Kingdom of Christ - Ye Blessed of My Father, Inherit the Kingdom Prepared for You

• Kingdom of God prepared for "the Sheep" - All through the Bible we frequently find references to God’s redeemed people as “sheep”. God separates Sheep and Goats NOT based on the good works but by their spiritual condition. Sheep typify the born-again believers redeemed by Christ, where as Goats typify the unsaved. These people are God’s elect – His sheep, the true Christians, the spiritual Jews – that the Bible talks about. And do they deserve such salvation? Absolutely not. It is all of God's grace – it is all of God's mercy – it is all of God's purpose – in order that God may alone receive all glory, honor, and praise for His gift of salvation.

Matt 25:31-35 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred  [for bread of life] , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty [for living water], and ye gave me drink:"

John 10:14-16 "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

John 10:26-29 "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

Tit 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

2 Tim 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

Rom 9:11 "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)"

• The kingdom of God is not (physical) meat and drink -  The “meat [or food] and drink” that is in view in Matt 5,  is not just physical but the spiritual “meat and drink” that we find explained in John 6, which can give everlasting life. We are to proclaim the Gospel, that is, the spiritual “meat and drink”,  "bread of life", "living water" of the Bible, to those who are spiritually thirsty and hungry.

Rom 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man [Lord Jesus Christ] shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Matt 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

Matt 25:31-35 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred  [for bread of life] , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty [for living water], and ye gave me drink:"

• Ye are no more strangers, but fellow citizens in Kingdom of God - we all are "by nature the children of wrath" (Eph 2:3) and aliens and strangers to the Kingdom of God until God "translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (col 1:13)

Psa 146:7-9 “Which [The Lord] executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”

Eph 2:12-13 "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

Eph 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"

Matt 25:31-35 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred  [for bread of life] , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty [for living water], and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger [alien to the kingdom of God] , and ye took me in:"

• The kingdom of God is Righteousness, with which being clothed we shall not be found naked  - We are all naked before God because of our sin until God clothes us with "Christ's robe of righteousness". God clothing Adam and Eve with animal skin typifies the covering God provides through his son Jesus "to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor 5:21)

2 Cor 5:1-3 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [corruptible bodies] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven [glorious spiritual bodies]: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked."

Isa 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness , as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

Matt 25:31-35 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred  [for bread of life] , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty [for living water], and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger [alien to the kingdom of God] , and ye took me in: 36Naked [in need of Robe of Righteousness], and ye clothed me: ..."

• Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand - We are all infected with sin which brings us eternal death unless God heals us by giving Salvation. Jesus Christ is our Great Physician. Christ Came for the Spiritually Sick and His mission was to redeem those who are spiritually diseased.

Isa 1:4-6 "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."

Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Matt 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matt 25:31-36 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred  [for bread of life] , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty [for living water], and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger [alien to the kingdom of God] , and ye took me in: 36Naked [in need of Robe of Righteousness], and ye clothed me: I was sick [sin sick], and ye visited me: ..."

• God has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son - We are all are in the bondage of sin and servants (slaves) to sin. Our Savior gave the Gospel of Grace to us and redeemed us by his precious blood. we are commanded to go into all the world and "to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24). The truth of God's Word has power to set a sinner free from the bondage of sin.

John 8:32-34 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."

Psa 146:7-9 “Which [The Lord] executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”

Isa 42:6-7 "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me [Jesus Christ], because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 9To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Isa 61:1

Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

 Col 1:12-13 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

Matt 25:31-35 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred  [for bread of life] , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty [for living water], and ye gave me drink: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

• Lovest thou me? Feed my Sheep - Loving neighbor is meeting their greater Spiritual need, which is escape from eternal damnation, in addition to meeting their worldly needs. When we receive the agapao love (unconditional love of God) we share the Gospel  with our neighbours that they too might receive the unconditional love of God . This is the ministry of reconciliation. This is Phileo love (brotherly love).

Mark 12:30-31 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these”

Rom 13:8-10 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

1 John 3:16-18 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agapao] thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agapao] thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [phileo] thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest [phileo] thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Matt 25:31-40 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous [imputed with Righteousness of Christ] answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Abraham's Children by Faith

• Beneficiaries of the Everlasting covenant, The SEED -  In Genesis 17 God further told Abraham that he is making "an everlasting covenant".  The word "everlasting" immediately tells us that "thy seed" there refers to those who are in Christ, because they are the only ones who will inherit the new heaven and the new earth. Everything on this earth will be destroyed by fire on the last day. The seed in Christ are who are saved by grace through faith, which is the gift of God. God specified in His will that the beneficiaries were to be Abraham and his seed. In Gal 3:16, the apostle calls particular attention to the word "seed", as distinguished from "seeds." And that singular seed that God had in Christ, not all the blood descendants of Abraham. The promises, as we learned earlier in this lesson, is the free gift of eternal life. As the testator of the will, Christ had to die to activate the bequest. But because Lord Jesus Christ is testator of the Will  and also a Beneficiary of that will and because the Lord Jesus is the promised seed of Abraham, all those who are in Christ are joint heirs according to the promise.     

Heb 11:17-18 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him [Isaac] in a figure [figure of Christ]."

Gal 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

Rom 9:6-8 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

Rom 2:28-29 "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Gal 6:15-16 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

Gal 4:22-28 "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh [unbelievers from both Jews+ Gentiles]; but he of the freewoman was by promise [believers from both Jews+ Gentiles]. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."

Gal 3:26-29 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Eph 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Kingdom of Christ - God is [Agape] Love

• God is love - “Love” is one of the magnificent attributes of God. The biblical phrase “God is love”, as found in 1 John 4:8, contains the familiar Greek word "Agape" for the kind of love that the Three Persons of the Godhead have for Each Other and for true believers. God’s agape love is an integral part of His salvation program in that He loves His people (the elect), who are scattered all over the world; and He demonstrates His love by saving them from eternal Hell, as Rom 5 explains. In essence, God is defining love by His very character. And what is the character of the Lord Jesus Christ? God’s love for His people is a love that is demonstrated by the work and faith of the Lord Jesus. Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ is the personification of God’s love. Also because love is a “fruit” of the Holy Spirit according to Gal 5, it manifests itself in the life of a "born-again Christian" in whom God's Spirit dwells. In our time together let us examine the characteristics of Love and how God demonstrated these characteristics and how he expects [ and works it out] in the life of a child of God.

Rom 5:8 “But God commendeth [exhibits] his love toward us [believers], in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

1 Cor 13:4-8 "Charity [Love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8Charity never faileth..."

• Love Suffereth Long -  The Greek word for “suffereth long” is also translated as “patience” and is closely related to God’s forgiveness, as in the parable of the wicked servant in Mat 18. The spiritual message there is that God is patient in saving His elect, as we see in 2 Pet 3. The same Greek word is also used in the following two verses to describe how believers are to live patiently and contentedly in this world and to show patience with others. Speaking of Abraham and the promise of eternal inheritance, God says in Heb 6. With respect to others, God gives these instructions in 1 The 5. 

2 Pet 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Matt 18:23-35 "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

1 The 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

2 Tim 2:24-26 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

Heb 6:15 “And so, after he [Abraham] had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”

• Love is Kind -  Now, let’s focus on the second characteristic of Love – kindness. The Greek word for “kind” is translated both as “kind” and “goodness”. We see that God is “kind” to unthankful and evil people in Luke 6. We also learn in Rom 2 that God’s “goodness” leads His elect to repentance. In Eph 4 believers are instructed to mirror the kindness that God has shown to them by being kind to one another.

Rom 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Luke 6:35 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he [God] is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Eph 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

• Love Envieth Not -  The third quality of Love is the absence of envy. The Greek word for “envy” is related to “zeal”, which is used to describe both favorable and unfavorable traits. We see the word used in a good sense in 1 Cor 12.  God is a Jealous God towards his children (Exo 34:14) but with Godly Jeaslousy (2 cor 11:2) that they should not serve sin. The unfavorable kind of envy is what 1 Cor 13 admonishes believers not to practice in their lives and is what we read about in Acts 7. In Jam 4 the word is used to describe sinful “desire” for worldly things, which is a characteristic of unsaved people. May the Holy Spirit empower us to exhibit patience, kindness, and the good kind of zeal in our lives for God’s honor and glory.

Exo 34:14 "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"

1 Cor 12:31 “But covetearnestly [zealously] the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

2 Cor 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Acts 7:9 “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him.”

Jam 4:2 “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire [envy] to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?"

• Love Vaunteth Not Itself -  The Greek word for “vaunteth” has the idea of boasting about oneself, which is the outward expression of pride. Pride and boasting are some of the characteristics of man that God hates most because they indicate man’s defiance and rebellion against God, as we read in Judges 7. This proud nature of unsaved man is described in many verses. Christ demonstrated his humbleness in that being God, humbled himself to the death of cross (phil 2:8). There is only one kind of boasting in a believer that meets with God’s approval – it’s the boasting by believers in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, about the mercy of God for His glory, as we read in Gal 6.

Php 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Gal 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Jer 9:23-24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

Jud 7:2 “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”

Pro 6:16-19 "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Pro 16:18-19 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Jam 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

• Love is Not Puffed Up -  The Greek words for “not puffed up” have the same idea of humility as “vaunteth not”. This has to do with the underlying motive of one’s love. A Christian’s love should not be “puffed up” for self-serving recognition, but its nature should be that of selflessly and humbly serving God and ministering to others. Christ is not puffed up but meek (Matt 21:5) even being KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev 19:16) but edifies His Church by nourishing it with Living Bread and Living Waters (Psalm 23:2). The Godly love of a true believer under the power of the Holy Spirit should serve to build up others in the faith, as 1 Cor 4 teaches.

Rev 19:16 "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Matt 21:5 "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."

Num 12:3 "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)"

1 Cor 4:6-7 “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

•  Love Doth Not Behave Unseemly -  The Greek words for “behave unseemly” mean “to act unbecomingly (or dishonorably) against the Word of God”. Lord Jesus did not behave unseemly but kept Fathers commandments perfectly (John 15:10). In other words, a Christian shows his love and respect for God by behaving decently and honorably according to the commandments and principles set forth in the Word of God. The same words are used in 1 Cor 7 to describe how an unmarried man should behave toward the woman he is courting. May the Holy Spirit empower us to live humbly and honorably for the glory of God.

John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

Pro 6:16-19 "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

1 Cor 7:35-36 “And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely [honorable], and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely [dishonorably] toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.”

• Love Seeketh Not Her Own -  The Greek word for “seeketh” here carries the idea of “desiring” or “demanding”. This unselfish aspect of love was demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ in not seeking his own will but the will of His Father (John 5:30) and suffered God's wrath for us ( Luke 22:42). A Christian shows his love for his fellowman by not demanding his own self-serving way and by being sensitive to the needs of others. A true believer will find that he is happiest when he desires the things of God and not of the world, as we read in Mat 6.

John 5:30 “I [Jesus Christ] can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

Heb 10:6-10 "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7Then said I [Lord Jesus] , Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Luke 22:42 "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

Mat 6:31-33 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

1 Cor 10:33 "Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

Php 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

• Love is Not Easily Provoked -  The Greek word for “provoked” carries the idea of “becoming stirred up”. One should not be easily “riled up”, or provoked to anger, which is a very ungodly trait for a believer. Lord Jesus was not provoked even on the Cross when he was mocked (Luke 23:36-39) but only provoked with unseemly behavior of the money changers at the temple (John 2:17). However, a Christian should be “stirred up” to defend the Gospel, as in Apostle Paul’s case in Acts 17.

Luke 23:36-39 "And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."

John 2:15-17 "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."

Acts 17:16-17 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.”

• Love Thinketh No Evil -  Pro 23:7a sets forth an important principle: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”.  The thoughts of one’s heart reveal a person’s true nature, as the Lord Jesus proclaimed in Mark 7. Yes, the heart of unsaved, natural man is “desperately wicked” as stated in Jer 17. However, the true believer who is saved by God’s Grace, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, can overrule his evil nature and focus his thoughts on the things of God, as we read in Php 4. A Christian can have victory over evil and wickedness because, amazingly, he is given the “mind of Christ”, as declared in 1 Cor 2.  Lord Jesus overcame evil with good (Rom 12:21) by praying for those who persecuted him (Matt 5:44). May God cause us to demonstrate agape love in our lives by being unselfish, controlling our anger, and focusing our thoughts on the things of God.

Mark 7:21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders.”

Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Php 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Matt 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

1 Cor 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we [believers] have the mind of Christ.”

Rom 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

3 John 1:11 “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

• Love Rejoiceth Not in Iniquity -  What does God mean by stating that love does not rejoice in iniquity (sin)? Lord Jesus have not rejoiced in iniquity but overcame temptation (Luke 4:1-13) and stood as high priest for us knowing our infirmities (Heb 4:15). He is the Lamb of God without blemish and without spot (1 pet 1:19). Because God does not rejoice in man’s sin, neither does God’s love rejoice in sin of any kind; and because a Christian must reflect God’s love by his conduct on this sin-cursed earth, he should not rejoice in sin either, as is clearly stated in 2 Tim 2. Because a believer must live in an unsaved body, he is engaged in a constant internal struggle between his sinful flesh and his new, resurrected soul, as the Apostle Paul explains in Rom 7. Paul concludes that statement with the wonderful truth in Rom 8. Sadly, God has this to say about the fate of those who continue to “rejoice in iniquity” in 2 The 2.

Luke 4:2 "Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered."

Heb 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

2 Tim 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Rom 7:22-25 “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Rom 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

2 Chr 19:7 “Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

2 The 2:12 “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

• Love Rejoiceth in the Truth -  This statement is the converse of the previous one. God rejoices in the Truth of His Word, the Bible. Lord Jesus Himself is the truth (John 14:6) and the Word in flesh (John 1:14) and was magnified above all (Psa 138:2).  He has even placed Himself under the authority of His Word, as we read in Psa 138. Therefore, a Christian must also rejoice in the Word of God and show his love for the Truth by sharing it with others. As opposed to the things of this sin-cursed world, there is no iniquity in the things of God, as 2 Chr 19 declares. Thus, for those who have become saved through the power of the True Gospel, there is much joy in their lives as they serve their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, according to Php 2.

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Psa 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name [God] for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

2 Chr 19:7 “Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

Php 2:17-18 “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.”

• Love Beareth All Things -  Lord Jesus bore all our griefs, our sorrows, our transgressions and our iniquities (Isa 53:4-5). The Greek word for “beareth” means “to endure patiently (or suffer)”, as did the Apostle Paul as he ministered to the Gentiles according to 1 Cor 9.  A Christian must demonstrate the love of God by patiently bearing, or enduring, adversity for the cause of the Gospel of Christ. May God cause us to depart from sin, rejoice in the Truths of His Word, and patiently bear the burdens of His service for His honor and glory.

Isa 53:4-5 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

1 Cor 9:11-12 “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”

• Love Believeth All Things - Since the Greek word for “believeth” is the usual word for “believe”, what does it mean that love believes “all things”? It's Lord Jesus belief and Faith, that God will not leave his soul in hell nor will his body see corruption (Acts 2:22-28) that saved us (Gal 2:20). Remember, we have been talking about God’s love as manifested in the lives of His children – those whom He has saved. They are the true believers who have come to know the truths of God’s Word. They read and study the Bible so that they can learn “all things” that God has placed there to strengthen their belief, or faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ – that is, the faith that God has given them as a result of salvation. Thus, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit true believers can understand spiritual truths from the Scriptures and can distinguish them from the lies of all the false gospels and religions of the world.

Acts 2:25-27 "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Gal 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Gal 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

• Love Hopeth All Things -  Lord Jesus became our only hope (1 Tim 1:1, Rom 8:24-25) in this life and life to come eternally (1 cor 15:19). God has placed the “hope” of eternal life in every true Christian’s soul. This is not a worldly “hope” that something good might happen in the future. God’s “hope” is an absolute certainty that “all things” God says about His salvation program in His Word, the Bible, will be fulfilled, as we read in Rom 8.  

Acts 2:25-27 "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

Rom 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

1 Tim 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.”

1 Cor 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

• Love Endureth All Things -  Here we have another of the “all things” statements, which pertains to the things of God as set forth in His Word. The Greek word for “endureth” means “to endure (or persevere)”, which is similar to “beareth” that we studied in the previous lesson – but perhaps indicating greater intensity and longer duration. We find the word used to describe Christ’s suffering on the cross in Heb 12. Lord Jesus became the author and finisher of our faith by enduring the cross and endured the hostility of the sinners (Heb 12:2-3). A Christian must demonstrate God’s love in his service for his Lord by his endurance, as we read in Mat 10.

Heb 12:2-3 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Mat 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Jam 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

• Love Never Faileth -  The Greek word for “faileth” is translated as “falleth away” and is contrasted with “endureth” in 1 Pet 1. Here is the great truth about God’s love – it is God’s Word and it can never fail. It is God’s love that is the driving force behind God’s magnificent salvation plan. Lord Jesus loved his children with everlasting love and no tribulation, distress, presecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword can seperate us from the love of Christ (Rom 8:35). Thus, all of God’s people are secure in His love; and because that love is eternally within their hearts, they will show it to others by their faithfulness to God’s Word, the Bible. A true believer will be happiest when he is doing the will of God by “loving his neighbor” – that is, sharing the Gospel of Christ with his fellowman.

1 Pet 1:24-25 “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Rom 8:35-40 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 Cor 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity [Agape Love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [Agape Love of God].”

Kingdom of Christ - Christ's Love for His Bride is from Everlasting to Everlasting

• Not that we loved God, but that He Loved us - Love is an Attribute of God. Let’s begin by looking at why the Bible claims that God is love. In essence, God is defining love by His very character. And what is the character of the Lord Jesus Christ? We get a glimpse in 1 Cor 13. God’s love for His people is a love that is demonstrated by the work and faith of the Lord Jesus. The word “propitiation” means that the required penalty for sin has been fully paid. The individuals who have entered into the Kingdom of God, as God has drawn them to salvation, are the very ones in view in 2 The 2:13.

1 Cor 13:4-8 "Charity [Love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8Charity never faileth..."

1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

1 Pet 4:8 “...for charity lAgape Love] shall cover the multitude of sins.”

1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Rom 5:7-8 "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

2 Cor 5:21 “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who [God the Son] knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [God the Son].”

2 The 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”

Mat 25:34 “Then shall the King [Jesus Christ] say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

• Greater Love hath no man than this - Without looking at every other related verse in the Bible one might come to the erroneous conclusion that sacrificing one’s physical life for someone else is the greatest act of love. While this is certainly true on the physical level, it does not take into consideration the spiritual ramifications of this important verse. Jesus is asserting that this power to lay down His life and take it again is a commandment that He has received from God the Father. The reason this statement is so significant is that throughout the Bible God closely associates love with obeying the commandments, as we can see from John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”. There is also another aspect of God’s love as found in Rom 13:10, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”. In other words, the Lord Jesus has not only forgiven the sins of every child of God by suffering the equivalent of an eternity in Hell on their behalf, but He has also fulfilled the righteousness of the law for them, by perfectly obeying the Bible in thought, word, and deed.

John 15:12-13 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 10:17-18 "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Rom 13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Heb 10:8-10 “Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I [Lord Jesus] come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

• Christ Loved the Church [with Everlasting Love], and Gave Himself for It - God likens the salvation of His children to marriage. The word “church” here refers to the eternal body of "born-again" believers, the Bride of Christ. We must remember that Christ loved His people while they were “without strength” (meaning spiritually dead) and were ungodly, sinners, and enemies in total rebellion against Him. God frequently uses “to know” as a synonym for “to love” in the Bible; and it indicates an experiential, intimate knowledge that is typified by the physical intimacy of a man for his wife. This intimacy typifies Christ’s love for His eternal church, the body of true believers which is the Bride of Christ.

Ephesians 5:29-32 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Col 1:18-20 "And he [Jesus Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

Ephesians 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Rev 19:7-8 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen [robe of Christ'r Righteousness], clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

Rev 21:9-11 "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;"

Rom 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

• The Good Shepherd Giveth His Life for the Sheep - God demonstrates the fact that He is "Love" through His Salvation program by becoming the Good Shepherd and the Sacrificial Lamb. Although we cannot fully comprehend the scope and magnitude of God’s love, we can see from the Scriptures that God’s Everlasting Love is a very important aspect of His salvation plan for His chosen people (the Elect).  In principle, God’s love for His elect began before the foundation of the world and continued to eternity.Those who are the recipients of God’s gift of salvation were in total rebellion against God before He saved them. The Bible says that true believers were “dead in trespasses and sins” and were “children of wrath”. Yet Rom 5:8 makes this wonderful statement, “But God commendeth [exhibits] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.

John 10:11,15,17-18 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Rev 13:8 "... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world [from everlasting]."

Eph 1:4-6 “According as he hath chosen us [the elect] in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Ephesians 2:1-5 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

Rev 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood."

Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"

Tit 3:4-7 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration [born of Water, the Word], and renewing of the Holy Ghost [born of Spirit]; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

• LORD thy God will Circumcise thine Heart to Love the LORD thy God with all thine Heart - The First and great command is "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind".  Unsaved Heart is incapable of Loving God this manneer. God's intervention is necessary in regenerating man's Heart to Love Him with all their Heart. The Second great command is "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself".  The ten commandment are covered in "loving God" and "Loving your neighbor"[Rom 13:9]. How do I love myself and my neighbor in the same manner? The Bible explains that this really means that to love oneself and others is to desire the greatest good or blessing possible, which is Eternal Life in Christ. The greatest blessing that could benefit any person is to have their sins forgiven and, as a result, to be qualified to enter the kingdom of Heaven and have Eternal Life. We love our neighbor by proclaiming the Gospel to them. Obedience is the Evidence of Love.

Matt 22:36-40 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren "

Rom 13:8-10 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Gal 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Heb 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."  

John 14:21,23 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him [This the Kingdom of Christ]."

Kingdom of Christ - Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

• Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God - The only people who are true Christians, or true citizens of kingdom of God are those who have become “born again”, or spiritually regenerated (Tit 3:5), by the power of God. In John 3 we are confronted with the late night conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus on the subject of the New Birth. The Greek word translated as “again” is anothen (G509), which literally means “from above” – that is, “from heaven” or “from God”. We need to keep in mind that the gift of salvation, which comes “down” from God Himself, is entirely undeserved and is only by God’s grace. Nothing short of birth “from above” will suffice for someone to “see” (that is, with eyes of faith) the Kingdom of God. All blessings, whether physical or spiritual in nature, originate from God. Moreover His objective is to bless His Word and the furtherance of His Kingdom. The water in John 3 typifies the Word of God which is why "Faith [salvation] comes by hearing the Word of God"[Rom 10:17]. Water Baptism typifies the Spiritual Baptism. Man must be “baptized” (i.e., have his sins washed away) by the Holy Spirit in order to receive God’s gift of eternal life and enter into kingdom of God.

Mark 1:14-15 “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

John 3:3-8 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 11:16 “Then remembered I [Peter] the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” [cf., Acts 1:5; Mat 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Tit 3:4-5]

1 Pet 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Jam 1:18 “Of his own will begat [made us born again] he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Eze 36:25-27 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

Eph 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing [washing of water by the word] of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

Rom 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

• Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance - It’s interesting to note that the Greek word rendered as “repenteth” and “repentance” is metanoeo (G3340), signifying a “change of mind or understanding”. Notice how in Luke 15, verse 7 makes the point that there are those who identify with the “… ninety and nine just persons,  which need no repentance”.  Everyone in this category is merely “self-righteous” and have not been saved. They do not understand their own sinfulness. Sadly, this is the essence of mankind’s fallen nature. It is the deluded, prideful expression of the Pharisee in Luke 18. Take note that salvation is a matter of the heart, or soul, or mind (all three are used interchangeably in the Bible), and this is what repentance is. It involves a change of mind inside out, or a renewed mind.

Luke 5:32 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Pro 30:12 “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”

Luke 18:11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

Luke 15:7, 10“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance… Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Eph 4:23-24 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind [or soul]; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

• Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation - Don’t Confuse Remorse with Repentance. Consider the parable of the rich man in Hell in Luke 16. The Bible also furnishes accounts of some who apparently had repented, but their repentance was not genuine. It was merely remorse, or the “sorrow of the world”. This is seen in the example of Judas in Mat 27. We see in the historical context the literal fulfillment of “… the sorrow of the world worketh death” because Judas committed suicide. However, this verse is not speaking about physical death but eternal death – to be destroyed in Hell forever. This is what the Lord Jesus was underscoring in Mat 26 when referring to Judas. The Bible also furnishes us with another illustration of remorse or regret – not genuine repentance – in Heb 12, regarding Esau. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation…” In other words, godly sorrow produces, or causes, genuine repentance because it is the work of God the Holy spirit in the hearts of His chosen people.

2 Cor 7:10 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Luke 16:30-31 “And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one [Christ] rose from the dead.”

Matt 27:3-5 "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

Mat 26:24 "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe [destroyed in Hell] unto that man [Judas] by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Heb 12:16-17 “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

• God commands all men every where to repent -  Man is utterly incapable of obeying this command. Nonetheless, God gives commands concerning repentance throughout the Bible. If they are taken merely at face value (and without looking at all the other verses in the Scriptures), they can foster the false idea that man can repent of his own volition. As we have seen above, repentance is not just turning away of outward sins but a total change of heart, inside out. Only God can accomplish this in an individual. Then why did God give these statutes in the Bible? These commandments should reveal our need for the savior and drive us to Lord Jesus Christ. This agrees with everything else the Bible teaches regarding man’s spiritual deadness, and God’s sovereign grace to redeem His elect through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 17:30  "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent ”

Rom 3:19-20  “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

Joel 2:12-13 "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

Jer 31:18  “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou art the LORD my God.”

Jer 4:4 “Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskin of your heart, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, that My fury not go forth like fire and burn, so that no one can put it out; because of the evil of your doings.”

Deu 30:6 “And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Jehovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.”

  

• Repentance is a Gift from God - Repentance is the result of Salvation. Only God can give a person eternal life. God must draw the elect to Himself and grant them repentance, spiritual understanding, faith to trust Him, and a capacity to love and obey Him. This is dramatically seen in the people of Ninevah. They first believed – everything else followed that. And we know that to believe is to have faith, and the faith related to salvation is a gift from God and comes by hearing the Word of God. We also learn in Rom 2:4 that God’s “goodness” leads His elect to repentance which is synonymous with salvation and is closely associated with God’s mercy. God is merciful to His elect and saves them because of His goodness; and He works all things “together for good” in their lives. The “reproving” that the Scriptures provide is actually a demonstration of the Lord’s great, eternal love toward His redeemed people. Notice how the word “meekness” in 2 Tim 2:25 can result from God’s granting repentance (or a change of mind) as a result of salvation. The child of God is to exhibit the attitude described in Eph 4:2, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

Jon 3:5  "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.”

Acts 11:16-18 "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

Eph 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Luke 24:45-48 “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”

Rom 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Rev 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Rom 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Joel 2:12-13 “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

2 Pet 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Mat 9:13 “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Acts 5:31 “Him [Jesus] hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel [Israel of God, Gal 6:16], and forgiveness of sins.”

2 Tim 2:24-25 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”

• Who can tell if God will turn and repent? - God Himself does not repent, or change His mind. Now on the surface, this can be a bit confusing. Didn’t God “repent” when He did not bring judgment against Nineveh? And what about the citations in Gen 6 and 1 Sam 15? The Hebrew word that is utilized in both of these passages for “repenteth” is (nacham:H5162), which is also rendered as “comfort”, “comforter”, and “ease”. Let’s look at some other Scriptures that teach just the opposite in Num 23 and 1 Sam 15. How then are we to understand Jon 3:10. The first point we have to come to grips with is that even before the foundation of the world, God had planned to save the Ninevites. This was very difficult for Jonah to comprehend. Why would God show this degree of kindness and mercy to such rebellious, wicked individuals and sworn enemies of Israel? What Jonah struggled with, Peter would one day realize that God intended to save the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, as we read in Acts 11. Note what he says in Jon 4:1, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry”. However, God was also teaching Jonah an “object lesson”, even as He did with Peter many hundreds of years later about His plan to save a people for Himself which included both Jews and Gentiles. In Jonah’s case, it involved a gourd which God had graciously provided to shield Jonah from the burning sun which was beating down on him in Jonah 4. God’s answer to Jonah in Jon 4:9-11 helps us see God’s love as the motivating force behind this wonderful salvation account, even though God had warned of impending judgment previously. The reason for the statement “… whose praise is not of men, but of God” in Rom 2, is because God has to do all the work of salvation, including the granting of repentance; and He gets all the praise and glory for it.

Gen 6:6-7 "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”

1 Sam 15:11 “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.”

Num 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

1 Sam 15:29 “And also the Strength of Israel [God] will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.”

Jon 3:10 “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not”?

Jon 4:9-11 “And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”

Acts 11:16-18 "Then remembered I [Peter] the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

Rom 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”