Bible Study Letters

The Domain of God

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Christ Died For Our Sins
Reaching forth...

The Family of God, Kingdom of God, and New Testament Churches
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There is a Family of God, Kingdom of God, New Testament Church unfolding, and New Testament Churches Militant. The Family of God are all the saved of all time, subjects of God's Kingdom, that will one day be an assembled body in glory: The General Assembly and Church of The Firstborn, Triumphant.

New Testament Churches are receiving from God special blessings as wondered about and looked for by Old Testament believers (Isa.35:7;42:23; 44:3;48:6; Ezek.11:19-20; Dan.12:8-9; Joe.2:28-29; Hab.2:3; Hag.2:5-9; Matt.13:17; Ac.1:4-8;2:16-18, 33,38-39; 2Cor.3:3-10; Gal.3:29; Eph.3:2-6; Heb. 12:18-24). This New Covenant or New Testament was looked forward to, same as the Crucifixion of Jesus was preached about with wonder, looked for, and heralded beforehand (Ps.22; Isa.53; Matt.13:17; Lk.24:45-49; Jn.1:29; Ac.1:8; 1Pet.1:10). In a more full sense special blessings will be manifest during the Millennium Kingdom yet to come.

A careful considering of these things will help you understand the Book of books. The Bible is the One Book that is True from beginning to end. That Book we should be reading that it may aid us in drawing nearer to Jesus.

The resurrected Jesus is just that, all power given unto Him: and the government shall be upon His shoulder. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end (Isa.9:6-7). He is alive from the dead and was seen by many. He ate food. He breathed. He talked. He could be touched. He told believers, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn.20:22). He ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, and so began the glorious administration of the Holy Spirit in power.

The Family of God
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The Family of God (Eph.3:15) is all the saved from the time of Adam to the last person that will be saved. All the saved from all time that are in heaven and on earth are The Family of God. These are citizens of the Kingdom of God, called the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven (Heb.12:23).

The Kingdom of God
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The Kingdom of God, Jesus taught, you cannot see unless you are born again (Jn.3:3-7). All are under His reign, as all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (Col.1:16-17). All are under His reign but experience it differently, the saved going on to heaven, and the wicked that would not receive Him, to hell.

The Kingdom of God might refer to the area or realm over which He governs; or it could refer to the subjects over whom He reigns; or it might refer to the actual reign or rule itself.

The Scriptures concerning the Kingdom of God make you aware limits cannot be made saying it is like this and this and its limits extend to such and such boundary (Isa.9:7; Lk.1:33; Eph.3:21). His Kingdom extends from eternity past everlasting to eternity future everlasting, as He has always been God and always will be (Mal.3:6; Heb.13:8), His reign experienced in different ways and in different realms as we see (Isa.9:6-7).

The Kingdom extends beyond those people living in this world, at any given time, and is to be enjoyed by God's people forever and forever, in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom.14:17). Jesus is the Author of this, and the finisher. When He starts something He finishes it (Phil.1:6; 2Tim.4:18; Heb.5: 9;12:2).

There is a domain or realm in which God's showing of power or reign effects us, and to that it is written that John Baptist did not preach the Kingdom, but it was shown forth after his work. Jesus said, "Among them that are 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; Lk.16:16). To help understand this, God has always been Lord, but the experiencing of His reign was not shown forth, as if He was to be head of the government but had not yet taken over to reign, and bless His subjects, or tell what He would do.

Some blessings yet to be experienced by the saved, those washed in the Blood of Jesus, is that they shall inherit all things, there shall be no more curse, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away; and they shall see His face (Rev.21:4,7;22:3-4). There is power to His reign experienced in His realm or realms, shown in different ways at different times.

Special Kingdom blessings were experienced after the ministry of John Baptist as mentioned (Isa. 9:6-7; Matt.13:17). There are special ways His reign and realm are shown. For instance, the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it; the world, and they that dwell therein (Ps.24:1). The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man tries to force their way into it (Lk.16:16); but Satan is the god of this world (2Cor.4:4; Gal.1:4).

The True and Living God is not reigning here now in a sense. Some of His people are living here now, and His sovereignty and providence are not overruled. His people are in the world but not of the world, even as He is not of the world (Jn.8:23; 12:19;15:19;17:14).

His Kingdom now is in the world, but not of the world (Jn.18:36). The Kingdom of God is in His people (Lk.17:20-21; Rom.14:17). That is the invisible realm of His reign now on earth. This is a key to the Kingdom of God on earth in these evil days we live in.

One may be instructed in the Scriptures and understand much about them. They might even be committed to Jesus, doing many good works (Matt. 7:22-23; Gal.2:16; Eph.2:5,8-9; Heb.11:6). If they are not born again, they are lost, and cannot see the Kingdom of God, for it is within the believer, by the Holy Spirit.

First, the Kingdom shows Righteousness. The believer hungers and thirsts after it made sorrowful over his own sins. He knows freedom from the wrath of God after having seen himself as sinful deserving God's wrath.

Second, he realizes Peace with God by Receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. Indeed from olden time believers longed to be instructed by Him and understand about the Crucifixion, the pivotal event, whereby God showed His love to sinful men, making Peace with all who would believe. Moses gave the law warning of God's wrath, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. All have sinned (Rom.3: 20,23;6:23). The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal.3:24). Grace and truth came by Jesus (Jn.1:17).

Third, along with Righteousness and Peace, is Joy in the Holy Ghost. Having no confidence in the flesh (Phil.3:3), the believer looks for the precious promises of God and seeing Jesus when He comes (Rom.14:17). Now the believer walks by faith and not by sight (2Cor.5:7), as the Kingdom of God comes not with observation, but is within you (Luke 17:20-21; Eccl.9 :1-3).

"The Kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs..." (Matt.13 :31-32). It is growing now, the number of subjects, the realm of His reign increasing. To this I add a note of caution, mentioning again the god of this present evil world is Satan.

The defeat of Satan came with the Crucifixion of Jesus, but the visible reign of Jesus will not be established till He comes back (Ps.72:11; Rev. 19: 11-20:3). Satan will not be bound and cast into the bottomless pit till then; and after that 1,000 years the Devil will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.20:2-3,10).

For now, it is not our duty to reform the world (Matt.13:28-30; 2Th.2:7; 1Tim.4:1; 2Tim.3:1). He will see to the need when He returns.

Now, though there is an increase to God's Kingdom, there is an increase to Satan's as well. The world is preparing for the reign of the beast and the false prophet, when Satan will have his day, as the anti-Christ comes forth.

Believers will be raptured, to meet the Lord in the air, before that day (1Th.4:13-5:11; 2Th.2:1- 10). That seven year period when Satan has his day, prior to the return of Jesus, will be marked by a pouring out of God's wrath. Believers are not called to receive wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1Th.5:9-10).

The number of subjects, the realm grows, but in a sense the Kingdom is future, starting with the Second Coming of Jesus. The righteous believers will inherit this Kingdom (Matt.25:34). This visible Kingdom shall last one thousand years, the armies that were in heaven, and the saved separated from the wicked on earth, inheriting the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Ps.72:14; Matt.25:31-34; Rev.19:14;20:4-6).

We can also see the Kingdom is like a net cast into the sea, that gathers every kind of fish. When it is full, it is drawn to shore. The good is put into vessels, but the bad cast away. "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire" (Matt.13:47-50).

The righteous then will shine like the sun in their inheritance, God's Kingdom (Matt.13:43). The wicked have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Rev. 21:8; Matt.13:40-42). The wicked, not recognizing God as Lord, the One that Reigns, and not bowing the knee to Him (Isa.45:22-23; Rom.14:11-12; Phil. 2:10), were subject to Him all along.

New Testament Churches
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The New Testament Church is being called out now. Believers, some saved and instructed before Pentecost (Acts 2) are taking part in special blessings commencing from then. Some are in heaven, some in various locations living on earth, and some not called out yet.

When the Rapture happens The New Testament Church will be all called out and can be assembled all in one place, as Jesus so pleases. For now there are local, visible assemblies of people, the Churches Militant. I see the General Assembly to be one thing, and The Church of The Firstborn to be another (Song of Solomon 6:8-9; Matthew 22:1-14; John 3:29; Revelation 19:1-10; 21:10)

The New Testament Church is visible, and to be governed as the Bible directs (2Cor.3:6; Heb.12:18-25; Rev.1:9-3:22). Believers should have a desire toward the assembling with other believers of like precious faith, in local churches. These are the particular churches Jesus gives the Great Commission of Preaching the Gospel (Lk.24:45-49). Now we are to assemble in the particular local New Testament Churches (Heb. 10:25).

Local churches, believers, are to preach the Gospel, Christ Jesus Crucified (Rom.1:16; 1Cor.1:18,23;2:2; 15:3-4; 2Cor.3:5-9; Gal.1:16; Col.1:28), that men may come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. To see those grow in the things of God (Matt.28: 18-20; Mk.16:15; Lk.24:45-49; Jn.20:21; Ac.1:8; 2:38-39) that have been washed in the blood, redeemed to be forever with the Lord, is in order for Churches Militant in these days (Jn.17:9,14-20; 1Jn.5:19).

Summary
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The saved on earth are subject to God, the Kingdom in them, brought to see each to their measure. The lost as the Bible teaches hate God and His Word, not wanting to submit, judging the things of God as false (1Cor.2:14).

The local New Testament Churches carry on with the Great Commission, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against God's plan. There will be a New Testament Church Triumphant because there are New Testament Churches, Militant, fighting the battle, going forward for the Lord, gaining new heights every day.

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Christ Died For Our Sins

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Bob Krajcik
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