Any other Gospel - Cursed                                                                                    

Twice Paul said that if any preach any other Gospel (other than the one he preached) let them be cursed.

Gal 1:8-9 -- 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The New Testament says that Jesus^a, Phillip^b and Paul^c preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. 

See footnotes for scriptures:  ^aJesus: Mat 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 8:1. ^bPhillip: Acts 8:1 and ^cPaul: Acts 20:25; 28:31.

The kingdom of God is not physical but spiritual because it cannot be seen by natural eyes,  but only by "spiritual eyes" of born-again Christians (John 3:3).

John 3:3 --  3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Seeking the kingdom of God and God's righteousness should be the first priority for Christians.

Mat 6:33--seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The kingdom of God is invisible to the natural eye because it is spiritual. It is a mater of the faith- in the heart. Not everyone can see it even if it's all around them.

Luke 17:20-21-- And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Whoever obeys the law and teaches others to obey will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:19-- Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of God starts small (like a small seed or stone) and grows to be great (fill the whole earth).

Mat 13:31-32--31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest...

Dan 2:33, 35, 44, 45-- 34 Thou saw (in a dream) that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image ..... 35 and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.... 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.  45 ... and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

The kingdom of God started when Jesus was on earth proven by the fact that he cast out demons.

Luke 11:20--But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The kingdom of God continues with believers who also cast out demons and seek His Kingdom and righteousness.

Mark 16:15-17--And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils (demons); they shall speak with new tongues;

The Lord's prayer starts with the petition, 'Thy kingdom  come, Thy will be done on earth.' The petition is for  God's will to be done now and in the future in an ever increasing way. We also petition God to provide our needs, forgive our trespasses,  and deliver us from evil and temptation as we forgive others. Note the word 'come' in the original Greek (erchomai) is both present and imperfect tense (see Concordance word #2064 in Strong's Concordance*). The imperfect tense of a verb denotes the continuance of an incomplete past action. Therefore we pray that the kingdom which has already come (in the past) will continue to come now and in the future.

Mat 6:9-13--9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Paul declares that we are receiving (present tense) a kingdom which was being received in Paul's time and continues to be received in our time and will continue for those who serve God acceptably.

Heb 12: 27-29-- 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Jesus gave His  Great Commission to Christians  to teach the nations in all the world to obey God's commandments.

Mat 28:18-20--18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Please read 2 Pet 1:2-11 which summarily says Christians need to apply diligence and faith to become partakers of the divine nature  of God, to escape corruption and lusts of the world, to be cleansed of sin, and to grow in love to have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Christ.

Please also read the parable in Mark 4:3-20 about the sower who sowed seed (the word about the KOG).

In this parable there are four types of Christians represented by four types of ground: 1. wayside, 2. stony, 3. thorny,  and 4. good soil.

Wayside:  birds that eat the seed represent the Devil that prevents understanding of the word of about kingdom.

Stony: the seed endures only until affliction or persecution comes because of the word of the kingdom.

Thorny:  the word is choked by worldly cares, love of riches, and lust of the world.

Good soil: the word is heard and received and it brings forth much fruit. Hearing and receiving is more than physical--it includes serious attention toward the word, strong faith, having hunger for righteousness, diligence, perseverance and a strong desire to grow and follow God-- and willingness to give up worldly cares and even suffer for the kingdom.

Questions to consider:  How do we  compare ourselves to the different types of soils identified in this parable? 
Wayside: Do we understand and seek the kingdom and His righteousness? 
Stoney: Are we willing to accept  persecution like Paul, who for preaching the gospel, was stoned and dragged out of Lyconium, he arose and went back into the city to encourage the disciples saying "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:19-22).  
Thorney: Do we love the things of the world more than the kingdom of God and His righteousness? 
Good soil: Are we growing and fruitful for God? If our understanding of gospel is not primarily about a growing kingdom of God here on earth, seeking His righteousness, obeying and teaching the nations to obeys God's commands, or casting out demons, it may not  be the gospel preached by Christ, Phillip and Paul. It may be different and cursed gospel (Gal 1:8-9).  Are we seeking the kingdom of God here and now on earth, and growing in his righteousness and God's divine nature?                  

*Strong's Concordance of the Bible.                                                                         last revision 8/11/16 hgk

Serving God Acceptably

Serving God Acceptably --Scriptures and comments  

(Abbreviation KOG = kingdom = kingdom of God)
                              

Hebrews 12:26-28 -- 'we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken' (it is on earth and it is unstoppable*)

"26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

Comments--

1.  Let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably.  Grace is God's enabling power to do every good work  (2 Cor 9:8;  
  Eph 2:10; Eze 11:19; 36:24-27**)

2. with reverence-- Our minds need to "let God be God"--the absolute Almighty, Lord and Creator of all, above all.

3. godly fear -- We  must recognize that pleasing and serving God is the number #1  issue in all things. God is a consuming fire, and none can resist Him.  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10;  Psalms 111:10**).

Haggai 2:6-9--(quoted in Hebrews 12) 

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the Lord of hosts.

Comments-- God will shake heaven, earth, everything that is not built on Jesus Christ (Heb 12:27)  including all nations. Christ (the desire of all nations) will be revealed to all nations and  His glory and that of His house (the church) will be greater than the former.

We are not to hope to escape troubles or persecution by rapture-- 

John 17:15-- Jesus prays that God not take Christians out of the world--but keep them safe through difficulties.

John 6:39, 40, 44, 54-- All Christians will be raised up (resurrected or raptured) is on the last day, not before.

Mat 6:33-- "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God (KOG) and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."

What is the KOG? It is His will being done on earth (Mat 6:9-13)--including our doing His will . It is not just going to heaven.

What does seeking the KOG and righteousness look like?    Generally -- the KOG and righteousness is not what we see in the world and  hear in the news. It is agape or divine love (1 Cor 13:1-8) of God working through Christians--putting the interests of God and others above self. The KOG includes spiritual warfare and casting out demons, and defeating Satan (Luke 11:20; Eph 6:10-18;  James 4:7). The KOG is seeking and hungering for righteousness in our lives (Mat 5:3-10). It includes the Great Commission:  making disciples and teaching the nations to obey His commands Mat 28:20; 5:19), and growing in love and the stature of Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:11). Things (needed for life) will be added to you when you seek the kingdom and His righteousness (Mat 6:24-33)

Since we are receiving the KOG (Heb 12:26-28)-- what can we do to try to serve God acceptably?  The Bible says we should do the following:

1. We are instructed to  pray for the Kingdom to come, forgive and seek forgiveness and righteousness (Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9-13**).

 ⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

2. Study diligently the entire Bible and give special attention to the parables about the KOG (Mat 4:4). ^" But he [Jesus] said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

3. Obey and teach God's Law (Mat 5:19). ¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

4. Grow in love as in 2 Pet 1:2-14 (below).  

2 Pet 1:2-12**--Read these verses about how we become partakers of the divine nature of God  by His divine power to secure an abundant entrance in the KOG as it says in verses 10-11 below:

"10 ... brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

COMMENTS:  To serve God acceptably, we need faith to believe that with God's promises and His enabling grace [2 Cor 9:8--which comes by His spirit], we  can grow in stature and nature of Jesus Christ, bear godly fruit  and extend (enter abundantly)  the KOG-- which will  eventually fill the whole earth.  The growth of kingdom of God on earth is the unstoppable.** To extend the  KOG, God  plans to use His people--the Church.  We choose to be used in His plan by choosing to grow in the nature and love of Christ. The promise is that if we abound to become partakers of the divine nature of God, we will not be unfruitful or barren, but have an abundant entrance into the KOG.

8 Steps to becoming partakers of God's divine nature  and to serve God acceptably starts with faith (according to 2 Peter 1:2-12) --

1. Faith-- is being persuaded that  God is able to perform His promises (Rom 4:21) that we may escape the worldly corruption of our flesh nature God's enabling grace (divine power, 2 Cor 9:8) through diligence (v 5, 10) in seeking the knowledge of God and His grace.  Hosea (4:6) said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Jesus said,  "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God (Mat 4:4).       

        Grace (as described in 2 Corinthians 9:8)--"God is able to make all        grace  abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."  This grace comes through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ezek 36:24-27).

2. Virtue-- goodness, righteousness, morality, integrity, decency, worthiness, purity (according to the dictionary).
3. Knowledge -- We  need a good  knowledge of  the Bible and how it relates to the times we live in. Man shall live by every word that proceeds from God (Mat 4:4).

4. Self Control-- be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by renewing of the mind (Rom 12:1-2).  The flesh nature tries to replace God's ways with man's ways and natural human understanding.

5. Perseverance-- We can not give up too easily (if at all).  We must let God correct us and adjust our direction.

6. Godliness-- Trying to please God by doing what we think He would do. Not selfish.

7. Brotherly kindness --  Practice the many 'one-another' instructions in the Bible.

8. Love-- According to 1 Cor 13:4-6, love is kind, long-suffering, bears all things (not easily offended), not proud, hopes, rejoices in truth, and endures many things (turns the check) and more. We should love one another (even if others don't love us). Love serves God by loving to one another, both in word and deed.

Attitudes toward the Kingdom of God

Mat 5:1-10**- Read verses about the attitudes of the  people in the KOG

They are blessed, meek, poor in spirit, hunger for righteousness and make and peace when possible. They  may suffer for the KOG and receive special blessings from God.

Mark 4:3-20**-- Read verses about the Parable of the sower seed (word of God)  about the KOG.

Comments:  Four types of ground (souls or people) are:   wayside,  stony,  thorny,  and  good soil.
Descriptions of the four types of soil:

1. Wayside:  the seed is eaten by birds, meaning  it is nullified by the lies of the Devil.

2. Stony: the seed endures only until affliction or persecution comes because of the word of the kingdom.

3. Thorny:  the word is choked by worldly cares, love of riches, and lust of the world.

4. Good soil: Word is heard and received and it brings forth much fruit. Hearing and receiving is more than physical--it includes serious attention toward the word, strong faith, having hunger for righteousness, diligence, perseverance and a strong desire to grow and follow God-- and willingness to give up worldly cares and even suffer for the kingdom.  

Strong faith hopes in the word of God and His promises. Faith increases by repeated hearing of God's word (Rom 10:17). Faith without works is dead (James 2:20).  Without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11:6). Man shall live by every word that proceeds from God (Mat 4:4).

Footnotes

* The Kingdom of God is unstoppable: Dan 2:44-45, 7:13-14; Num 14:21; Heb 12:28; Mat 28:20; Ps 110; Ps 2:6-9; Ps 22:27-28.

** To save space, some scriptures are left for you to look up and read.  

Quotes come from the King James Version, with some changes from Old English to modern English  (i.e., saith --> says, etc).   

last revision:    2016-07-10