The Second Petition: Thy Kingdom Come
Sermon
What's That Supposed To Mean?
Using The Catechism In The 21st Century
Object:
The Lord's Prayer -- The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also. How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life, here in time and hereafter in eternity.
Christians do not all agree about how God answers the prayer, "Thy kingdom come." Some have the idea that God's kingdom comes whenever government is taken over by Christians. These people think that all we have to do is use the Bible as the law book and make sure that only Christians are the rulers. Some Christians have the idea that all we have to do is teach people the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and Bible stories, and we will turn America back into a Christian nation. However, we never were a Christian nation, nor shall we ever be one. Also, some other Christians think the so-called nation of Israel will someday soon be the headquarters on earth of the restored kingdom of God.
The Lord Jesus, however, tells us that His kingdom comes a different way. Remember what Jesus said when he was on trial before Pontius Pilate? "My kingdom is not of this world." Pilate understood that this kingdom was not a threat to him or Rome -- a kingdom of the next world is a kingdom of the dead, and a king of dead people can't hurt Rome! So Pilate was ready to let Jesus go. And it is still true to this day that the kingdom of heaven is not of this world. It hasn't been and won't ever be. Jesus said so.
The Apostle Paul tells us what the kingdom of heaven really is, in the letter he wrote to the Colossians: "For [the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." These words imply that the kingdom of heaven already exists -- but not as a country or political area. A world map shows a couple hundred countries. But God knows of only two world governments: the dominion of darkness -- which is ruled by Satan -- and the kingdom of Jesus. The Bible teaches us that all people start out in the dominion of darkness, no matter what form of government may rule the land they live in.
Now, we cannot move from the devil's dominion to the kingdom of heaven just because we want to. Just as certain diseases and mental illnesses and a criminal past disqualify people from immigrating to America, sin disqualifies people from the kingdom of heaven. Just as citizens of America don't want diseased, crazy, or criminal people allowed into our country because those people are a threat to us, would you want to live forever in heaven with people who are like the way they are now? Of course not! That would be hell, wouldn't it!
Now, as soon as we stop being sinners, we can enter into heaven -- but that's like telling a person with AIDS or who has a criminal record, "You can immigrate into America once you are healed of AIDS or you are no longer a convicted criminal." Of course, that's impossible. And it is even more impossible for sinners to enter into heaven.
However, King Jesus led a daring raid on that dominion to liberate the people who live in darkness. In 1991, America led forces that liberated Kuwait, using the latest in modern machines and methods. We liberate with a show of force -- but how do the countries look after we "liberate" them? A mess, right? Jesus, however, liberated us by removing our sins through redemption. We are better off when He gets done liberating us. "God brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." That forgiveness qualifies us for citizenship in His kingdom. All we have to do is trust the invitation Jesus gives us to live with Him -- and He even gives us the faith to do that!
The kingdom of heaven, then, does not come by military force, nor by legal action. It comes wherever the Holy Spirit gives people the faith to believe the forgiveness of sins Jesus offers. The kingdom of heaven is still not of this world -- it will never show up as some kind of government. It is, as Jesus teaches us, among those who trust Him -- the Christian Church. That's how God answers the prayer, "Thy kingdom come": by sending the church with the good news about Jesus. Americans are scattered across the globe in different lands -- but they remain Americans. In a greater way, the kingdom of heaven is spread across the world, wherever someone is telling someone else about redemption and forgiveness. In fact, the Bible says that we are ambassadors for Christ. That means we have the authority to let people into the kingdom of heaven.
Now, even though you will never see the kingdom of heaven on earth because it is in the hearts of Christians, the kingdom of heaven will have some visible effect. Paul prayed, "We [ask] God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding ... that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way ... who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." As we get to know our King Jesus better, His Spirit will change our lives. This also shows the presence of God's kingdom. But the main proof of the existence of the kingdom of God is wherever the word about Jesus is preached and His sacraments are used. So the kingdom of God is coming to you right now as you read this or gather in church or Bible study!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Help us live a life worthy of Your name and please You in every way. Help us bear fruit in every good work, as we grow in the knowledge of God. Help us bear fruit in every good work, as we are strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might. Help us bear fruit in every good work so that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Amen.
Object lesson: What is the main difference between a king and the President of the United States? A king is born to the job, while a president is elected to the job by the people.
Why does the Bible call Jesus our king when we live in America, which doesn't have any kings? Because we are also citizens of the kingdom of heaven, which is bigger than the United States.
What is the kingdom of heaven? It's another name for the Christian Church. Christians are the citizens of this kingdom.
How did we become citizens of the kingdom of heaven? The same way we became citizens of the United States: by birth. We were "born again" when we were baptized.
So we are citizens of two kingdoms -- the kingdom of heaven and the United States of America. What's the difference between the duties we have as citizens of the United States and the duties we have as citizens of the kingdom of heaven? Americans have the duty to pay taxes, defend their homeland from enemies, and obey the laws of the land. Christians have the duty to tell other people about their king, Jesus, and to obey His commandments. We go to school to learn how to be good citizens of the United States. God's Holy Spirit helps us do our duty by teaching us about Jesus and giving us faith and courage to do our duty whenever we gather to learn about Jesus.
Thy kingdom come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also. How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life, here in time and hereafter in eternity.
Christians do not all agree about how God answers the prayer, "Thy kingdom come." Some have the idea that God's kingdom comes whenever government is taken over by Christians. These people think that all we have to do is use the Bible as the law book and make sure that only Christians are the rulers. Some Christians have the idea that all we have to do is teach people the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and Bible stories, and we will turn America back into a Christian nation. However, we never were a Christian nation, nor shall we ever be one. Also, some other Christians think the so-called nation of Israel will someday soon be the headquarters on earth of the restored kingdom of God.
The Lord Jesus, however, tells us that His kingdom comes a different way. Remember what Jesus said when he was on trial before Pontius Pilate? "My kingdom is not of this world." Pilate understood that this kingdom was not a threat to him or Rome -- a kingdom of the next world is a kingdom of the dead, and a king of dead people can't hurt Rome! So Pilate was ready to let Jesus go. And it is still true to this day that the kingdom of heaven is not of this world. It hasn't been and won't ever be. Jesus said so.
The Apostle Paul tells us what the kingdom of heaven really is, in the letter he wrote to the Colossians: "For [the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." These words imply that the kingdom of heaven already exists -- but not as a country or political area. A world map shows a couple hundred countries. But God knows of only two world governments: the dominion of darkness -- which is ruled by Satan -- and the kingdom of Jesus. The Bible teaches us that all people start out in the dominion of darkness, no matter what form of government may rule the land they live in.
Now, we cannot move from the devil's dominion to the kingdom of heaven just because we want to. Just as certain diseases and mental illnesses and a criminal past disqualify people from immigrating to America, sin disqualifies people from the kingdom of heaven. Just as citizens of America don't want diseased, crazy, or criminal people allowed into our country because those people are a threat to us, would you want to live forever in heaven with people who are like the way they are now? Of course not! That would be hell, wouldn't it!
Now, as soon as we stop being sinners, we can enter into heaven -- but that's like telling a person with AIDS or who has a criminal record, "You can immigrate into America once you are healed of AIDS or you are no longer a convicted criminal." Of course, that's impossible. And it is even more impossible for sinners to enter into heaven.
However, King Jesus led a daring raid on that dominion to liberate the people who live in darkness. In 1991, America led forces that liberated Kuwait, using the latest in modern machines and methods. We liberate with a show of force -- but how do the countries look after we "liberate" them? A mess, right? Jesus, however, liberated us by removing our sins through redemption. We are better off when He gets done liberating us. "God brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." That forgiveness qualifies us for citizenship in His kingdom. All we have to do is trust the invitation Jesus gives us to live with Him -- and He even gives us the faith to do that!
The kingdom of heaven, then, does not come by military force, nor by legal action. It comes wherever the Holy Spirit gives people the faith to believe the forgiveness of sins Jesus offers. The kingdom of heaven is still not of this world -- it will never show up as some kind of government. It is, as Jesus teaches us, among those who trust Him -- the Christian Church. That's how God answers the prayer, "Thy kingdom come": by sending the church with the good news about Jesus. Americans are scattered across the globe in different lands -- but they remain Americans. In a greater way, the kingdom of heaven is spread across the world, wherever someone is telling someone else about redemption and forgiveness. In fact, the Bible says that we are ambassadors for Christ. That means we have the authority to let people into the kingdom of heaven.
Now, even though you will never see the kingdom of heaven on earth because it is in the hearts of Christians, the kingdom of heaven will have some visible effect. Paul prayed, "We [ask] God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding ... that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way ... who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." As we get to know our King Jesus better, His Spirit will change our lives. This also shows the presence of God's kingdom. But the main proof of the existence of the kingdom of God is wherever the word about Jesus is preached and His sacraments are used. So the kingdom of God is coming to you right now as you read this or gather in church or Bible study!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Help us live a life worthy of Your name and please You in every way. Help us bear fruit in every good work, as we grow in the knowledge of God. Help us bear fruit in every good work, as we are strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might. Help us bear fruit in every good work so that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Amen.
Object lesson: What is the main difference between a king and the President of the United States? A king is born to the job, while a president is elected to the job by the people.
Why does the Bible call Jesus our king when we live in America, which doesn't have any kings? Because we are also citizens of the kingdom of heaven, which is bigger than the United States.
What is the kingdom of heaven? It's another name for the Christian Church. Christians are the citizens of this kingdom.
How did we become citizens of the kingdom of heaven? The same way we became citizens of the United States: by birth. We were "born again" when we were baptized.
So we are citizens of two kingdoms -- the kingdom of heaven and the United States of America. What's the difference between the duties we have as citizens of the United States and the duties we have as citizens of the kingdom of heaven? Americans have the duty to pay taxes, defend their homeland from enemies, and obey the laws of the land. Christians have the duty to tell other people about their king, Jesus, and to obey His commandments. We go to school to learn how to be good citizens of the United States. God's Holy Spirit helps us do our duty by teaching us about Jesus and giving us faith and courage to do our duty whenever we gather to learn about Jesus.
