Great Sayings of Jesus Series

"Not Far From the Kingdom"

Hopewell Church of Christ

December 19, 1999

Introduction

"And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34.)

One of the scribes asked Jesus which is the first commandment of all. This is an example of the kind of religious discussions that the Jewish leaders had. Of all the commandments in the Law, Which is the greatest or first? Jesus replied that the greatest is to love God with all your heart. Jesus added that the second (which they did not ask for) is to love your neighbor as yourself. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth; for there is one God and there is none other but He. And to love with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw. . . .

There are several unusual or different things that happened in this encounter of Jesus with the scribes. 1) They did not try to ignore his teaching or gainsay it. They admitted how true his reply. 2) It showed that they did understand much of the Law. Often man knows better than he lives. 3) The inner state of the heart is more than burnt offerings. David understood this long before. (Psalm 51.) 4) This man was near the kingdom of God. Perhaps, the scribe was both puzzled and encouraged by Jesus' reply. He would need to know more about the kingdom of God. You will recall that the thief dying with Jesus asked to be remembered when the Lord came in his kingdom.

This is a wonderful statement by Jesus. It speaks concerning nearness to the Kingdom. There are three things that are necessary for us to consider. One, those who are near; secondly, those who are far away; thirdly, what is it that the scribe was near?

#1: What is the Kingdom of God ?

Jesus repeatedly used the phrase, kingdom of God or of heaven. In contrast, only a few times did he use the word, church. Here are some examples:

* "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17.)

* "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3.)

* "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and . . . ." (Matt. 6:33.)

* "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. . . ." (Matt. 7:21.)

* Jesus referred to the kingdom nine (9) times in this twenty minute sermon on the mount!

* "The kingdom of heaven is like unto. . ." (Matt. 13.) In this chapter alone, Jesus used the word twelve (12) times. It was a common and favorite word. In contrast we use the word, church, more than we do the word, kingdom.

* "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3.)

* "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Col. 1:13.)

* Seven (7) times, (that number should not surprise us!) the word, kingdom or kingdoms(2), occur in Revelation.

What was it that the scribe was near? We could say simply that he was near salvation. He was expressed a good understanding of God's will of man, about how he should live his life. Batsell Barrett Baxter was once asked, What is the greatest sin a man can commit? He replied, It is breaking the greatest commandment which is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Secondly, we should love our neighbor as ourselves. On these commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matt. 22:40.)

Jesus, John and their disciples had gone forth preaching a very simple message---Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. There was something special about to happen. God was going to act in history among men. His Son would die to usher in a new era. Paul called the kingdom of his dear Son. There would be a new covenant, not like the one he gave to the children of Israel. It would be a fulfillment and a progression of it.

The Kingdom implies that someone is a king. We should remember that God has always been King; therefore, is one sense, God has always had a kingdom. But there are different manifestations of God's kingdom. He had a kingdom before the word, church, was ever used. There are references to the kingdom of heaven as an eternal entity after the church ceases to meet. The word, church, simply means the assembly of God's people. The word, kingdom, means the place of the rule of God in the hearts of people. Jesus said once,

"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 church cannot exist in your heart because God's people cannot assembly there, but the kingdom can and does exist there because God rules from within the heart. "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10.)

The question, then, that must be asked of us is, Does God rule within your heart? Have you allowed God to be rule there? Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? That is very comprehensive! Have I been translated, spiritually, into the kingdom of God's dear Son? Have I been born again of water and the spirit? Have I fallen into the heart of the earth, like a seed being planted? Have I died unto myself and to the world?

What the scribe was near is this place of reconciliation with God. It was salvation, the church, the place of submission to God, the spiritual kingdom not the physical state of Israel or any other kingdom on earth.

One cannot enter into something that they do not understand. This scribe was growing in this understanding and needed only the further information about the new birth, in contrast to his Jewish relation to Abraham. People coming to the end of their lives need to know what the spiritual kingdom of God is and how to enter into it.

#2: Those Far Away From the Kingdom

"Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Mark 7:6.)

This statement is direct opposite from Mark 12:34. Some were far away from God; the scribe was near. Others, a few compared to the many, are actually in the Kingdom. "Among those born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matt. 11:11.) John was a spiritual man; a prophet of God who understood the spiritual, inner truths. How was it that John was not in the kingdom. He preached that it was near, but not yet established. It would be established by the work of Jesus in his life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Thus, John was not privileged to live long enough to enjoy this special manifestation of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of his dear Son. Therefore, those least in the kingdom are greater than John in the sense that we enjoy the present blessings of that kingdom.

Paul wrote, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:14.)

We can confidently say that those who do not embrace righteousness are far from the kingdom. Jesus said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33.)

Sodom & Gomorrah. Those far away from the kingdom of God could be described as those living in the suburbs of Sodom of Gomorrah! (Genesis 18 & 19.)

Without appearing to be pessimistic or cynical, I want to warn us all of the ways of the world. The Bible urges us to come out and be separate.

(2 Cor. 6:17.) We are not doing a very good job of obeying this command. About the same percentages of sinful deeds done by non-Christians are also being committed by those who call themselves Christians.

These cities became so wicked that God destroyed all the inhabitants with fire from heaven. The name, Sodom, has since come to stand for perversion, for sexual immorality. "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." (Gen. 13:13.) The twin names, Sodom and Gomorrah, are mentioned often in Scripture as a warning to all who today would live wickedly.

Concerning wicked Babylon, Jeremiah wrote, "As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith the Lord, so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein." (Jer. 50:40.)

"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly. And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." (2 Peter 2:6-7.)

In referring to Rome, John described that wicked city in the first century spiritually as Sodom and Egypt. (Rev. 11:8.) Sodom as a place of unspeakable wickedness; Egypt as a place of bondage. Sin and bondage go together. Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34.)

We should all be made aware of the present wickedness of our culture. Things that once were unspeakable are now publicly discussed and committed by public officials and members of the church! Let me name some.

1) About the same percentages of illegitimate children, teens living together outside of marriage, and divorces that occur in the world are now in the church.

2) Children wear suggestive clothing that openly identifies them with the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah! You can see them walking down the streets of Hopewell and all the cities around us. It appears that we are living in the suburbs of Sodom if not downtown!

3) We are being told today by many voices that we must be tolerant of others. It is just a different lifestyle or alternative living arrangement. I do not believe that we should hate sinners or harm them physically. But homosexuality and sodomy are the very sins for which Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed!

4) Disney World has now a day set aside just for homosexuals to parade their sinful lifestyle before the world.

5) We have public government officials who commit sinful deeds while in office with the public expressing no real concern. As long as the money keeps on flowing, we are happy in America. We had rather have our riches than our purity!

6) We have one announcing that he desires to run for President as an Independent. He is not married and lives with young models. He said openly that he did not think that Americans would object to his having the models in the White House with him. If he can make us richer, he is probably right!

7) We have an almost epidemic of sinful behavior in the church. Brother Bruce White served the Madison, TN church a few years ago as a counselor. The number one problem that families were having in the church was incest. There was sexual abuse and perversion of every kind. Members of the church are not immune from such sins. Parents abuse their own children; most often the other adult in the home turns their eyes away knowing that something evil is going on.

Charles Spurgeon wrote that there is a devil in every church. He meant that Satan is allowed in our hearts. He does not come in the form of someone that is evil looking with a pitch fork. He seeks to enter into our hearts. He can transform himself into an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:13-15.)

Remember that Judas was very near Jesus, but he was overtaken by Satan. Jesus said that Satan desired Peter to sift him as wheat. Judas was near Jesus physically, but far away spiritually from the kingdom of God.

#3: Those Not Far From the Kingdom

As we near the end of another year, I want to urge you to draw near to God. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:22.)

We can make no progress spiritually until we desire the Word of God. Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matt. 4:4.) Make a commitment to attend every possible service. I cannot imagine being a Christian and not desiring to be a part of the Bible studies. If you are a member of the church, you should make a commitment to attend all the services. Many of the churches are now not even meeting at their buildings on Sunday nights. The reason is often because there is such a lack of interest.

Obey the Gospel. If you have learned the meaning of the new birth, what the Lord requires of you, then you should obey the Gospel today. Many will die just outside the Kingdom! They know much already, but they lack the commitment to obey and draw near. I cannot give a good reason, but many simply hold back and do not get involved. You may be not far from the kingdom, but that is still outside.

There have been millions who have heard the Gospel of Christ, but did not obey it. They were near; often even in a place of worship. They heard. Remember the parable of the sower going to sow the seed. Of the four different types of soil, only one was described as good soil that brought forth fruit unto God. Another received the Word, but soon fell away. The seed of the Gospel is being sown widely today with the mass media; many hearts are hearing. They are near in that sense, but still they are outside.

They are yet lost in sin until they obey.

Lot's wife. Be different from the world. The Bible says, Remember Lot's wife. (Luke 17:32.) But have you ever wondered why she was turned into a pillar of salt? The very next verse may give some indication. "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." (verse 33.) The statements in this context are about the judgment in Noah's day and the destruction of Sodom. Also, he refers to a coming judgment when two will be working in the fields and one taken; the other left. Two women grinding at the mill. One shall be taken; the other left.

If we are going to escape judgment, we must be like the salt of the earth. This is the only hope that the world has. Ten righteous people could not be found in Sodom. Salt preserves. She failed to be that kind of person. That pillar of salt should forever remind us of the kind of people we should be.