right? 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:43.519 If he does something on the ground in his kingdom, like his rule is actually engaged. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:52.980 So a king who rules in theory, in theory over a kingdom, but never actually does anything. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:56.079 His rule never makes contact with people. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.900 That's no king at all, really. 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.660 That king isn't really ruling. 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:06.660 A king, a real king, sends his soldiers in and his armies. 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:08.660 That's how he rules and protects. 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:11.700 You see his rule engaged in your life. 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:16.660 And so what is Christ's contact with us? 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:19.720 How exactly does he rule? 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:23.200 Well, he doesn't use swords. 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:25.640 He uses keys. 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:27.920 And I want to finish with this. 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:29.860 I want us to look at the keys of the kingdom. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:33.420 So look at Matthew 16. 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:38.400 This is Jesus speaking to Peter, the apostle Peter. 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:42.580 And I tell you, you are Peter. 00:30:43.280 --> 00:30:45.740 And on this rock, I will build my church. 00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:49.060 And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:52.900 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:56.540 And whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:59.600 And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:31:01.820 --> 00:31:03.500 I just want you to see one thing. 00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:06.820 Do you see the connection between the church and kingdom here? 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:09.740 So Jesus promises to build his church. 00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:11.140 I will build my church. 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:17.960 And then in the same breath, he gives the keys of the kingdom to Peter. 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:25.299 There is a connection with Christ building his church and these keys. 00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:33.600 We see here Christ will build his church and therefore his kingdom by giving the church keys. 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:37.079 Now, what are these keys? 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:40.340 Because I don't think we're often familiar with these keys. 00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:43.779 Well, let's see how the Heidelberg Catechism summarizes it. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.500 I've got it there for you. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:47.539 We're going to see how the Catechism gets this from the Bible. 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:50.019 But just look at the question and answer here. 00:31:50.699 --> 00:31:51.779 What are the keys of the kingdom? 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:57.839 The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline toward repentance. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:04.959 Both of them open the kingdom of heaven to believers and close it to unbelievers. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:13.960 These keys that have been handed to the church are preaching and discipline in the church. 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:17.880 So just think for a moment, what do keys do? 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.960 Keys open and shut doors, don't they? 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.400 Right? 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.700 That's why we have keys in our pockets. 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:25.600 That's why we have keys for everything. 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:27.000 They open and shut doors. 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:39.900 Well, Jesus is saying, as king, he has given his church his own keys to the kingdom to open and shut the kingdom to people. 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:45.779 That's why there's the language of loosing and binding in Matthew 16. 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:49.059 That's a term for being in or out of the kingdom. 00:32:49.059 --> 00:33:01.000 And so Christ is growing his kingdom and defeating his enemies by opening his kingdom with these keys and letting people in. 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:11.179 But also he uses these keys to shut the kingdom, to protect it, to keep the enemies out, to keep the wrong people out. 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:14.319 That's why we lock our doors at night, isn't it? 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.819 We protect our homes. 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.480 We don't want the wrong people in. 00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:18.960 Keys protect. 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:23.700 And how do the doors of the kingdom open and shut? 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:28.679 It is through the preaching of the gospel and through church discipline. 00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:31.759 Now, where do we see this? 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.879 Look at Matthew 23. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:39.599 This is Jesus condemning the scribes and the Pharisees for their false teaching. 00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:43.740 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. 00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:48.419 For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. 00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:53.680 For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.299 So how have the Pharisees? 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:58.080 So how have the Pharisees been shutting the kingdom? 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.700 By preaching a false gospel. 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:07.720 Their legalistic preaching wasn't opening the door and bringing forgiveness and new life. 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.619 It was shutting it. 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:19.179 And so it is through the preaching of the true gospel that the kingdom is open or closed. 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:24.599 Open for those who repent and rightly shut to those who don't. 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:36.299 Now, this isn't to say preachers and elders have this kind of magical power to save people and take away salvation just by whatever they say. 00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:38.799 No, elders aren't infallible. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:44.539 These keys only work when it's in line with God's word. 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:53.000 But when that word is preached, we need to realize that is Christ opening and closing his kingdom. 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:58.340 He opens it when he says that Christ forgives the sinner. 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.659 Come and receive that. 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.099 That is the kingdom opening. 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:04.099 But what about discipline? 00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:06.320 Well, look at Matthew 18. 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:10.460 This is all about church discipline and how to deal with unrepentance in the church. 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:12.699 I'd recommend you to read this whole section later. 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:15.360 But just look at these two verses, Matthew 18. 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:25.000 If he, the unrepentant sinner, refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector, an outsider. 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:27.519 Treat him as someone outside the church. 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:33.039 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.480 And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:49.679 Whatever happens in the state of the church, Jesus is saying that there is a connection with that to the heavenly reality of the kingdom. 00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:53.360 So do you see the same language of loosing and binding? 00:35:54.980 --> 00:36:00.800 As church discipline is applied, that is the keys of the kingdom in use. 00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:04.199 And the kingdom is being open or shut. 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:18.019 And so Christ is breaking into this world and taking it back from Satan and bringing in his new restoring kingdom and protecting that kingdom with these keys. 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:21.779 It's through preaching and discipline. 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:40.780 And so let me end with this. 00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:44.480 This is how we should think about preaching every Sunday. 00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:54.440 But preaching, if you think back to our prophet Sunday school, but preaching, it is a prophetic act, right? 00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:57.240 Christ speaks today through his preachers. 00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:59.360 We saw that a few weeks ago. 00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:03.780 But I want us to also say, preaching is a kingly act. 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:17.380 As forgiveness is held out to the sinner and Christ calls people to repentance, that is the king opening up his kingdom and advancing it into the world. 00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:33.040 As his word challenges you and rebukes you and addresses our sin, that is the king bringing his rule more and more into your life, bringing his kingdom more into your life. 00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:38.440 salvation comes to us by these keys. 00:37:39.860 --> 00:37:43.820 But also, as his word goes out and says, no, that sin is not okay. 00:37:44.640 --> 00:37:46.820 You can't promote that in my church. 00:37:47.180 --> 00:37:49.400 You cannot be baptized without repentance. 00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:55.900 That is the king protecting his kingdom, keeping it pure, keeping the enemies out. 00:37:57.539 --> 00:38:05.180 And so I just want us to realize today that these keys should be jangling in every church, in every church service. 00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:17.739 And so I hope we can see that Christ isn't this hands-off king who kind of watches his church up from heaven, but isn't really involved. 00:38:18.899 --> 00:38:26.179 No, he is among us, active, speaking and defeating sin and Satan in our lives, protecting his people. 00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:29.099 And he is doing that using these keys. 00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:33.559 That is where we see the contact of Christ's kingship. 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:38.199 And he is working all things for the good of his church. 00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:49.019 And so all of this in church, all this may look normal, but this is actually the king of the universe ruling over us. 00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:53.000 Bringing his kingdom into a fallen world. 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:56.599 And one day, this kingdom will have no end. 00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:59.420 There won't be a boundary line like this. 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:02.239 His kingdom will cover all the earth. 00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:05.619 And the whole world will be his kingdom perfectly. 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:10.559 So that is why we keep praying, your kingdom come. 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:15.639 And so that is the work of Christ. 00:39:15.780 --> 00:39:17.679 That is Christ's prophet, priest and king. 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:19.519 I hope it's been helpful. 00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:25.000 I hope that's just a helpful way to understand the work of Christ. 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:27.239 It's not just this general saving. 00:39:27.779 --> 00:39:31.739 It's a prophet, priest and king working in our lives. 00:39:33.359 --> 00:39:34.539 I'll stop there for questions. 00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:35.819 Yeah, we've got a few minutes for questions. 00:39:35.820 --> 00:39:48.019 Hey, Melvina. 00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:53.940 All right, so discipline in church. 00:39:55.940 --> 00:40:00.539 How is that executed in church? 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:08.340 Would you, if the president doesn't want to change the things that you just exclude them? 00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:08.780 Yeah. 00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:17.440 If you want to know all the details of how IPC will do church discipline, speak to one of the elders. 00:40:17.660 --> 00:40:21.260 They'll be able to give you a full outline of that. 00:40:21.620 --> 00:40:26.620 But first of all, we need to understand that discipline isn't, when we think of discipline, we think kicking out the church. 00:40:26.720 --> 00:40:27.740 It's communication, right? 00:40:27.739 --> 00:40:30.579 That's the final step. 00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:33.219 That is the extreme final step of church discipline. 00:40:33.879 --> 00:40:37.359 In fact, church discipline, it happens all the time in church. 00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:40.279 Preaching, in a way, is discipline. 00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:48.040 It's the word kind of rebuking and challenging and correcting and reinforcing the good of the church, right? 00:40:49.140 --> 00:40:51.180 So discipline happens all the time. 00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:59.360 Discipline, you know, like a light conversation in some ways could be discipline, like just an encouragement could be discipline in a good way, right? 00:41:00.019 --> 00:41:01.120 All discipline is good. 00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:04.740 So let's understand that. 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:07.260 Discipline isn't just the extreme, it's the whole spectrum. 00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:09.780 Like all of the elders' work is discipline in a way. 00:41:11.060 --> 00:41:23.620 But kind of that formal discipline that you're talking about, you know, usually the steps are, it kind of be, first of all, kind of a conversation, maybe a personal conversation. 00:41:24.200 --> 00:41:27.760 It's been like, I see there's something going on in your life. 00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:29.320 Like, are you addressing that? 00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:31.600 So it can start off like that. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:39.880 Then it might go to kind of a bit more of a formal conversation, maybe with a couple of elders being like, I don't, we don't think that's right. 00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:40.860 That needs to stop. 00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:46.579 Then if it doesn't, it might be addressed to the, taken to the session. 00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:55.019 And then if that continues, it might mean being barred from the Lord's Supper until repentance takes place. 00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:57.900 That doesn't mean you're kicked out of the church. 00:41:58.599 --> 00:42:00.440 That just means you're barred from the Lord's Supper. 00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:05.679 It's a part of showing like, ah, this sin has consequences. 00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:11.299 And it's making me not be able to enjoy the communion and the fellowship of the church. 00:42:11.859 --> 00:42:17.480 And so it's a good form of discipline to make me realize, man, okay, my sin really should stop. 00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:23.900 But if that persists and continues, it may get to the point of, yes, excommunication. 00:42:24.039 --> 00:42:25.860 Like, you can't be a member of this church anymore. 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:30.619 You're openly sinning and it could potentially corrupt the rest of the church. 00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:33.579 I'm speaking very kind of crudely here. 00:42:33.679 --> 00:42:34.940 That's generally how it is. 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:37.840 And it's very rare to get to that point. 00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:39.360 That's pretty extreme. 00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:41.559 It happens, but it's extreme. 00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:43.900 Yeah, is that helpful? 00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:44.539 Yeah. 00:42:50.679 --> 00:42:55.000 So we often get the phrase, kingdom of God, thrown at us. 00:42:55.820 --> 00:43:01.860 When that gets thrown at us, just give us what we could be thinking to get the right definition. 00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:02.900 Yeah. 00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:06.759 So kingdom is God's rule, right? 00:43:07.019 --> 00:43:08.159 So king's rule. 00:43:08.159 --> 00:43:13.259 So the kingdom of God is when Christ's rule comes into this world. 00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:15.779 So this world is rebellious. 00:43:16.679 --> 00:43:25.719 And so when it ceases its rebellion and becomes subdued under Christ's rule, that's the kingdom of God at work, right? 00:43:26.039 --> 00:43:28.659 And so we see that most clearly centrally in the church, right? 00:43:28.899 --> 00:43:31.119 We are all submitted to Christ. 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:38.480 We are following him and he's ruling in specific ways with his elders over us and by his word. 00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:40.139 So there's that. 00:43:40.799 --> 00:43:43.359 But also it can be broader than that. 00:43:45.460 --> 00:43:45.579 Yeah. 00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:56.859 His rule can kind of, as his kingdom expands, you can see it's not necessarily, so let's give an example. 00:43:56.860 --> 00:44:09.880 So a Christian sharing the gospel at work, that is the kingdom kind of pushing forth a bit. 00:44:10.260 --> 00:44:12.160 That isn't necessarily the church. 00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:16.820 Like, is the church in that coffee area at work? 00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:21.320 Yes, a Christian's there, but that's not quite the church is there. 00:44:22.220 --> 00:44:28.539 But that is kind of Christ kind of pushing the boundaries of his kingdom through that Christian. 00:44:29.200 --> 00:44:38.120 And so, yeah, it's, I don't have kind of a neat definition to separate church and kingdom, but yeah, they're not the same. 00:44:38.119 --> 00:44:47.179 But when someone uses the word kingdom of God, obviously, how have you heard it being used in various ways? 00:44:47.920 --> 00:44:53.199 Well, you often get sort of, it's often rolled out in my liberal theology as well, this is the kingdom of God. 00:44:53.359 --> 00:44:56.079 And you think, I just wonder what the definition of that is. 00:44:56.259 --> 00:44:56.579 Right. 00:44:56.839 --> 00:44:57.119 Yeah, yeah. 00:44:57.799 --> 00:44:58.159 Yeah. 00:44:58.960 --> 00:45:02.000 Good place to ask them, what do you mean by that? 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:04.739 And does that match up to all that we've been saying? 00:45:05.739 --> 00:45:12.000 Because people just being nice, like, we can't just say that that's the kingdom of God. 00:45:12.059 --> 00:45:15.340 And the kingdom of God means church just cannot be happy. 00:45:16.579 --> 00:45:17.960 Yes, essentially. 00:45:18.199 --> 00:45:21.400 But the church and the kingdom aren't one-to-one. 00:45:21.559 --> 00:45:23.820 The kingdom is a bit broader than that. 00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:33.500 But, yeah, but to separate it from the church, to say that this, yeah, this thing over there has nothing to do with the church, but it's still the kingdom. 00:45:34.120 --> 00:45:37.660 Yeah, that, that's when we can say, no, that's something not right there. 00:45:40.500 --> 00:45:41.280 Yeah, like us. 00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:49.380 So, when everyone has been born into the kingdom, saying, oh, Christ comes again and we're going to find a state. 00:45:49.940 --> 00:45:50.280 Oh, yeah. 00:45:50.300 --> 00:45:51.920 Does the kingdom change? 00:45:51.920 --> 00:46:03.000 Oh, so in eternity, when all the world is God's kingdom, are you saying, is there a difference between that kingdom and this one that's coming in now? 00:46:04.019 --> 00:46:08.420 So, it's the same kingdom because it's, it's the same king, right? 00:46:08.599 --> 00:46:10.059 Remember, kingdom is rule. 00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:13.000 So, it's the same rule, but it's going to be the kingdom consummated. 00:46:13.820 --> 00:46:17.539 So, the language is currently the kingdom is inaugurated, right? 00:46:17.659 --> 00:46:19.840 It's broken in, it's beginning, it's expanding. 00:46:19.840 --> 00:46:30.900 But in the new creation, when everything's perfect, no sin, no rebels, that will be the same kingdom consummated, finished, completed, perfected. 00:46:31.039 --> 00:46:31.140 Yeah. 00:46:31.600 --> 00:46:32.019 Does that make sense? 00:46:32.440 --> 00:46:32.539 Yeah. 00:46:32.539 --> 00:46:35.420 Oh, yeah, Lucy. 00:46:35.420 --> 00:46:51.599 I'm just thinking about now, when we go to church, there's not, it's not a sort of, it's like it's been, the devil has taken that out of Christ at all. 00:46:51.599 --> 00:47:01.980 How, how do you, how should I think about, I'm doing a, you know, church thing that don't normally do, you see something doing, you see something doing, you see something out. 00:47:01.980 --> 00:47:02.659 Yeah. 00:47:02.659 --> 00:47:02.779 Yeah. 00:47:02.779 --> 00:47:04.159 How should I do that? 00:47:04.159 --> 00:47:04.559 Yeah. 00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:15.000 Has it, um, what we say, like, was it, yeah, were, were those hearts ever really submitted to Christ? 00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:18.300 I'm going to say, ultimately, no. 00:47:19.260 --> 00:47:22.280 So, was that Christ losing one of his citizens? 00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:24.739 Ultimately, no. 00:47:25.719 --> 00:47:39.360 But we also need to acknowledge that there is a, in the world now, as this kingdom is inaugurated, and we look at the church, the church is, there is a visible and invisible aspect of the church, right? 00:47:39.360 --> 00:47:52.400 So, the church, formally and structurally, visibly, is full of true Christians who will be in the new creation, and actually, people who say that Jesus is Lord, but they're not actually true Christians, they won't be in the new creation. 00:47:52.760 --> 00:47:59.079 It's a mixed church, so, um, yeah, Jesus speaks of the wheat and the tares, the good fish and the bad fish. 00:47:59.720 --> 00:48:05.539 Um, uh, so, so, yeah, we need to understand that that is the case about the church. 00:48:05.539 --> 00:48:15.719 And so, you can say, visibly, yes, they have left the kingdom, right, because we would say, oh, yeah, that's a church over there, they're a part of the kingdom of God. 00:48:16.159 --> 00:48:25.599 So, you can say, visibly, yes, they have, but, but, kind of, invisibly, like, they were never in it, because they were never, like, Christ never loses anyone under his rule. 00:48:25.860 --> 00:48:29.820 But someone under the leadership could be in it. 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:30.460 Oh, yeah. 00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:32.000 So, you said it could be a mix. 00:48:32.440 --> 00:48:35.219 Yes, even in that church, it's mixed, yes, yeah, yeah. 00:48:35.219 --> 00:48:42.939 So, globally, yeah, it's a mixed church, but also, even within, kind of, bad churches, there'll be, there'll be mixed people, exactly, yeah. 00:48:43.119 --> 00:48:50.339 So, those, those faithful saints, they have not left the kingdom, like, they, they were always in it, Christ would never lose that, yeah. 00:48:50.339 --> 00:48:50.759 Yeah, yeah. 00:48:52.859 --> 00:48:53.659 Let me pray. 00:48:53.659 --> 00:49:03.159 Lord God, we praise you that Jesus Christ is king. 00:49:03.159 --> 00:49:10.599 He rules over all, and he rules over us today, his bride, the church. 00:49:11.579 --> 00:49:16.920 And Lord, we pray that we would find great comfort knowing that Christ is king, working all things for our good and for our salvation. 00:49:17.779 --> 00:49:20.000 And we pray that we would praise him today. 00:49:20.139 --> 00:49:25.379 Would Christ's kingdom come more and more into our lives, into this world. 00:49:25.380 --> 00:49:28.800 And we pray that he would be glorified. 00:49:29.240 --> 00:49:30.460 And in his name, amen. 00:49:31.940 --> 00:49:36.099 We start it, we've got a half term next week, so no Sunday school next week. 00:49:36.360 --> 00:49:40.039 But the week after, we're starting a new series on apologetics, defending the faith. 00:49:40.539 --> 00:49:41.599 So, it should be a good one. 00:49:41.840 --> 00:49:42.119 See you then. 00:49:42.119 --> 00:49:43.119 Thank you. 00:49:48.840 --> 00:49:50.860 John T. Rhodes, get the book at the bookstall. 00:49:51.059 --> 00:49:51.380 Thank you. 00:49:51.380 --> 00:49:52.380 Thank you. 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.380 00:49:55.380 --> 00:50:25.360 Thank you.