What kind of people are in the kingdom of God?
From Eph.2:19 we know the kingdom of God is the church of Christ.
Scriptures of this study: Matthew 22:1-14
A. Those who had been invited were the Jews. Matt.22:1-7
The kingdom of heaven is like a king prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet
to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
Then he sent more servants and said:
Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner:
My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready.
Come to the wedding banquet.
But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to is business.
The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.
The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
Matt.10:5-11-->
These 12 Jesus sent out with the following instructions:
Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give.
Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;
take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff;
for the worker is worth his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there
and stay at his house until you leave.
B. These anyone you can find are you and I. Matt.22:8-10
Then he said to his servants:
The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.
Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find,
both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Lk.22:35-38-->
And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing?
And they said, Nothing. Lk.22:35
Then said he unto them: But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it,
and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me,
And he was reckoned among the lawless people: for the things concerning me have an end.
The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.
C. A strict code of ethic within the kingdom of God. Matt.22:11-14
But when the king came in to see the guests,
he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.
He asked him: How did you get in here without wedding clothes?
The man was speechless.
The king told the attendants:
Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For many are invited, but few are chosen. Matt.22:11-14
1. People will come from east and west and north and south,
and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Lk.13:29
2. Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matt.7:21
3. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters
nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers
nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor.6:9-10
4. Matt 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,
you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preach this on Feb., 5, 2012.3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs_Y0ePEow0