"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. 
(Matthew 21:28-32 NRSV)

I love the two parables in Matthew 21 regarding vineyards. Vineyards are a also used in the prophets as allegory or parable. A similar use by Jesus can be used beyond theological beliefs and opinions. There are simple truths to be gleaned from these parables, reminders of who we are as believers or followers of Jesus, whether in the context of Israel and the coming and present kingdom, or as we are in Christ. 

Jesus is addressing the religious leadership, those who are actually keeping people out of the kingdom. I would like to think at least some of them did so ignorantly, but I am sure others did so with intention. That is what is told here, in the parable of the two sons. The first says no, I will not work in the vineyard today, but later has a change of heart, a repentance. The second, I used to see as a liar, says yes but then also has a change of heart. Where the second was a liar, to me, I now can also see as one who truly desired to do the right thing but was swayed either by others or by the daunting task ahead. We could view both as believers, both see the suffering and sacrifice of the labor. One has some personal issues, taken from how Jesus answers with prostitutes and tax collectors, the lowest sinners, whether or not they are followers of Christ. The second seems to be in good standing.

I am sure in Jesus' day there were sinful followers. Today we are sure of it, though washed clean, we still have our faults. I have come to believe on principle that I can not say some faults are worse than others, in general sense. We all have them. I think this is one area we get in trouble as those who are suppose to manifesting the grace of God. In this first parable the point seems to be clearly made. The ones who first said no I believe to equated with the sinners. They went and worked to bring the harvest. Is sin important? Of course it is, but I see Jesus saying that in this case, it is the labor of the harvest that he is looking for, not the personal failings of the laborers. There is grace here. The second son, or group, is called out simply for not laboring. The apparent 'goodness' is left out of consideration. This no doubt angered the hearers. Jesus is saying that the sinner who labored go in ahead of the 'righteous', or more properly, the 'self-righteous'.

Unfortunately this is a common scene today, as it was then. We have all heard stories of those who are not followers that see the poor witness of a proclaimed follower and therefor are turned away due to hypocrisy. Can you see this parable from inside the fellowship as well? Paul warns of both behaviors as being detrimental to our calling throughout his letters. Jesus is looking to the inside, and warning, hoping for repentance. 

As there was grace towards the sinning laborers, we can find grace towards other biblical people as well. Abraham is mentioned in Romans 4, Galatians 3, and Hebrews 11 with praise for his faithfulness, his belief in God and his willingness to follow God. No mention is made of Abraham's failings, of which there were at least a few. God remembers Abraham for his faithful labor. This is the testimony we ought to follow. We should not be questioning others faithfulness based on outward appearances. There is no 'unfairness' involved. The evidence Jesus sought against the religious leadership was self-incriminating, not a position we should ever find ourselves to be in. Serve God as you are able and be thankful for the service of others, no matter your view of outward perceptions. 

Jesus mentions John the Baptist as having told both groups, all of the people, as such there is no excuse. I think this statement worsens the entire outlook for the religious and self-righteous. Here, they are told that they saw the others working. This in itself was a indication of what was being called for, the call of the kingdom looked for labor. These folks watched the labor of the first, the sinners, yet did nothing. They were still relying on their supposed righteousness to speak for them. Even though Jesus still calls the first sinners, I wonder if they had changed as they labored, as they grew in their purpose. The growth was not due to rules and regulation, but to experience through labor. Jesus uses their formerly known associations as further evidence of faithfulness and to drive home the parable. Jesus had more to say...

Matthew 5:3-4 The Message Bible
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.    "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

This is a difficult concept to grasp and live out, but it is one that we should strive for in every moment.

​

What does it mean to live with power in the kingdom of God today? In concept, it is made simple for us to understand. In practice, it borders on the impossible. Living with power for God does not require a special school, it does not require special gifts or talents, God's kingdom asks for devotion. 100% devotion. 

Let's take a look at what 100% devotion looks like. This is very important. It is a big ask and God knows this, which is why we have a ready made plan set before us and no, it is not the bible. Your plan, the blueprint, map, or path, is a living person. If we had lived in the first century, in Corinth, and attended Paul's meetings, we would have had a pretty good person to follow in Paul. Paul shows us this when he says in 1 Corinthians 4:16 to follow his example, to imitate him. Paul urges this imitation. Later, in 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul adds the phrase, "as I am of Christ". We are looking for living example, Paul is not living though we can find examples in his epistles of what devotion looks like. 

We are going to work backwards, beginning with a hymn sung by some of the earliest believers:
Philippians 2:5-11 The Message Bible
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, —and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. 

Focus on the phrase, "he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death". Now, can you imagine living a completely selfless life? Seriously, selfless. Never a thought of yourself, ever. Nothing you did was for you. A couple of nights ago I traveled to Buffalo, NY with one of my brothers and my son to a rock concert, which was outstanding. The day before the show my wife asked if I was excited, of course I was, then she asked wouldn't you rather stay home with me? Wow! There is a loaded question. I responded with a half-truth, yes I would, but I also would like to spend it at the show! Is this a good example? I think it is, obviously my wife was not going to ask me to stay home, but when Jesus lived among us the idea of not going to the show was very real. Jesus lived for one being, God. Jesus was completely selfless! 

John 5:19 NRSV
Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.

The son, Jesus, could do NOTHING on his own! I believe this was a very factual statement, no tongue-in-cheek joking around. Jesus only did what God was doing through him. That is 100% devotion. Jesus gave it all. Does God require this of us? Jesus gave a couple of clues.

Matthew 16:24-25 NRSV
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 19:16-24 tells the story of the rich young man. He wants to enter the kingdom and is very troubled at Jesus explanation regarding how to enter. Jesus gives some simple commandments which the young man says he has already done. Then comes the deal breaker, give all of your riches away. The young mans riches were his identity, if it was money, his money was who he was. It occurred to me recently that we could put Paul's name (Saul) as the young man. Paul was rich in heritage and in the law. If Paul was the young man, he left hanging on to his identity rather than that of Jesus. If we see this as Paul, he hung on to it so tightly that he eventually became bitter and raged against Jesus by persecuting Jesus' followers. Imagine Paul hearing the news that Jesus was dead and feeling empowered to persecute the mindless followers of Jesus. Then Paul had the visit, I can imagine God remembering the young man's visit to the living Jesus and thinking that Paul would be perfect for the work, after he was knocked down from his high horse. Paul tells of this very fact in Philippians 3. Now I am not suggesting that the rich young man was in fact Paul, but I believe it is an excellent illustration. Give this some thought by putting yourself in the story, what are you rich in? How does it identify you?

So, there are many examples of how we should be living in God's kingdom, but there is just one true ask. It is the one that I said borders on impossible. In fact, right now, it is impossible. We are a work in progress and thankfully we have a God of patience. Can we still live in the kingdom? Yes, I believe we can, in moments of power. The real power is in the total surrender of ourselves for the sake of others.

For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. 
1 Corinthians 4:20, NRSV

God's kingdom is very powerful. Absolutely nothing can stand in it's way. It is a kingdom that has the power to change the lives of individuals, societies, and cultures. I believe the intention of God is that we live within his kingdom as engaged people, not passively waiting for a message or sign. God's kingdom is very active, super active, and those who understand this will be very busy manifesting God's work in their lives. It is natural for one living in the kingdom to show God's power, it is not easy, it is work, yet it is still natural. You see, God is not asking the impossible of us, in fact, the works of the kingdom were ordained ages ago, Ephesians 2:10. 

God has a future goal, but today we need not be concerned with the future, instead we should focus our attention on right now. Today, this very moment. Why? Because the kingdom is now, it is not only in the future, but right now. This does not mean that you should not know of the future which God has revealed, it means that such knowledge should not cause in-action, stagnation, because we know that it will all work out in the end! No, we are called to action, today.

Ephesians 1:17-20 The Message (MSG)
But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, 

You might ask, is Paul referring  to God's kingdom in Ephesians? I believe he is (more on this later). I love the language used in this translation; "focused and clear", "immensity" and "glorious way of life", "utter extravagance", "endless energy and boundless strength". These are all words of intention, power, endurance, and strength. Where does it come from? Christ Jesus, it flows from God through him through the resurrection.  

So, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:20, that the kingdom is based on power, not talk. When Paul says 'talk', he is speaking of empty words, ideas that will never be acted on, setting huge and unrealistic goals, lofty ideas with no intentions or power putting them into action. Paul is getting after some folks in Corinth. They feel like they do not need any guidance, like they have it all. I love Jonathan Mitchell's expanded translation of verse 8:
1 Corinthians 4:8 Jonathan Mitchell NT (JMNT)
You folks already continuously exist being ones having become completely satiated, with the result that you are now fully satisfied. You are already suddenly rich. You people suddenly reign as kings apart from us! [note: these three statements could also be questions: Are you… Are you… Do you…?] And would that you surely did reign, so that we could also reign as kings together with you! 

Did you catch the note? Paul is asking them, sarcastically. In verses 18 and 19, he says they have become arrogant, full of talk with no power. The Message translation says they are just hot air. Jonathan Mitchell frequently uses the term, "breath-effect" when speaking of God's spirit. When God speaks, it is nothing short of life, of power. These folks in Corinth are the complete opposite, just breath with no effect. 

God's Way is not a matter of mere talk; it's an empowered life. 
1 Corinthians 4:20 MSG

It is an empowered life. You see, that is what Paul is driving at in Ephesians chapter 1. There is real power in what God has for us and that power, the same power that raised the messiah, is dwelling in you. What are you prepared to do with it?

Recently I begun to think differently about the kingdom of God, or of heaven. Previously I believed that the "kingdom" was for the earthly realm, for Israel and the nations that would someday flock to her. Whenever anyone brought up the kingdom, I turned down the volume. I thought, they do not understand scripture, they think we are the spiritual Israel or even that we are Israel. Even worse, when they said something like, 'we are bringing the kingdom in', oh my.  So, what changed? I began to  realize that the whole idea of living in God's kingdom meant much more to life than knowing something about the future of God's plan. It meant something for right now. Honestly, there was something missing from my view of what christian life was supposed to be. I found myself reading mainly Paul's epistles, rarely the gospels. The Old Testament was just history and prophecy. Because I believe that we are living in a time (age of grace) covered mainly by the Pauline epistles, this was my scope of life. 

What began to really capture my attention was how the word "kingdom" seemed to brighten the eyes and attitudes of those proclaiming it. I decided to study this idea of kingdom life, which drew me into the gospels to a greater point than ever before. 

Remember that the topic is the kingdom life, not a dispensational review. As I said, I am convinced that we live in an age which is covered more accurately by the apostle Paul, as revealed to him by God. But, Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, he knew the Old Testament well. Acts 28:23-31 says that Paul was testifying the kingdom of God and of Christ using the law and the prophets. After the Jewish leaders reject his message, Paul then says that the Gentiles will listen, and for two years he proclaimed the kingdom of God to any who came to him, including Gentiles. According to blueletterbibile.org, Paul refers to the Old Testament 259 times; this includes Hebrew's 86 times. Beside Hebrews, such references are found in Romans, the book of the "Romans road to salvation", 74 times.   So, to truly understand what the proclamation about the kingdom Paul gave from his home in Rome, we have to understand what Jesus said about the kingdom, and what the Old Testament writers had to say. Then we can see that what Paul wrote was not different, concerning the kingdom of God. 

I have been giving a series of sermons titled, "The Kingdom Is Like...". I am having a fun time with this and would like to begin writing it all down. My hope is that you might find something of interest, even if you are way ahead of me! I am not sure how this will work out from here but I will be back, in less than a year-and-a-half! Until then, may you realize that God has already blessed you far beyond your expectations!

"You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come." 
(2 Timothy 3:1 NRSV)

Our fellowship recently received "homework"; why did Paul tell Timothy to consider what he said (2nd Tim 2:7)? We were only to use 2nd Timothy, no other sources whether biblical or otherwise. It was a fun study and yet it revealed a somewhat sad commentary of Paul's last days concerning the gospel he spread for Christ, and for those who believed this gospel (past tense). The aim of this post however is to look at chapter 3, verses 1-7. Please read them and think about your first impression.

Why did Paul tell Timothy "that in the last days distressing times will come."? Did Paul believe they were living in the last days? The last days as in the end? Christ was coming soon? The end of the world? The answer is no! Paul was not speaking of "the last days" as most of christianity thinks of it. Read the list Paul gives of the behaviors people will have. 

"For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,..." 
(2 Timothy 3:2-4 NRSV)

Lovers of self, lovers of money, arrogant, haters of good, slanderers, and many more. Do you think people already displayed such behavior in Paul's day? Of course! They practiced such things well before Paul was born, right? It would  be very accurate to claim that the human race displayed such nonsense going back to the first family! Were the days of Adam and Eve the last days? I read one commentator describe today's public schools and their anti-God curicculems as to what Paul was speaking of, attacking the "church". Another looked at the current state of christianity as the lesson as if Paul was telling Timothy of a coming future time.

The key is found in verse 5. "...holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power." Who would hold to an outward form of Godliness? Certainly Paul must be refering to believers! Read 2nd Timothy and find some of these even named in Paul's letter. Paul tells Timothy earlier in the letter that all of those in Asia have left him. The Asia Paul speaks of is modern day Turkey, where paul was born. Timothy was in Ephesus which is in Asia. Paul was well traveled throughout Asia. Though we only read of letters directly attributed to Ephesus and Colosse, Paul no doubt left believers who gathered in various ways throughout Asia. Look at a map of Paul's travels and you will see multiple stops throughout the region. In verse 5, Paul is speaking of people that either he himself had given the evangel or, others we read of who traveled with Paul spread the word. According to Paul they have "all" left him; most likely Paul is simply refering to the leaders and not every single believing soul in Asia.

Paul was telling Timothy that he was in "the last days" right now! Timothy was in them, he was about too experience them if he had not already. Paul is not prophecying about our current times or some time far ahead of us. Paul is not indicating to Timothy that some "rapture" is coming any day. Paul is bracing Timothy for what is about to happen in Asia as soon as Paul is executed by Rome under Nero. Those who became believers under Paul's gospel are not even waiting until Paul is gone; they are already moving in to completely change the revelations which Paul received from Christ. The "church" of Paul's day is about to collapse. 

I imagine Timothy meeting with folks from Ephesus, shocked by what he is hearing and witnessing. Timothy may begin to lose faith in the message Paul proclaimed as he is being singled out and attacked. This was Paul's point in this letter, get ready Timothy and hold fast, look for others who remain faithful to continue spreading the true evangel. It is encouraging to read Paul's closing words; he is confident that he has performed his best for Christ and exhorts Timothy to continue on in faith. Paul solidifies this thought in chapter 1.

I believe we should be careful when jumping to conclusions about "the last days". Yes, there are those among believers today who behave as Paul warned. There were those when Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, they were around before also. 2nd Timothy was a personal letter to Timothy! We are blessed to have access to this letter and it is filled with many practicle truths; "the last days" that many believe in today are not one of them. 

The letter of Paul to the Colossians is probably my second favorite next to Philippians, followed by Ephesians. For reasons I will not discuss here, I believe these 3 letters hold the key for today's believer in the Body of Christ. So much confusion and error is found by attempting to lump these three with the rest of Paul's epistles not mention integrating them with the gospels! Are we part of the Bride? No! We are of the Body! Two different spiritual entities with distinct purposes.

As I read today, Colossians, a small phrase jumped into my brain that I have not payed all that much attention to in the past. It occurs as Paul describes his prayers of thankfulness to God for the saints in Colosse. In verses 5 and 6 Paul is saying that they have heard the truth, the gospel, and that as a result of their hearing Paul hears of the fruit that has gone forth from Colosse. The phrase Paul uses as to how this has happened occurs in verse 6; "...from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God." 

​" Truly comprehended the grace of God."  Do we truly comprehend? Are we often silent because we do not truly comprehend? Are we not thankful for everything because we do not truly comprehend? Possibly so! Paul continues to say that they learned of this miraculous grace from Epaphras, obviously one who did truly comprehend and shared this grace eagerly with those from his home town. The saints of Colosse did not learn it from Paul, but from one of Paul's faithful students. At this time Paul had not been to Colosse and was writing from prison.

We have no firm writings that tell us exactly  what Epaphras used other than his own words and the spirit of knowledge and wisdom. No doubt he probably had some writings of Paul's with him, maybe some other scriptures as well. There is much doubt among scholars regarding the origins of Ephesians as some manuscripts lack any language attributing it's being to Ephesus. Some argue that Ephesians was actually a circular letter that was shared among the various churches of Asia and probably Greece as well. Is Ephesians the letter mentioned in Colossians 4? Maybe. Whatever the possibilities, they are encouraged to share letters with Laodecia. 

If we stay right in Colossians we can read of the grace that they truly comprehended. Chapter 2:11-15 talks well of the grace that they have truly comprehended; of course we could go elsewhere to find this grace as well but I believe that the most important and logical places to find it are in the prison letters. Paul repeats what Epaphras most likely has told them already, that they have been spiritually circumcised from the flesh through the baptism of themselves in Christ's death. They were subsequently raised with Christ and made alive with Him. All trespasses and legal failures have been removed, nailed to the cross! Not only this but Christ made a heavenly appearance and paraded this very grace publicly to the celestial rulers! That is grace to truly comprehend!

Not only do they truly comprehend, but in verses 6 and 7 of chapter 2 Paul tells them something truly rare. The saints of Colosse ARE "rooted and built up in Christ and established in the faith..". What a blessing and encouragement this must have been to Paul. It should be to us as well. Here is a group of folks who had limited access to scripture, who were surrounded by Judaisers and gnostics, yet they were living the gospel. We have full access to the scriptures and countless resources yet we are often lazy and lack this true comprehension. Due to such laziness or confusion many truly do not even begin to grasp what grace has been poured out towards us. 

I encourage you to read the three letters, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians. Stay there for a good bit with dozens of readings and contemplation. Do your best not to compare them with the gospels, general epistles or even Paul's other writings. These are loaded with your true reality in Christ now, today, and your future purpose!

Finally, imagine what grace Paul is speaking of in the closing of his letter! God is blessing you.