A Kingdom Not made With Hands

Introduction

Man was created an eternal righteous being in God’s image, not His exact likeness. “He, God, has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Eccl 3:13) God prepared a Paradise for them and instructed them to maintain Eden, to be fruitful and multiply and NOT to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil for by doing they would die. It is unknown how long they lived there, but sometime later they ate of the fruit of the tree, consequently, God removed them from Eden. It is believed this is when time began as Adam and Eve could no longer eat of the Tree of Life and live forever.

Many years later God instructed righteous Abraham to go to a place He had prepared for him and his descendants, one of which would bless the world. It was over 400 years before Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites, arrived in the land promised to Abraham. While there they were looking for a redeemer that could forgive sins. if they obeyed Him.

By action of the Holy Spirit God came to live on earth as a human to become the only sin offering and “to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3)

Following Jesus’ death by crucifixion and His resurrection, He returned to Heaven and on Pentecost Day “pour(ed) out my Spirit on all people … everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:17, 21) not just the Jews. Christ’s apostles proclaimed the Good News - forgiveness of sin and salvation is now available to all mankind who put their trust and obedience in Christ by dying to sin and being buried into His blood, immersion in water - baptism. God then raises these obedient forgiven people from their burial putting them in a kingdom not made by hands. You must study God’s word for your salvation, and not “rely” on interpretations by others; e.g., BibleWay Publishing, commentaries, priest, pastors or preachers. (Phil 2:13)

“When the Son of Man comes … He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matt 25:31-34)

God’s Promise Adam and Eve were separated from their loving father and creator, but God had a plan for bringing man back into that perfect relationship. He told the serpent, Satan the deceiver and father of lies, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Genesis 3:15) Comment “Crush your head” Christ’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection put an end to eternal death by providing for forgiveness. Victory over sin and death, Satan’s hold on man, to all who call on Christ through faith, belief, and baptism into Him death. “Strike his heel (of the offspring of woman)” is the attempt to take Jesus’ life by crucifixion.

Later following Cain's unacceptable offering, God again warned of the consequences of man's rebellious actions, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7)

Comment: Cain did not listen to God's warning. He sinned even more by killing his brother Abel. The consequences of his actions resulted in him becoming a wanderer or fugitive.

During the days of Noah, we read "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." (Genesis 6:5)

Comment: God removed all evil before him by destroying by water all people upon the earth, except righteous Noah and his family.

God revealed to Abraham his thoughts about Sodom and Gomorrah. "And the LORD said, 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.' ... Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So, He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.” (Genesis 18:20-21 and 19:24-25)

Comment: God heard their outcry indicated God is aware of everything going on among the people of the earth. In this case He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with all their wicked people. These events show that God does not tolerate wickedness, disobedience or sin and will take action against those who practice such, but not always immediately.

From Adam and Eve through Judas, Jesus’ betrayer, sin prevailed as it does today. Paul through the Holy Spirit said “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ... “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)