Lesson 13 for June 28, 2014

“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘all this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.’” (Luke 4:5-6) Since Adam and Eve’s fall, every human being has decided between being loyal to “Christ’s Kingdom” (Eph. 5:5) or being subject to “the power of Satan.” (Acts 26:18) In Christ’s victory we find assurance and the promise of an eternal life in God’s everlasting Kingdom. For “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Dan. 2:44) Jesus also had to decide between getting all the kingdoms of this world from Satan and being faithful to God’s law.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20) There is no dual citizenship in a spiritual way; just citizen of this world or citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. God asks us to make a decision, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Dt. 30:19) Therefore, our behavior must agree the moral law of the Kingdom of Heaven, and not the morals of this earth. Those who have decided to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb. 11:13). We desire “a better, that is, a heavenly country.” (Heb. 11:16)

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Revelation 22:14-15, who can become a citizen of God’s Kingdom? God’s Law is our guide to live as citizens of Heaven. Only by God’s grace, power and love we can be made citizens if we want to.

“God’s love and justice have provided one way, and one only, whereby man can be saved from eternal separation from Heaven and alienation from God, and that is by faith in Christ and obedience to his law. The Spirit of God operating upon the human heart never leads men to belittle the law of Jehovah. Enlightened by this divine influence, we will see with awe the majesty of its requirements, the heinousness of sin, and feel the terror of its inevitable penalties upon the transgressor.” E.G.W. (The Signs of the Times, December 15, 1887)

“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)

E.G.W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 29, pg. 504)

“The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26) “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) Why will death not exist anymore in the everlasting Kingdom? Death is a natural consequence of transgressing God’s moral Law. The principles of God’s moral Law will exist in the eternal Kingdom. They will still be written on our hearts (Heb. 8:8-13) The difference, of course, is that those principles will never be violated there as they have been here. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” 2 Timothy 4:18