A Wonderful Position

By Pastor: Larry W. Wilson

In Hebrews 12:28, we read these words of the writer of this book: "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."  This passage is set in with a context talking about those things that shall be shaken – that is, a removing of the old and replacing of the new.  This new is the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The new being an unmovable Kingdom, a Kingdom which all the elect have or shall receive.

In this text, we also find an exhortation to "let us have grace".  That is, to let us have the type of gratitude and enablement to serve God in an acceptable manner in this wonderful kingdom in which we live.

Beloved, it is a privilege to be in America – to be an American and live in America, we should thank our Lord often.  However, there is a greater privilege than to be an American.  The greatest privilege to mortal man is to be a Christian and to live in the Spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ.  A Kingdom which we now enjoy in a spiritual sense, but will one day enjoy in a real and literal sense.  Oh, but for the saving grace of our Dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, none would ever be in this Kingdom.

Notice with us first of all, as we find in the text, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom..." (Hebrews 12:28).  We, the believers of God, being the elect of God, are not only in the family of God, but are also in the Kingdom of The Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord's people are brought into the family of God by Saving grace and are made suitable to that position by regeneration.  We do not believe that all, who are in the family of God and in the Kingdom of Christ, are necessarily in the church that our Lord built.  This, being a matter we are not presently engaged in, shall not go into at this time.  However, with this, permit us to mention that The Lord did build, and we believe is still building His church, as He said in Matthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

We believe that there are many who are in the Spiritual Kingdom and family of God who are not in the kind of church that The Lord built.  As a preacher brother once told me, "They would sure get better teaching if they were."

One is placed in the Kingdom of God by saving grace.  The Apostle Paul said, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Thus, we are not empty handed in this Kingdom – we have faith and we trust in The Lord Jesus Christ.  All who believe and truly trust in Christ are a part of this Kingdom.  We can even go back into Old Testament times and see of His coming Kingdom.

In Isaiah 9:6-7, we find these words: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the GOVERNMENT shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his GOVERNMENT and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon HIS KINGDOM, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

Not only so, in Daniel 7:13-14, we see these words, "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.  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."

As we go into the New Testament, we also find scriptures, such as 2 Peter 1:11, "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting KINGDOM of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

As we have already mentioned, we are a part of a great Kingdom here in America, and it is wonderful to be an American.  However, there is a Kingdom that is far greater – that is the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  This Kingdom supercedes the Kingdoms of the world.

Let us consider for a moment how our Lord's Kingdom supercedes the Kingdoms of this world.  THE NATURE OF THIS KINGDOM.  Our Lord's Kingdom is a Kingdom of PEACE.  As we know, even today, there are wars among nations in this world.  The United States has been at war in Afghanistan against those involved with terrorism because of the September 11th (2001) attacks upon this nation.  America will, before too long, go into at least another nation, perhaps more than one with men and war machines to continue its battle against terrorism.  Israel is at war with the Palestinians.  There is a constant threat of war throughout the nations of this world in which we live.  On the news stations, we do not hear of peace, but of war or the threat of war.  Crime in the nations of this world is not going down; it increases by the day.  We are not living in a Kingdom of peace in this world.  We are living in a Kingdom of war or the threat of war.

However, those who are in Christ are in a Kingdom of peace – a peace that the world can never understand.  Jesus Christ, our Lord, said in John 14:27, "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."

Christ has made peace with God for us who could have never made such peace.  There may be war on the outside, but we have peace within.  Our peace is in Christ: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Not only is this Spiritual Kingdom a Kingdom of peace, but it is also a Kingdom of RIGHTEOUSNESS.  This is a Kingdom where men, women, boys, and girls are called to a right living.  Our Lord's Kingdom is not a Kingdom of filthiness and ungodliness; it is a Kingdom where we have righteousness.  Christ said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness...."

Those who are the recipients of salvation have received the righteousness of Christ by imputation.  In this Kingdom, we have the gift of His righteousness, "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)

It is a Kingdom of JUSTICE.  God is just.  His nature is just and Holy in all things  There is no injustice with God.  In the realm of spiritual matters, as God deals with His people, He deals with them in a just manner.  In Revelation 15:3, we read, "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

It is an EVERLASTING Kingdom.  After other Kingdoms have fallen and become as nothing, this Kingdom will stand.  After there is no longer America, England, Russia or any other nation, there will be our Lord's Kingdom.  All the Kingdoms of the world combined could never destroy this Kingdom, for it supercedes all Kingdoms in every way.  "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:11)

Notice with us also, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF THIS KINGDOM.  On our text, A. W. pink says these words, "The privileges which Christians receive by their believing the Gospel are inconceivably grand.  They are in the Kingdom, the Kingdom of God and Christ, a spiritual and heavenly Kingdom; enriched with inexhaustible treasures of spiritual and celestial blessings.  Christians are not to be measured by their outward appearance or worldly circumstances, but rather by the interest they have in that Kingdom, which it was their Father's good pleasure to give them.  It is, therefore, their privilege and duty to conduct themselves and behave as those who have received such wondrous privileges and high dignities from God Himself; far should they be from envying poor millionaires and the godless potentates of this earth.  Our portion is infinitely superior to the baubles of time and sense.  Though the world know us not, unto God we are 'the excellent of the earth' (Ps. 16:3), the crown jewels of His Son, those whom angels serve or minister unto.  Oh, for grace to conduct ourselves as sons and daughters of The Almighty."

Beloved, if we have received the Kingdom, we have received The King, for all Kingdoms have a King, or a leader with different titles.  In the case of the spiritual Kingdom we have a King.

"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." (1 Timothy 6:14-15)

This King is Lord over all; He rules in the hearts of His own.  "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." (Romans 10:12)  When we were saved and made a profession of our faith in Christ, we confessed publically The Lordship of Jesus Christ.  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus..." (Romans 10:9)  He is our Master, we are His servants; thus, we are to yield to Him as servants, we are to obey His Lordship as our Master and King.

Oh what a privilege it is to be a servant in His Kingdom.  In His Kingdom, we are to live and to die unto Him who is our King.  "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living." (Romans 14:8-9)

It is a privilege to live unto The Lord; we have a right to live in His Kingdom, given unto us by saving grace.  We don't, however, have a right to live unto self.  "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

He is King of kings and Lord of lords.  We have received a King, and we are to honor Him as King.  We are to honor Him in all that we do and all that we say.  For it is a privilege to be in His Kingdom.

WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED THE KING'S DOCTRINE.  Any Kingdom must have a philosophy; it must have some kind of teaching.  A communist Kingdom teaches and practices communism; thus, they have a communistic doctrine.  In America, we have the teaching of capitalism, of freedom and liberty.  Every Kingdom has its teaching; therefore, it has its doctrine.  So the Kingdom of our Lord is no exception to the case.

Our King has a doctrine.  He is referred to as having His "Doctrine" no less than nine times in the recordings of the Gospel.  Here are just a few: "the people were astonished at his doctrine" (Matt 7:28), "and said unto them in his doctrine" (Mark 4:2), "And they were astonished at his doctrine" (Luke 4:32), "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17).  Thus, we are not without a doctrine in this wonderful Kingdom in which we live.

We would do well, as His subjects, to learn what He teaches.  We should want to please Him by knowing and practicing what He teaches.  In Webster's New World College Dictionary, on the word "doctrine", we read, "Something taught; teachings, something taught as the principles or creed of a religion, political party, etc.; tenet or tenets; belief; dogma, a rule, theory, or principle of law, an official statement of a nation's policy, esp. toward other nations."

With this, we see that a doctrine forms a skeleton of a thing, so, if we have no doctrine we are like a jellyfish.  A jellyfish has no skeleton, and, since it has no skeleton, it can fit into anything.  One could take a jellyfish and put it into a round container, and it will fit just fine.  You can put it into a square container without any problem at all.  Or, a jellyfish can be placed into a rectangular container with all ease.  This seems to be the way a lot of so-called Christians are today – they will fit into almost anything.

We have noticed that many Baptists today are not concerned about doctrine at all.  They will fit in a round box as well as a square box and feel at home in either one.  We could take a lot of Baptists today and put them in a charismatic church, and they will fit right in with the rest of the group.  The reason they fit in is because they have no doctrine.

We are told to adorn the doctrine of God.  "Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." (Titus 2:10)

The word "adorn" coming from the verb "kosmeo", meaning primarily to arrange, to put in order.  As the Greek word "Kosmos", meaning a harmonious arrangement or order.  The word "Kosmeo" in Titus 2:10, metaphorically means, "Of adorning a doctrine."  Thus, we are to arrange the doctrine of our Lord and King in our hearts, in our minds, and in our living.

The reason a lot of churches today are not in order is because they have no doctrine.  The doctrine is the teaching of the Word of God.  It makes a difference what we believe, it makes a difference what we teach and what we are taught.  The modern teaching today seems to be, Believe what to want to believe and when you die you will still go to heaven.  We would not have the space nor the time in this message to go into the wonderful doctrine of our King, but I would like to mention, briefly, that of the Sovereignty of God.

What is the doctrine of the Sovereign Grace of God?  It is the doctrine of which all other truths operate around.  When you remove the Sovereignty of God from teaching, then you have removed the hub from the wheel.  The average church-goer today does not know what he believes because he has not been taught that God is Sovereign.  "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35)

Paul said, in 1 Timothy 4:13, "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to DOCTRINE."  He also said, in 2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."  It must be that we are living in a time the Apostle Paul spoke of, when he said, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Also, WE HAVE RECEIVED LAWS OF THIS KINGDOM.  Every Kingdom must have laws to govern that Kingdom.  If there are no laws, then there is nothing but confusion.  It would be a nation with a breakdown of law and order.  The Kingdom of our Lord has laws, and to fail to be obedient to those laws is to bring the wrath of the government down upon you.

Our Lord and King said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)  He also said in verse 21 of this chapter, "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." (John 14:21)

Now, the key to these scriptures is "LOVE" and "COMMANDMENT" – these two go together.  Men obey the commandments of The Lord because they love Him.  Jesus Christ, our Lord, said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

There is a yoke, we cannot deny that, but it is an easy yoke.  There is a burden, but that burden is light.  There is a law, but it is not a grievous law; it is a blessed law, it is a law of love and faith toward our Lord and our King.  Christian friends, isn't it a wonderful position we have been placed in?  We have received a Kingdom, which cannot be moved.

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