KINGDOM TEACHINGS AND PROMISES
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
The child Jesus has now fully grown in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:52). Therefore we read in the chapter just prior to our text, John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
We also read in John 16:28, I came forth from the Father, (That’s his eternality.), and am come into the world: (That’s his Incarnation.), again, I leave the world, (That’s his Ascension.), and go to the Father. (That’s when the ManHead went back into the Godhood.) Therefore we see in this, and in reading his prayer in John 17, that period is over of veiling his wisdom and his knowledge as God, only rationing it out to his humanity as a matter of growth, in order to be made like unto his brethren. Now we read in John 18:4, Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him,…
Therefore the King of glory begins to instruct his apostles concerning his spiritual rule in his new kingdom. But his apostles are all asking him questions from the viewpoint of reason and human logic, having not the revelation of the Holy Spirit as yet. Thomas (v.5), Philip (v.8), and Judas, not Iscariot (v.22), all ask him of natural things, having only a concept of a literal, earthly kingdom. The Lord was patient with them, answering their inquiries as he did Nicodemus, although they too could not receive the expression of “heavenly things.”
For at this point they are similar to the world, which cannot believe in that which they cannot see! John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Yet the Lord was kind and merciful to Thomas after his resurrection, like the Good Shepherd that he is, in bringing him on to see by the eye of faith! John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And we should not think it strange that our unregenerate acquaintances cannot perceive that which we understand in the realm of the spiritual. It would be like a butterfly trying to describe to a caterpillar what it is like to fly! For our Lord told Nicodemus that he could neither see, nor enter the kingdom until he was born again! John 3:3 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. 5 Jesus 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. And, dear Reader, that is the very reason that there is such vast deception concerning an earthly kingdom of Christ today! We have a massive amount of unregenerate church members!
We cannot convey the matters of the King and his kingdom by education! For education only brings illumination! Kingdom matters are only received inwardly by revelation. For only inward revelation brings manifestation! And that revelation only comes by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
We are training souls to receive a concept of God mentally by teaching the scriptures without the application of the Holy Spirit. But the only true teaching of the scriptures is that done inwardly by the Holy Spirit, who reveals Christ, the King, to their souls! John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. For it is not the inscripturated word, but the Living Word, who is God, (John 1:1), that manifests these glorious matters to the inward man!
We must be careful, for the performance of religious works, without the Holy Spirit – only “saying” and not “doing” – is called by God, a work of iniquity! Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
And that not only deceives the pupil, but it also deceives the teacher! James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Listen at this precious verse revealing the time of the disciple’s spiritual awakening to the unity of the inscripturated word with the Holy Word of God, Jesus Christ. John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Inward revelation cannot be “taught” by man! It is confirmed by human teaching, but can only be taught by the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
God alone can put wisdom (which is the revelation of Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:30), into the inward parts! Job 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
One essential matter, which is mainly overlooked in religion today, is that one must first seek his righteousness in seeking the kingdom! Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Only one thing can be “first!” But there are two things to be first sought – the kingdom of God, and his righteousness! For without his righteousness one cannot identify, nor enter the kingdom, for having that righteousness is to be borned again. (See John 3:3,5 listed above.) Being born again involves the imputing of God’s righteousness to the soul! 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. But regeneration also includes the imputing of our sin to Christ! Therefore our relating to the kingdom includes the cross work of Christ, along with the work of the Holy Spirit, imparting Christ’s righteousness, by grace alone, to the soul of the elect sinner!
And this heavenly imparted righteousness, in connection with ones sin imparted to Christ, is the only righteousness that exceeds religion’s moral righteousness! Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. For one can be moral and not be righteous. But one cannot be righteous and not be moral! 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The Apostle Peter states that there are those who have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They have adjusted their lives to a more moral state by receiving gospel light, but have not received the Spirit’s life! And if that is all the influence they have from the gospel, they will finally fall away. Then Peter continues, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (2 Peter 2:20-22).
Dear Soul, the only way to deal with the soul’s tendency towards immorality is for the Holy Spirit to impute the righteousness of God into the heart! Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
And this is a glorious promise that the King of the spiritual kingdom makes to the apostles, gathered together there with him. They were to receive another Comforter, who would both bring them an awareness of a union with the Godhood, and be their teacher, since the Old Testament prophesies were all fulfilled in Him! John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Having received the gift of the Holy Spirit with the love of God he provides, will also evidence the union with the Lord, and give ability to keep his commandments. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 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. 23 Jesus 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.
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the evidence of the believer’s salvation. And he provides that evidence by the new nature keeping the commandments of the Lord. For that ability is not provided through the effort for morality, but is only manifest by the Spirit’s presence.
These alone are sought of the Father. He seeks those who will exclusively worship him both in spirit and truth. John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
And these alone properly worship him. They are not given to dead orthodoxy, nor to emotional wildfire! Both of which are vain worship! Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
May our Lord return his Spirit to today’s professing religionists by sovereign, regenerating grace. For without him we can do nothing!
Pastor Gene Breed, February 27, 2015
