Not What You Do, But Who You Are

Romans 14:17-18

When the Bible refers to the Kingdom of God, it is rarely speaking of Heaven. Most often, it is talking about that composite whole that makes up the Christian experience, not to be attained down the road, but to be witnessed within the heart and life of each child of God.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, ‘Lo here!’ or, ‘Lo there!’ For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21). The Greek word that Jesus uses for “within you” is ‘entos’ meaning, “in the midst”. The kingdom of God had already been promised to David and spoken of by the prophets, but Israel would reject it. Now, the kingdom of God lives in the hearts of men; someday it will come in the clouds (verse 24).

If the kingdom of God is within us, then what does Jesus mean when He says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)? It the kingdom of God is within us, yet we are still seeking that kingdom first and foremost, how can these things be?

The answer is completed in Paul’s writing to the church at Rome, while speaking about what men can eat and drink now that they are saved. Some thought it was wrong to eat certain meats because they had been forbidden in Judaism, while others thought that it was fine. Paul doesn’t just come out and say “Eat this” or “Don’t eat this”; instead he offers that believers under grace live by a higher set of standards than this.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). You have the Holy Ghost living inside of you as a believer, so your life is greater than arguments over “right and wrong”. Instead, you are to follow after that which identifies with the three characteristics that you have inside of you: righteousness, peace and joy.
If the decision that you are about to make brings no peace and joy, avoid it! You are the righteousness of God in Christ, so you live by that which speaks to the righteousness of God in you. When there is a feeling of death or disturbance about a situation, it is the Holy Ghost in you ministering to you so that you will move away from the issue. We do not need a list of “Do’s and Don’ts”; we have the Holy Ghost!

“For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men” (Romans 14:18). This next verse tell us that if we serve Christ by going after that which ministers to righteousness, peace and joy in our hearts then this is “acceptable to God” and we will be “approved of men”. This world cannot help but gravitate towards believers who go after peace and joy. These believers are not full of hate and condemnation and sinners move naturally toward that flow of love, for it is most like Jesus.

I have heard some preachers comment that if the world approves of you then you are doing something wrong. Don’t listen to such nonsense, especially in light of Paul’s statement that believers that follow after the kingdom of God in their hearts will have the approval of men. May we believers be known more for who we are than for what we do. Only then will we properly represent our Heavenly Father and have all things added to us.

Give Your Peace

Matthew 10:13
Just before He went to the cross, Jesus made this powerful statement to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 15:27). What a moment this must have been! The disciples had never seen Jesus stressed out or overwhelmed. He was the model of perfect peace and harmony, and He is now giving that same peace to mere man. He has also attached the promise that His peace is given in a different manner than the world gives. Peace on this earth is found only with the absence of conflict. Peace from Jesus is constant; conflict or not.

Armed with this peace, the disciples were equipped to face a world that would not always accept them or their message. In fact, on another occasion, Jesus told them that they would be hated of all men for His name’s sake (Matthew 10:22). Knowing that the world would reject them, they are now armed with the one thing that will help them through that rejection.

Christ’s finished work at the cross bought peace for the believer. Since we are justified by our faith in Jesus, we have been given peace with God through the finished work of Christ (Romans 5:1). Calvary bought our peace because it took the brunt of God’s wrath and anger against the sin of the world and it poured it onto and into Jesus. Now that God’s wrath has been appeased, we are able to come boldly before the Father due to the precious blood of the Son.

This peace is so tangible and so real, that it is literally a commodity that the believer has at his or her disposal. When Jesus gave instructions to the disciples about how they were to minister, He instructed them to salute the house that they enter (Matthew 10:12). This salute was more than a gesture and a few words, but was frequently a prolonged event characterized by embracing and kissing. It was Jesus’ way of telling the disciples to pour love onto those who opened their homes to them.

Once the minister was settled into a home, he would begin to share the good news of Jesus, which would either be accepted by the residents or rejected in turn. If the message was accepted then that was great news for both the minister and his audience. That house was deemed “worthy” of such a disciple and he was to “let your peace come upon it” (Matthew 10:13). If they rejected the message, he was to “let your peace return to you”.

The disciple was not to rise up in anger against the house and pronounce some sort of curse of doom against it. This is unnecessary, since the curse of the law will fall squarely on those who reject Jesus as their Savior. You need not add to the worst curse of all just because your message has been cast aside. Besides, New Covenant preachers will bless and curse not (Romans 12:14).

You can give of your peace to someone else today. You are a helper of their joy (2 Corinthians 1:24), so follow after the things which make for peace in their life (Romans 14:19). Give your peace to those who will accept it, for freely has His peace been given to you!

Not What You Do, But Who You Are

Romans 14:17-18

When the Bible refers to the Kingdom of God, it is rarely speaking of Heaven. Most often, it is talking about that composite whole that makes up the Christian experience, not to be attained down the road, but to be witnessed within the heart and life of each child of God.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, ‘Lo here!’ or, ‘Lo there!’ For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21). The Greek word that Jesus uses for “within you” is ‘entos’ meaning, “in the midst”. The kingdom of God had already been promised to David and spoken of by the prophets, but Israel would reject it. Now, the kingdom of God lives in the hearts of men; someday it will come in the clouds (verse 24).

If the kingdom of God is within us, then what does Jesus mean when He says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)? It the kingdom of God is within us, yet we are still seeking that kingdom first and foremost, how can these things be?

The answer is completed in Paul’s writing to the church at Rome, while speaking about what men can eat and drink now that they are saved. Some thought it was wrong to eat certain meats because they had been forbidden in Judaism, while others thought that it was fine. Paul doesn’t just come out and say “Eat this” or “Don’t eat this”; instead he offers that believers under grace live by a higher set of standards than this.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). You have the Holy Ghost living inside of you as a believer, so your life is greater than arguments over “right and wrong”. Instead, you are to follow after that which identifies with the three characteristics that you have inside of you: righteousness, peace and joy.
If the decision that you are about to make brings no peace and joy, avoid it! You are the righteousness of God in Christ, so you live by that which speaks to the righteousness of God in you. When there is a feeling of death or disturbance about a situation, it is the Holy Ghost in you ministering to you so that you will move away from the issue. We do not need a list of “Do’s and Don’ts”; we have the Holy Ghost!

“For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men” (Romans 14:18). This next verse tell us that if we serve Christ by going after that which ministers to righteousness, peace and joy in our hearts then this is “acceptable to God” and we will be “approved of men”. This world cannot help but gravitate towards believers who go after peace and joy. These believers are not full of hate and condemnation and sinners move naturally toward that flow of love, for it is most like Jesus.

I have heard some preachers comment that if the world approves of you then you are doing something wrong. Don’t listen to such nonsense, especially in light of Paul’s statement that believers that follow after the kingdom of God in their hearts will have the approval of men. May we believers be known more for who we are than for what we do. Only then will we properly represent our Heavenly Father and have all things added to us.

Give Your Peace

Matthew 10:13
Just before He went to the cross, Jesus made this powerful statement to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 15:27). What a moment this must have been! The disciples had never seen Jesus stressed out or overwhelmed. He was the model of perfect peace and harmony, and He is now giving that same peace to mere man. He has also attached the promise that His peace is given in a different manner than the world gives. Peace on this earth is found only with the absence of conflict. Peace from Jesus is constant; conflict or not.

Armed with this peace, the disciples were equipped to face a world that would not always accept them or their message. In fact, on another occasion, Jesus told them that they would be hated of all men for His name’s sake (Matthew 10:22). Knowing that the world would reject them, they are now armed with the one thing that will help them through that rejection.

Christ’s finished work at the cross bought peace for the believer. Since we are justified by our faith in Jesus, we have been given peace with God through the finished work of Christ (Romans 5:1). Calvary bought our peace because it took the brunt of God’s wrath and anger against the sin of the world and it poured it onto and into Jesus. Now that God’s wrath has been appeased, we are able to come boldly before the Father due to the precious blood of the Son.

This peace is so tangible and so real, that it is literally a commodity that the believer has at his or her disposal. When Jesus gave instructions to the disciples about how they were to minister, He instructed them to salute the house that they enter (Matthew 10:12). This salute was more than a gesture and a few words, but was frequently a prolonged event characterized by embracing and kissing. It was Jesus’ way of telling the disciples to pour love onto those who opened their homes to them.

Once the minister was settled into a home, he would begin to share the good news of Jesus, which would either be accepted by the residents or rejected in turn. If the message was accepted then that was great news for both the minister and his audience. That house was deemed “worthy” of such a disciple and he was to “let your peace come upon it” (Matthew 10:13). If they rejected the message, he was to “let your peace return to you”.

The disciple was not to rise up in anger against the house and pronounce some sort of curse of doom against it. This is unnecessary, since the curse of the law will fall squarely on those who reject Jesus as their Savior. You need not add to the worst curse of all just because your message has been cast aside. Besides, New Covenant preachers will bless and curse not (Romans 12:14).

You can give of your peace to someone else today. You are a helper of their joy (2 Corinthians 1:24), so follow after the things which make for peace in their life (Romans 14:19). Give your peace to those who will accept it, for freely has His peace been given to you!