International Gospel Hour

Guest (Male): Jesus is better than any earthly king who has ever lived or ever will live. And oh, to serve Jesus now in His kingdom, oh yes. That's right friends, and that's our study just ahead from the International Gospel Hour.

J. Webb: Hi, this is J. Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts.

Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Well, thank you to our J. Webb and greetings and hello everyone. Speaking of the resurrected Christ, Peter penned in 1st Peter 3:22, "who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him."

On the right hand of the Father, Jesus Christ, as noted in 1st Timothy 6 and verse 15, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Imagine serving the King Jesus, and indeed we can. And we think about Jesus who is unlike any other king or leader.

How His word is always true. We learn that from Acts 3:22 and 23, the prophecy of Moses going back to Deuteronomy 18, but yet coming true as Peter proclaimed it in Acts 3. And in John 12:48 where Jesus said, "He that rejects me and receives not my words has one that will judge him, the word that I have spoken, the same will judge him in the last day."

Dear friends, there are kings, presidents, governors, various leaders, let's be honest, whose word is not always true. But Jesus's word as our King is always true. Friends, I'll submit to you that Jesus is unlike any other king for His price is always the greatest that was paid, dying for us.

In John 3 and verse 16, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." We can believe in man all we want, but man's not going to redeem us.

How we note from Romans 5:6-10, how that Jesus gave Himself for us when we were defined as sinners and ungodly and enemies. But you see, Jesus can make that difference in our lives. He paid the greatest price. No other leader can affirm that.

And He is the high priest who offered up Himself, Hebrews 7 and verse 27. You see, Jesus's life and His death impacted people more than anyone else. What a King to embrace.

So friends, in a few moments, we're going to talk about the King and His kingdom as we discuss serving the King. But first, a few words from our J. Webb. We'll be back to continue our study.

J. Webb: We love our friends and fellow servants at housetohouse.com. It's a great website for researching topics. It has an excellent media section, and free materials are available, for example. Please request a free copy of their publication House to House Heart to Heart. Check it out today at housetohouse.com.

Jeff Archey: Let's talk about Jesus as King. Now a few moments ago, I mentioned 1st Peter 3:22, how He is on the right hand of God. Think about it. He's the only one resurrected from a grave to live and the only one that reigns today. Amen.

Now yes, Lazarus came forth from the grave as we note in John 11, but Lazarus died again. And he's still there. But the only one resurrected from a grave to live and the only one that reigns today. Amen.

Let's think about Hebrews 1 and verse 3, "when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." Hebrews 10 and verse 12, "but this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God."

How about Hebrews 12 and verse 2? "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Friends, nobody in their right mind with good reasoning can say Jesus Christ is not sitting on the right hand of the Father. If they do, they just simply don't believe in Jesus to begin with, and that is their loss.

He's on the right hand of the throne of God. He is better than any earthly king who has ever lived or ever will live. Think about it. He's on the right hand of the throne of God. His kingdom, the church, is spiritual in nature. That's John 18 and verse 36. It's a kingdom that's not of this world.

And He is the head of the church, the kingdom, which is His body. Ephesians 1:22 and 23 affirms how God put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all. And we do note later in Ephesians 4 and verse 4 that there is but one body.

And then we read in Ephesians 5:22-32 concerning Christ and the church and His relationship therein. Let's affirm even further with Colossians 1 and verse 18, "and He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence."

Yes friends, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Now you're probably thinking, wait a minute Jeff, you said the kingdom and the church is the same. We're in the church era. The kingdom era is to come. Well friends, I would respectfully disagree with you because the Bible doesn't agree with that.

Consider with me. Christ indeed has a kingdom because He is a king. When 1st Timothy 6:15 affirms the King of kings and Lord of lords, He's there. Now think with me about this. What does a kingdom have to have to become a kingdom? Okay, well first, a kingdom must have territory.

Jesus said in Luke 17:21, "Neither shall they say, lo here or there, for behold the kingdom of God is within you." The King of kings reigns in those hearts of men that are obedient to Him. There's the territory.

And along that line, a kingdom must have subjects. There must be those that are subjected to the King. And we learn going back to Ephesians 5:22-32 how the church is subject unto Christ. He's the head.

In Matthew 28:18-20, we learn how that kingdom continues to grow. "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age."

Friends, Jesus Christ continues to instruct us who are part of His church or His kingdom. In Philippians 2:8-11, "and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

You see, a kingdom must have subjects and the church of Christ, the church that belongs to Christ, they recognize Him as their King, their Lord, their Savior. So a kingdom must have a territory. We've established that. Must have subjects. We've established that.

And how about a kingdom must have a law? Well in Galatians 6 and verse 2, a very simple text, "bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." You know, in previous studies looking at Jesus as a prophet and the authority of His word that comes forth from the Father, yes, the law of Christ is evident and changes the lives of those that are in submission to Him for the good.

And then let's notice, kingdom must have a territory. Got that. Must have subjects. Got that. Must have a law. Got that. And one can be added to that kingdom today. Oh, no, wait a minute now. Whoa, whoa, now. The kingdom is to come. No friends, the kingdom is already here as the church.

Listen to Colossians 1 and verse 13 of how Paul told those in Colossae how they were translated or conveyed into the kingdom of His dear Son. And that kingdom is going to rise when He comes back. 1st Corinthians 15:24.

You see, those in the church in Colossae, they were told, you are added to the kingdom. You've been conveyed into the kingdom. You've been brought forth into the kingdom of His dear Son. Or some translations say the Son of His love. And if they could be in the kingdom then, then why can't we be in the kingdom now within the church? Because He is our King and we're in His kingdom.

To God be the glory. As He reigns in the territory of our hearts, we are His subjects and our service is unto Him and others to impact this old world through the power of our broadcast from International Gospel Hour to let others know you can be a part of that kingdom.

Friends, have we given you some things to think about? And I don't want to leave our broadcast without sharing some type of tool of study with you, something of which you can take and look at. They'll always be free.

And we'd like for you to give our Bible study course by mail—that's right, the old-fashioned way—we'd love for you to give it a try. And here is our J. Webb with those details.

J. Webb: Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, "Home Study." That's it.

You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, and leave us the same information: name, address, and type "Home Study" in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it's free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

Jeff Archey: Friends, we'd love to send you that study very soon, so let us hear from you. And thank you so much for joining me today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey, friends, and keep listening.

J. Webb: God be with you till we meet again. Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. God be with you till we meet again.