7/11/2008

We are using a Commentary by J. C. Ryle, 1856 -- The Gospel of MATTHEW as a help to guide our study.

This week -- Matthew 3 & 4


Q: Is the statement by John in Matthew 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" The same as Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

A: We agreed basically yes. Because "Lord Jesus" in Romans 10:9 means you confess and believe Jesus as the King/Ruler of your life was raised from the dead which activates the power of the kingdom of heaven spoken of in Matthew 3:2.

This question and answer started a discussion/testimony of the Power and Kingdom of God/Heaven

Testimonies about what happened when we first entered the Kingdom ourselves and witnessing to others about entering into the Kingdom of Heaven, Sorrow over our lack of assurance in our salvation through Jesus alone, Jesus Power over evil spirits.

Entering the Kingdom - God cares/loves us (Four Spiritual Laws)

Power of the Kingdom - All of our power comes from Jesus what He did and is doing in the earth.

How to Fight Temptation (the Audacity of the Devil) Mat. 4
Dr. E.V. Hill - Hit Him
Christ Temptation, St. Thomas Aquinas

Trusting in the King Alone (Doctrinal Errors in Church)
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Seek First the Kingdom

Further Online Study:

The Kingdom of God
The Operation of the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God & the Kingdom of Heaven

Next week we start on Matthew 5

About Zedad

ZEDAD (meaning His side, Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary) is one of the borders of the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, which was the land that God promised to Abraham.

Numbers 34:2 (The Bible in Basic English) Give orders to the children of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land which is to be your heritage, the land of Canaan inside these limits,)

Gen. 12:1-3 (The Bible in Basic English)
Now the Lord said to Abram, Go out from your country and from your family and from your father's house, into the land to which I will be your guide: 12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, blessing you and making your name great; and you will be a blessing: 12:3 To them who are good to you will I give blessing, and on him who does you wrong will I put my curse: and you will become a name of blessing to all the families of the earth..

Christians are Abraham's seed. (Abe's spiritual kids)

Gal 3:29 (NKJV) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Promise is fellowship/relationship with the living Jesus who knows everything there is to know about us, yet He still deeply cares about everything concerning us.

Hebrews 4:14 (English Standard Version) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So He did, and does, and will do, most of the heavy lifting in the relationship.