Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Kingdom of God Cometh Not with Observation
In St. Luke 17:18-33 Jesus gives us good reason to believe that the kingdom of heaven is hidden beneath its marks. Since it is hidden, all efforts to suggest it may be seen here or there, whether by pedigree, or by "glorious" manifestations of the Spirit, are misguided. Just as the glory of Jesus Himself was hidden when he suffered, so also the church's glory is hidden. The sermon.
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The Kingdom of GOD is the Catholic Church!
The Kingdom of God! Sounds kind of heavenly, doesn’t it. But is it? Or is it right here on earth now in the midst of us all? Let’s see what the Holy Bible has to say about it.
In Matthew 12:28, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God has come upon them. In Mark 12:34, He also tells the scribe that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
In Matthew 16:19, Jesus gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom, and then establishes His Church on Peter the Rock. Jesus says that whatever this Church binds on earth shall be bound in heaven, where Jesus reigns now.
So what does all of this tell us? It tells us that the Kingdom of God was established on earth by Jesus Christ in the year 33 AD, in the form of His Church, led by Peter.
Why did Jesus Christ become Incarnate in the first place? Was it to leave us with a book, or to establish a Church? Well, in this verse He told us one of the reasons why:
"But He said to them, "To the other towns also I must PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR THIS IS WHY I HAVE BEEN SENT"." (Luke 4:43)
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10)
And how are we, who are the lost ones, to be saved? It is through the Church which He founded.
"Therefore, if you harken to My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My special possession, dearer to Me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. YOU SHALL BECOME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, A HOLY NATION." (Exodus) 19:5-6
The Kingdom of GOD will last forever:
"And when your days shall be fulfilled and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM. HE SHALL BUILD A HOUSE TO MY NAME, AND I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER...AND YOUR HOUSE SHALL BE FAITHFUL, AND YOUR KINGDOM FOREVER BEFORE YOUR FACE AND YOUR THRONE SHALL BE FIRM FOREVER." (2Samuel 7:13, 16)
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