When the Bible speaks of the “Kingdom of God” It’s speaking of a Kingdom that is here but hasn’t reached its ultimate fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God as a Future Reality
The Kingdoms of this world and the kingdoms of God
Daniel 2:36-45
The Kingdom of God as a Past and Present Tense Reality
Component of the Kingdom of God
Luke 17:20b-21
"The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
The Spiritual Component
The phrase “Kingdom of God” appears 65 times in the New Testament. Starting with Matthew 12:28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
56 times the phrase refers to the establishment of a Kingdom in the present or a kingdom of the heart.
9 times the phrase refers to a Heavenly Kingdom or the millennial reign of Christ, a future kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:9
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Background on Corinth
The spiritual and moral environment of the first century city of Corinth was extremely unhealthy. Out of this culture, which had seen its prime and under the crushing weight of further moral decline would one day destroy itself, men and women answered the call of the gospel. They sought purpose for their lives; they sought a better way; they sought an eternal and abiding hope. They found it in Christ Jesus. Even if their city and culture would shortly lie in ruins, they would live forever.
When we’re talking about the Kingdom of God what are we talking about? (Discuss)
The Wicked Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God
• The Sexually Immoral
(1) The Sexually Immoral shall not inherit the kingdom of God. This term refers to those who engage in sexual activity which God has declared sinful. He has not declared all sexual activity immoral. In fact, He condones and even encourages lawful sexual activity according to His design and purpose (I CORINTHIANS 7:2-4; HEBREWS 13:4). Fornication refers to sexual activity outside of the marriage relationship between a man and a woman. It would include premarital as well as extramarital sexual relationships of whatever duration from a one night stand to an ongoing affair. Such activity was rampant in first century Corinth. It is rampant today in our own society. It is unrighteous and it will keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
• God must be First
(2) Idolaters shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who offer to others what belongs unto God are idolaters. A person's idol might be a statue before which he bows. Or more probably it might be his own desires. It is anything that a person adores more than God. Idolatry will keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
• Adultery
(3) Adulterers shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Adultery seems to be more specific a term than fornication. It is usually limited to sexual unfaithfulness to a marriage partner. Adultery will keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
• Male Prostitutes
(4)A man who sells himself sexually is not righteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• Homosexual Offenders
(5)What does the Old Testament Say about Homosexuality?
Leviticus 18:22
" 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
Leviticus 20:13
" 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Genesis 18
20 Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
Genesis 19:1-29
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
The Angels come to visit
They want to sleep out in the square.
Lot insists that they sleep in his house.
After dinner all the men of the city, young and old surrounded Lot’s house.
Genesis 19:5 "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
This is intense rape spirited homosexuality. There is nothing consensual about what these men of Sodom are attempting.
Genesis 19:6-8
Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."
Something is really wrong with Lot. I believe he could’ve been pre-disposed to some poor sexual behavior before moving to Sodom but I believe the city has left an impression on him. His culture is effecting him. Just like he’s effecting the culture.
What man in his right mind would offer his 2 virgin daughters to a mob of rape ready men?
The daughters don’t appease the mob and they move to break down the door so they can have sex with the Angels and they threaten Lot that he’s going to get it worse than they.
The Angels strike the rape crazed men with blindness and conclude that the city must be destroyed.
Genesis 19:12,13
12 The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."
We know that God does not rejoice in the demise of the wicked yet he destroys this city?
I believe God is always redemptive. If he can redeem you he will. If he can’t he may take you out or allow the Devil to take you out so you don’t influence anyone else in your ways.
Lot had a hard time believing the calamity that was going to come upon Sodom. He thought it was a Joke. He hesitated in leaving so the angels held his hand and had to lead him out.
God’s judgment is no Joke. We are in a time of great grace now but…
Revelation 15:7
7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
There is a time coming in the future where God's wrath will be poured out onto the Earth
Quote from Freddy Mercury, a Bi-Sexual who prefered men.
For Freddie, the beginning of the end came when he was at boarding school in Bombay. He was just 13 and had his first homosexual experience - with an older pupil who made him call him Master. "I had a crush on The Master and I'd have done anything for him." he later confided. "When we went to bed together it didn't feel wrong and, although I had never had sex with a woman I wondered if it was really worth all the fuss! Over the next 20 years I went to bed with many women, for my sex drive is enormous and I like to live life to the full. But it was only when I was in the arms of a man that I felt truly fulfilled."
I thought up the name Queen. It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid, It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. ” —Freddie Mercury
We are the champions written by Freddie Mercury has his heart and thus his world and life view. It’s been argued that the song we are the Champions is actually a homosexual anthem. Notice the desire to conquer and win at all costs. Homosexuality is not something that if you leave it alone it will leave you alone. It’s passionate and proud and desires to not just be understood but demands to be accepted and desires to take over.
The obvious reality that this lifestyle creates if it were to take over is that in one generation there wouldn’t be any people on the planet. This obviously is a negative thing for the continuation of the human race.
Any person should be able to see that without heterosexuals, life as we know it on the Earth would cease. Let's move on to the other sins listed here.
• Thieves
(6) Thieves shall not enter the kingdom of God. There is no excuse for taking that which rightfully belongs to another. Whether its shoplifting, pilfering, short-changing or armed robbery, fraud and extortion, it is thievery. Whether the person doing the stealing is rich or poor it will still keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
• Greedy
(7) The Greedy will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This has to do with having an uncontrollable desire to possess a certain thing. It motivates one into committing sin in order to satisfy greed. Coveting that which belongs to another will keep one from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
• Drunkenness
(8) Children of God have no need to cloud their perspectives nor dull their senses. We must be able to think and reason clearly. Drunkenness causes one to lose focus and rationality. Those who give themselves over to intoxication will find that it keeps them from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
• Slanderers
(9)There are many to speak boldly about things that they know little about. Many men and women of God have had to endure reproach for their faith. Not even the Son of God escaped verbal abuse.
• Swindlers
(10) Swindlers and smooth talkers of all kinds are included here. The religious con-man belongs to this group as well as the secular. Those who prey on others by trying to take advantage of their misfortune would also be included. Swindlers cannot take their ill-gotten goods with them when they leave this world, nor will they inherit the Kingdom of God. Bernie Madoff is a swindler.
Sanctification is not the basis of justification but the inevitable result of justification. Those whom God declares righteous on the basis of their faith in Christ's work for them, God also makes righteous by the work of his Spirit within them. Those whose lives are characterized by the expressions of the sinful nature demonstrate that they have not been born by the power of the Spirit.
1 Cor. 6:12
12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Apostle Paul says, “I can do whatever I want but not everything is good for me.” I choose by God’s grace to not do the things that destroy the establishment of his Kingdom in my heart and the establishment of his kingdom on the earth.
Sin shall not be my master! Jesus is my master. If I’m mastered I’m getting robbed by the Devil! I’ve exchanged the truth for a lie and have become deceived.
Jubilee Family Church
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