The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths”

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” “Paradoxical Truths” Disciples Must Accept & Understand The Great Kingdom Of God The Great Kingdom Of God

Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Prophetic Pronouncements Psa 2:1-9 Something “devised” is “vain” v. 1 Opposition to the “Lord’s anointed” v. 2 God laughs, scoffs at such actions v. 4 The King will be installed…have the nations as “His inheritance” vv. 6-8 Prophetic Pronouncements Psa 2:1-9 Something “devised” is “vain” v. 1 Opposition to the “Lord’s anointed” v. 2 God laughs, scoffs at such actions v. 4 The King will be installed…have the nations as “His inheritance” vv. 6-8

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Prophetic Pronouncements Dan 2:34-35, 44 A “stone cut without hands” v. 34 (Divine) This stone struck the statue, crushing it… no trace of the statue left behind vv This stone became a great mountain, filling the whole earth v. 35 Prophetic Pronouncements Dan 2:34-35, 44 A “stone cut without hands” v. 34 (Divine) This stone struck the statue, crushing it… no trace of the statue left behind vv This stone became a great mountain, filling the whole earth v. 35

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Prophetic Pronouncements Dan 2:34-35, 44 The kingdom of God will “endure forever” v. 44 Prophetic Pronouncements Dan 2:34-35, 44 The kingdom of God will “endure forever” v. 44

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Prophetic Pronouncements The implications of these passages? God’s plans cannot be thwarted Whatever man may devise will be undone by God The plans (will) of God is for all men Prophetic Pronouncements The implications of these passages? God’s plans cannot be thwarted Whatever man may devise will be undone by God The plans (will) of God is for all men

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Prophetic Pronouncements One would think the following… God will crush all opposition from existence He would have a “monopoly” re: His kingdom Has what these passages describe taken place? Yet, there is more to understand, accept Prophetic Pronouncements One would think the following… God will crush all opposition from existence He would have a “monopoly” re: His kingdom Has what these passages describe taken place? Yet, there is more to understand, accept YES

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Realistic Reminders Yes…God is hopeful re: what He has planned from the beginning Yet…Jesus also taught us “realistic” truths that temper God’s hopes Truths that actually work against God’s kingdom Realistic Reminders Yes…God is hopeful re: what He has planned from the beginning Yet…Jesus also taught us “realistic” truths that temper God’s hopes Truths that actually work against God’s kingdom

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Realistic Reminders Mt 13:3-8, Parable Of The Sower Much of the sower’s efforts go for naught The devil is ready & successful in “snatching” good seed away Most people do not possess the moral character to receive, grow the seed Realistic Reminders Mt 13:3-8, Parable Of The Sower Much of the sower’s efforts go for naught The devil is ready & successful in “snatching” good seed away Most people do not possess the moral character to receive, grow the seed

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Realistic Reminders Mt 13:3-8, Parable Of The Sower Righteousness (good soil) will have to flourish in a world where many flat out reject the kingdom (wayside soil), and others receive it in a shallow, unfruitful way (rocky & thorny soils) Realistic Reminders Mt 13:3-8, Parable Of The Sower Righteousness (good soil) will have to flourish in a world where many flat out reject the kingdom (wayside soil), and others receive it in a shallow, unfruitful way (rocky & thorny soils)

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Realistic Reminders Mt 13:3-8, Parable Of The Sower All these truths can make “seed sowers” depressed Yet, all we can do is keep sowing, praying that God will bless our efforts 1 Cor 3:6 Realistic Reminders Mt 13:3-8, Parable Of The Sower All these truths can make “seed sowers” depressed Yet, all we can do is keep sowing, praying that God will bless our efforts 1 Cor 3:6

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Realistic Reminders Mt 13:24-30 Parable Of The Tares The 2 parables are connected The kingdom of God is destined to “grow up” in a world where evil not only is alive & active but seems at times to have the “upper hand” Evil will exist until the end (harvest) Realistic Reminders Mt 13:24-30 Parable Of The Tares The 2 parables are connected The kingdom of God is destined to “grow up” in a world where evil not only is alive & active but seems at times to have the “upper hand” Evil will exist until the end (harvest)

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Realistic Reminders For many, these “truths” come as a shock To them, this is not what God promised Pre-millennial thinkers cannot accept it “The kingdom has not fully come until God blasts away all unrighteousness…then there will be peace.” Realistic Reminders For many, these “truths” come as a shock To them, this is not what God promised Pre-millennial thinkers cannot accept it “The kingdom has not fully come until God blasts away all unrighteousness…then there will be peace.”

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Harmonizing The Two God has indeed established a great kingdom Heb 12: Yet, He has also endowed man with something He has never compromised nor violated Ù free moral choice Harmonizing The Two God has indeed established a great kingdom Heb 12: Yet, He has also endowed man with something He has never compromised nor violated Ù free moral choice

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Harmonizing The Two Citizenship in this kingdom has always been by invitation Mt 11: :37-39 All of us are either “willing” or “unwilling” Lk 13:24 Mt 7:13 16:25 We are not at liberty to “negotiate” this citizenship Mk 10:21-22 Harmonizing The Two Citizenship in this kingdom has always been by invitation Mt 11: :37-39 All of us are either “willing” or “unwilling” Lk 13:24 Mt 7:13 16:25 We are not at liberty to “negotiate” this citizenship Mk 10:21-22

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Harmonizing The Two Thus, the Scripture exhorts unwavering faithfulness Heb 10:22-23, :1ff The “paradox” stated earlier vanishes when we accept these “realistic” truths Mt 10:34-36 Lk 14:28-30 Harmonizing The Two Thus, the Scripture exhorts unwavering faithfulness Heb 10:22-23, :1ff The “paradox” stated earlier vanishes when we accept these “realistic” truths Mt 10:34-36 Lk 14:28-30

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Conclusion Some may wonder “Why preach on this?” Most unbelievers do not understand this At times believers need reassuring when they see God’s kingdom “taking it on the chin” Some may begin to doubt, question…even want or try “new methods” to reach people Conclusion Some may wonder “Why preach on this?” Most unbelievers do not understand this At times believers need reassuring when they see God’s kingdom “taking it on the chin” Some may begin to doubt, question…even want or try “new methods” to reach people

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths” Conclusion The Parable Of The Tares also reminds us how everything will work out Mt 13:30 God’s great kingdom will be victorious!! Such a confident reality is enough for us to believe Him who planned it to put our trust in Him who died to establish it Conclusion The Parable Of The Tares also reminds us how everything will work out Mt 13:30 God’s great kingdom will be victorious!! Such a confident reality is enough for us to believe Him who planned it to put our trust in Him who died to establish it

The Great Kingdom Of God Accepting & Understanding “Paradoxical Truths”