One God, Two Kingdoms, and Three Problems

One God, Two Kingdoms, and Three Problems

Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Focus: We need to make decisions about who God is, which Kingdom has our allegiance, and who can answer our most difficult problems.

Problem #1: Who is in charge?

Matthew 13:36-39 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Problem #2: What about evil and suffering?
1. Supernatural universe.
2. Free will.
3. Greater goods.|
4. We’re finite.
5. The Cross.

Matthew 13:40-43 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Problem #3: What about hell and justice?
1. God has revealed some knowledge himself to everyone, even though this revelation is different based on time/place. (Rom. 1:18-27; Rom. 2:1-5, 17-28)
2. God judges us based on how we’ve responded to whatever revelation we’ve received. (Rom. 2:5-16)
3. It is impossible to be neutral about God; you will ultimately either accept him with love or reject him with hatred. (Rom. 1:28; 5:10-11).
4. God wants all to accept him, and he always judges us justly. (Rom. 3:19; 1 Tim. 2:4)
5.To accept God is citizenship in the Kingdom of God from now into eternity.6.Rejecting God is possible, but you were made to be in right relationship with him. So rejecting God means suffering and continued alienation from God now and hell in the future.