p. Three | The Constitution of the Kingdom of God

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California, U. S. A. · Sep 9, 1930

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 57, No. 35.

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The Constitution of the Kingdom of God

By Francis Johnson

NAME

The established government is known as The Kingdom of the Grace of God and His Righteousness. (Matthew 6:33.)

OBJECT

The purpose of this kingdom is to restore fallen man to the image of his Creator, and to partake of His divine nature, which possession will grant entrance into the eternal city of God. This is the true objective of this kingdom. (Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:4; Revelation 22:14.)

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is composed of the Godhead and mortal man. The Creator is the supreme ruler, the Father of all mankind, and His dominion extends over heaven and earth. He is associated in power with His Son, Jesus, whom He resurrected from the dead, thus making salvation possible. The Third Person of the Godhead is the Holy Ghost, who is instrumental in advancing the purposes of this kingdom. Mortal man becomes a part of this kingdom when delivered from the powers of darkness and when he firmly believes in Jesus Christ as his Saviour. (Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 66:1; Colossians 1:13-15; John 14:26.)

REQUISITE FOR MEMBERSHIP

The invitation is open to whoever feels his unworthiness and urgent need of living a better life. He must first experience repentance and seek forgiveness of sin by confessing to the Father in heaven, which necessarily is associated with conversion and the renouncing of the world. This means accepting and following the character of Christ as the only pattern of life. Regeneration, or new birth, then re-creates a new heart and spirit in the former nature, a transformation that is recognized as admittance or adoption as a member into this kingdom. (Revelation 22:17; Acts 2:37, 38; Ezekiel 36:26; Ephesians 4:24; John 3:3.)

TITLES OF MEMBERS

The Creator is King of kings and Lord of lords, Jehovah and Father of all mankind. Jesus, His Son, is to be recognized as the Prince of Peace and the Prince of life, also as the Captain of salvation. The Holy Ghost is called the Witness and Comforter of the church of God. The lay membership of this church are to be men of God and sons of God who are epistles of Christ. (Isaiah 44:6; 9:6; Acts 3:15; Hebrews 2:10; 10:15; John 14:26; 1 Timothy 6:11; John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 3:3.)

FRANCIS JOHNSON

WORK OF THE OFFICERS

The many promises that the Lord of heaven makes to His people He faithfully fulfills. Those who seek His forgiveness, He abundantly pardons and cleanses from all unrighteousness. (Hebrews 6:17, 18; 1 John 1:9.)

Christ made a voluntary sacrifice while on earth to save fallen mankind from the penalty of sin. In behalf of those who accept Him as a personal Saviour, He officiates as Mediator, before the throne of God. There He effects reconciliation between the heavenly Father and Christ’s followers, by virtue of having paid the penalty of their sins by His death. He is also Shepherd of His flock, while tenderly manifesting His love to them. (John 10:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 2:13-18; Hebrews 13:20; John 14:21.)

The Holy Spirit personally strives with sinners unto repentance, reproving of sin, teaching truth, wisdom, and the way unto life everlasting. (John 16:7, 8, 13.)

DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Love is to characterize every motive in life,—love manifested in reverence to the Father as Creator, love shown in adoration of Christ as the Redeemer, and love exercised in brotherly affection to fellow men. This love will find pleasure in obeying God’s law and precepts and in seeking to conform to the beautiful standard of Christ’s character. The word of truth will be studied diligently to know more fully the principles of truth; to learn to be prudent, pure in heart, undefiled, and zealous unto all good works. The members are to pray without ceasing; and, above all, to preach the gospel message with boldness and great power. (Deuteronomy 11:1; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 4:7; Romans 8:29; Psalm 119:9, 113, 173; 1 Peter 2:2, 3; Titus 2:14; 3:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Mark 16:15.)

MEETINGS

Where two or three are gathered together in His name, there the Lord will be in their midst. When alone, prayer in secret to the Father will be rewarded openly. All members are to know that the Lord is never too distant or too occupied to hear or answer the petitions of His people. The first great meeting of this kingdom shall be called when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and the elect of earth shall be gathered in the clouds to meet their God. This meeting shall continue forever, when the redeemed shall ever be with the Lord. (Matthew 18:20; 6:6; Isaiah 59:1; Jeremiah 23:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17.)