The Culture of the Kingdom
From The HeartPublish date: 03/23/2015
[And] there will be tribulation and anguish and calamity and constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile). 10 But glory and honor and [heart] peace shall be awarded to everyone who [habitually] does good, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile). 11 For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another]. Romans 2:9-11 AMP
Jesus came to make all men equal in faith. No one man, or nation, is better than another in God’s eyes. All men stand naked before God. He knows everything about them – the good and the bad; and each one must come to God on the basis of faith – and not personal worthiness – because they have none of it.
For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28-29 AMP
It is not the things we do outwardly that give us status with God, but it is the issues of the heart. To be a Jew “inwardly” is to believe in, and to submit to, God, and have faith like faithful Abraham.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:11-14 NKJV
There is no way to please God in the flesh, so your genetics and your heritage do not impress God. You cannot claim any special privileges because of your blood or your culture. Neither will you be turned away, merely on the basis of your lack of these things. Every man and woman must come to God on the basis of faith and covenant, humbly and thankfully receiving the grace purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV
Every person on the earth – no matter what their lineage, their station in life, or their sex – must come, and can come, to God on the same basis – faith in Jesus Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV
For through Jesus Christ, both Jews and Gentiles have access by one Spirit to the Father.
We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. 24 But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 AMP
Trying to find God through your culture will not work and you cannot make your culture the reason why you cannot bow your knee to the King of kings. Every man, from every culture WILL bow to Him at the end. It is better to do it willingly now. You have to find Him in HIS culture and make His culture, your culture.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:1-11 NKJV
People use excuses for sin and ungodliness, believing that they can continue in certain practices, because it is “our culture”. However, the Word of God tells us that we are to drop everything from our “culture” that does not line up with the Word of God. We have a new culture – the culture of the Kingdom of God and of His son, Jesus Christ. We do not walk, talk, or act like anything else, but a blood-washed, born again, holy, child of God!