[an error occurred while processing this directive] Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ  Lesson 15 LESSON 15

Why I am a Member of the Church of Christ

"BECAUSE IT TEACHES THAT THE
KINGDOM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND
CHRIST IS NOW REIGNING"

by: Bill Cantrell

Introduction
The Kingdom has already been established.
Jesus is now reigning upon the throne of David.
Conclusion.

INTRODUCTION.

1. Has the kingdom been established? Either it has or it hasn't.

2. There is a group of future kingdom advocates known as premillennialist. They advocate that Jesus Christ came into the world to establish his kingdom, but, could not because the Jews rejected Him, thus, He established the church as a substitution for the kingdom until He returns. According to this theory, when He returns, He will rapture the saints, call the Jews back to Palestine, resurrect the righteous dead and sit on the literal throne of David in the literal city of Jerusalem to reign for 1000 years known as the millennium.

3. The theory is advocated by various denominations, study bibles and commentaries.

4. In this study we will focus our attention primarily on two points:

A. The fact that Jesus did establish His kingdom the first time He came.

B. The fact that Jesus is presently reigning upon the throne of David.

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I. THE KINGDOM HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED.

A. Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.   (KJV)

This passage reveals that the kingdom would be established during the life time of some of His then living disciples. If the kingdom hasn't been established, then there are some then living disciples still living, thus making them some nineteen hundred years old.

B. Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.   (KJV)

The Kingdom was to come with power.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)

The power would come with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.          2   And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.   3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (KJV)

The Holy Ghost came on Pentecost. Therefore: The kingdom came on Pentecost.

C. Matt 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (KJV)

Mark 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.   (KJV)

Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (KJV)

The Lord's Supper would be in the future observed in the Kingdom of God. We find it being observed in the church at Corinth.

1Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (KJV)

This indicated (1) the Church and Kingdom are equivalent and (2) the Kingdom was then existent.

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

This passage reveals that the Colossians had been delivered from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. You cannot translate (or re-establish) someone into something that doesn't exist. Since they were translated into the Kingdom therefore, it must have existed.

E. Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (KJV)

They were to be thankful for receiving a kingdom. How could they be thankful for receiving a kingdom that did not exist?

F. Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (KJV)

John revealed that he was a companion with the suffering saints to whom he wrote, in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Was John mistaken? How could he have been a companion with them in the kingdom if it did not exist?

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II. JESUS IS NOW REIGNING UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID.

(The throne of David is spiritually located in Heaven, not literally in Jerusalem).

A. Zech 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (KJV)

1. Christ shall sit and rule upon His throne. Christ is now sitting at God's right hand.

Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  31   Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.   32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.          33  I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.  34  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.   35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.    (KJV)

Thus Christ's throne is at God's right hand.

2. Christ would be a priest on His throne. Christ as high priest is in heaven. Thus christ's throne is in heaven.

3. Christ cannot have His throne where He cannot be priest. He cannot be a priest on earth. 

Heb 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (KJV)

Thus His throne is not on earth.

B. John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (KJV)

Jesus' throne is in his kingdom. His kingdom is not of this world thus his throne is not of this world. This passage shows the spiritual nature of his kingdom and throne.

C. Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (KJV)

The son of man came to the ancient of days and there was given him a kingdom. This is what is revealed. 

Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (KJV)

Note He received His Kingdom in Heaven (showing it's spiritual nature) not on earth.

D. Christ is presently reigning on David's throne.

1. God promised that He would give Christ the throne of David.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (KJV)

This passage has been fulfilled.

Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;   31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (KJV)

2. Zech 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (KJV)

This reveals that Christ would sit and rule upon his throne. The sitting and ruling would be at the same time, thus to sit would be to rule, and to rule would be to sit.

Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.   33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.   34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,   35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (KJV)

This shows He is now sitting at God's right hand, thus He is now sitting upon His throne ruling at the right hand of God.

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CONCLUSION.

1. The theory of premillennialism is false and contrary to clear bible teaching.

2. When Christ returns it will be to end all things not to issue in a millennium.

A. 1Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.   24   Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.   25   For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (KJV) 

B. 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (KJV)

3. Let us all gain courage and confidence in the fact that the Kingdom of Christ has already been set up and we as Christians are citizens of it, and that Jesus Christ is presently sitting upon the throne of his Father, David, in Heaven as King of King's and Lord of Lord's.


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