Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am not a Biblical scholar. All my posts and comments are opinions and thoughts formulated through my current understanding of the Bible. I strive to speak of things that can be validated through Biblical Scriptures, and when I'm merely speculating, I make sure to note it. My views can be flawed, and I thus welcome any constructive perspectives and criticisms!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Jesus and the Coming of His Kingdom


Sermon by Pastor Mark Driscoll

Who is Jesus?

- Jesus came down from Heaven (John 6:38-42).

- Jesus is more than just a good man (Mark 10:17-18). “No one is good but God alone,” said Jesus. Jesus is not just a good man, not just a good teacher. Jesus alone is perfect. Jesus alone is God. Jesus alone is good.  

- Jesus performs miracles (John 10:36-39). “If you do not believe my words, look at my works,” said Jesus. Jesus still works miracles today. Not only should we believe His words, we should also witness His works.

- Jesus is sinless (John 8:46). No one is perfect, we all have admitted at least once. Except me, says Jesus. Jesus alone is perfect. This is a staggering statement. No other leader in the world has the ability/right to ever made this statement.

- Jesus is God (John 10:30-33). No other religious leader has ever made this claim.

- Jesus alone forgives Sin (Mark 2:5-7; Psalm 51:4).

- Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Jesus is exclusive. There is no salvation, no forgiveness of sins, no eternal life, no reconciliation with God without Jesus. However, Jesus is inclusive, too. Everyone is welcomed to pass through Him: Young and old, poor and rich, any religion, any cultural background… Anyone and everyone!


- Jesus was resurrected (Mark 8:31). Jesus’ vindication is His resurrection. Jesus is alive!

John 11:25-26
Jesus doesn't do funerals. He does resurrections.
No one can die in the presence of Jesus. The dead hears Jesus and raises up.
 
Jesus has power over death.
Death is tragic when it is perceived through the eyes of those without God, without Jesus. Death seems permanent without Jesus in the picture. However death viewed with Jesus in the picture is not scary at all. Jesus has control over death.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Jesus defeated death.

The Coming of the Kingdom
Luke 17:20-37

- Jesus is the King (Daniel 7:13-14)
- Jesus would be king of all people.
- The kingdom would be nothing but good.

- The Kingdom of God is the people of God, living in the place of God, under the rules of God.
- Jesus comes the first time in humility. He comes to live as man, to live without sin as man, to suffer and die for us on the cross.
- Jesus comes the second time in glory. Jesus comes again to rule as King.

The Kingdom of God comes…
- patiently
- unexpectedly: we should therefore always be ready
- obviously: like lightening in the sky

How do we stay prepared? Jesus tells us to remember Lot’s wife:
She was turned into a pillar of salt because she longed for her past life in Sodom and Gomorrah. Her love for that past life surpassed her love for God. She longed for worldly goods, not God; for sin, not salvation; for death, not life. And so, the warning is, “Don’t look back, don’t long back, don’t go back.”

No comments: