Living in the Kingdom: Righteousness, Peace, and Joy

 

Summary

In Romans 14:17, Paul reminds us that the kingdom of God is not about external practices like eating and drinking, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This passage challenges us to shift our focus from the minutiae of religious observance to the broader, more profound realities of God's kingdom. The Apostle Paul elevates the discussion from the specifics of dietary laws and holy days to the essence of what it means to live as a citizen of God's kingdom. This kingdom is characterized by righteousness, which is not merely ethical behavior but a state of being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is about living in the realm of righteousness, where our actions are a reflection of our transformed nature.

Paul's message is a call to remember that our identity as Christians is not defined by what we do or do not do in terms of religious rituals, but by our relationship with God and our transformation into His likeness. This transformation is marked by peace and joy, fruits of the Spirit that arise from our reconciliation with God and our new life in Christ. The Apostle warns against reducing Christianity to a set of rules and regulations, urging believers to embrace the fullness of life in the Spirit.

The emphasis is on the internal transformation that leads to external expressions of righteousness, peace, and joy. This is not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a heart and life aligned with God's will. The Christian life is about being, not just doing. It is about becoming more like Christ, reflecting His righteousness in our lives, and living in the freedom and joy that comes from being part of His kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

- The kingdom of God transcends external practices and focuses on righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This righteousness is not merely ethical behavior but a state of being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. [03:59]

- Our identity as Christians is not defined by adherence to religious rituals but by our relationship with God and our transformation into His likeness. This transformation is marked by peace and joy, fruits of the Spirit that arise from our reconciliation with God. [10:08]

- The Christian life is about being, not just doing. It is about becoming more like Christ, reflecting His righteousness in our lives, and living in the freedom and joy that comes from being part of His kingdom. [12:22]

- Paul warns against reducing Christianity to a set of rules and regulations, urging believers to embrace the fullness of life in the Spirit. This involves a shift from focusing on the minutiae of religious observance to the broader realities of God's kingdom. [16:42]

- The emphasis is on internal transformation that leads to external expressions of righteousness, peace, and joy. This is not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a heart and life aligned with God's will. [27:59]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Romans 14:17
[00:51] - Context of the Kingdom of God
[01:59] - New Way of Thinking
[03:42] - What the Kingdom of God Is Not
[05:42] - Interpretations of Righteousness
[08:25] - Balancing Different Views
[10:08] - The Christian Identity
[12:22] - Righteousness as a Realm
[16:42] - Avoiding Legalism
[20:23] - Faith Over Rituals
[24:06] - The Essence of Christianity
[27:59] - Internal Transformation
[32:41] - Living in the Kingdom
[39:56] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 14:17-19
- Galatians 5:1-6
- Ephesians 4:17-24

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 14:17, what are the three characteristics of the kingdom of God that Paul emphasizes? How do these differ from external practices like eating and drinking? [03:59]

2. In the sermon, how does the pastor describe the danger of focusing on religious rituals over the essence of the kingdom of God? [16:42]

3. What does the pastor suggest is the main issue with the Roman church's focus on dietary laws and holy days? [25:44]

4. How does the pastor use Galatians 5:1-6 to illustrate the freedom believers have in Christ? What is the warning against returning to a "yoke of bondage"? [19:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of righteousness in Romans 14:17 relate to the believer's identity in Christ, as explained in the sermon? [28:18]

2. What does the pastor mean when he says that the Christian life is about "being, not just doing"? How does this relate to the internal transformation mentioned in the sermon? [27:59]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that focusing on the minutiae of religious observance can detract from the broader realities of God's kingdom? [16:42]

4. How does the pastor's interpretation of Ephesians 4:17-24 challenge believers to think about their personal transformation and identity in Christ? [43:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be focusing too much on religious rituals rather than your relationship with God? How can you shift your focus to the broader realities of God's kingdom? [16:42]

2. The sermon emphasizes internal transformation leading to external expressions of righteousness, peace, and joy. What specific steps can you take this week to align your heart and life with God's will? [27:59]

3. Consider the fruits of the Spirit, peace, and joy. How can you cultivate these in your daily interactions, especially in challenging situations? [10:08]

4. The pastor warns against reducing Christianity to a set of rules. How can you ensure that your faith is characterized by freedom and joy rather than legalism? [16:42]

5. Think of a recent situation where you were caught up in the details of religious observance. How might you approach it differently now, focusing on the essence of the kingdom of God? [25:44]

6. Identify one area in your life where you feel bound by old ways of thinking. How can you embrace the new way of thinking that Paul describes in Romans 12:2 and Galatians 5:1? [02:12]

7. How can you encourage others in your community to focus on the internal transformation that comes from being part of God's kingdom, rather than external practices? [27:59]

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom of God is Internal, Not External
The kingdom of God is not about external practices like eating and drinking, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This means that the essence of God's kingdom transcends the physical and ritualistic aspects of religion. Instead, it focuses on the internal transformation that occurs when one is made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is not merely about ethical behavior but is a state of being that reflects a deep, spiritual alignment with God's will. The Apostle Paul challenges believers to shift their focus from the minutiae of religious observance to the broader, more profound realities of God's kingdom. [03:59]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been focusing on external religious practices rather than nurturing your internal relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus today?


Day 2: Identity in Christ, Not Rituals
Our identity as Christians is not defined by adherence to religious rituals but by our relationship with God and our transformation into His likeness. This transformation is marked by peace and joy, which are fruits of the Spirit that arise from our reconciliation with God. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that being a Christian is about who we are in Christ, not about what we do in terms of religious observance. This identity is rooted in a personal relationship with God, which brings about a profound change in our hearts and lives. [10:08]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How does your relationship with God shape your identity? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship and reflect His likeness more in your daily life?


Day 3: Being Over Doing
The Christian life is about being, not just doing. It is about becoming more like Christ, reflecting His righteousness in our lives, and living in the freedom and joy that comes from being part of His kingdom. This involves an internal transformation that leads to external expressions of righteousness, peace, and joy. The Apostle Paul warns against reducing Christianity to a set of rules and regulations, urging believers to embrace the fullness of life in the Spirit. [12:22]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are more focused on doing rather than being? How can you shift your focus to becoming more like Christ in those areas?


Day 4: Embrace Life in the Spirit
Paul warns against reducing Christianity to a set of rules and regulations, urging believers to embrace the fullness of life in the Spirit. This involves a shift from focusing on the minutiae of religious observance to the broader realities of God's kingdom. The Christian life is about living in the Spirit, where peace and joy are the natural outcomes of a life aligned with God's will. This is not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a heart and life transformed by the Spirit. [16:42]

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: What does it mean for you to live by the Spirit? How can you cultivate a life that is more aligned with the Spirit's leading?


Day 5: Internal Transformation Leads to External Expression
The emphasis is on internal transformation that leads to external expressions of righteousness, peace, and joy. This is not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a heart and life aligned with God's will. The Apostle Paul encourages believers to focus on the internal change that comes from being in a relationship with God, which naturally results in outward expressions of His kingdom values. [27:59]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: How has your internal transformation in Christ been reflected in your actions and attitudes? What specific changes can you make to better align your life with God's will?

Quotes



The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith we may edify one another. [00:18:11]

The Apostle suddenly lifts up the whole argument and puts it in its great context in these words of the seventeenth verse. He says you've got to remember that what after all matters is the kingdom of God. They have been in danger, as we've seen, of forgetting it. [00:65:01]

The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Now the question before us is this: what does this mean? What is the meaning of these three terms? How are we to understand them? It's a question which has caused division amongst the commentators. [00:248:53]

The kingdom of God can never be described or defined in terms of our ethical behavior, for to do that is again virtually to go away from the faith position. Now it's another thing to say that the citizens of the kingdom of God should behave in a given way. [00:721:56]

The Christian is not merely one with right in certain respects or here or there. That's the impression they were giving. Should a Christian eat these meats and this drink? Should we observe these days or not? In other words, if you listen to them in the discussions, you don't say no. [00:1602:38]

The Christian is a man who has been declared righteous by God, justification by faith only. God who justifies the ungodly or the argument, as I say, leading up to the end of chapter 4 at the beginning of chapter 5. This is how the Christian thinks of righteousness. [00:1690:00]

The Christian is not terribly concerned about detailed likeness, but he is profoundly concerned about being well-pleasing to God and right in the sight of God. Take the Apostle Paul himself. He'd been in that position. It didn't do this; he didn't do that. [00:2208:47]

The kingdom of God is righteousness. Yes, the Christian is a man who analyzes the truth about the people of God. And once you begin thinking of yourself in terms of being one of the people of God, you're emancipated out of these small petty minute arguments. [00:2304:84]

The Christian is unlike the Pharisee, who was mainly concerned about ethical conduct and behavior and about appearing right outwardly, but whose inward part was full of reveling in the wickedness. You see, the Christian is not interested in these appearances and correctness here and there. [00:2405:91]

The righteous are unconscious of their righteousness, but these people in Rome were very conscious of it. The strong man says, I see through this; I would like to eat this. The other man says, no, is unrighteous in doing them. You see, that's regarding it from the standpoint of ethics. [00:2509:43]

The kingdom of God is righteousness. The Christian is a righteous person. He is righteous, and he doeth righteousness because he is righteous, even as he, the Lord Jesus Christ, is righteous. So what the Christian is interested in is not that he does this or doesn't do that. [00:2823:11]

The kingdom of God is righteousness. The Christian, the citizen of the kingdom of God, is a righteous person over and above what he is indeed. He has been made a righteous person, which means this: that he is like the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:2674:25]

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