Introduction
In our Christian lives, should we fight for the kingdom of this earth or for the kingdom of the beloved Son of God? When we think of the old-time prophets like Jonah and John the Baptist, we remember that they preached repentance and guided people toward the true path of God. As Christians in this sinful world, our role is to preach repentance, share the good news about the Lord Jesus, and guide others to the true path of God, which is found in the Bible (the Word of God). It is not our job to insult or condemn people; instead, we should communicate the love of the Lord Jesus for all humanity. He came to save the sinful world and invite all into His kingdom. We should share our hope of eternal life in the Lord Jesus with all those the Lord brings into our path and explain how to enter the kingdom of heaven through faith in the Lord Jesus and by following His teachings. Moreover, we should encourage others to read and meditate on the Word of God so they can grow in their faith as the Lord helps them. In this blog article, we will explore three Bible passages related to this topic.
Tell the Truth About the Lord Jesus to Your “Neighbor”
John Chapter 18 describes the betrayal and trial of the Lord Jesus, the King of all living. In John 18:36-40, the Lord Jesus confirms to all humans that His kingdom is not of this world. He was born on this earth to bear witness to the truth. He is the true witness of the Father and the King of the true message from the Father. The beloved Son of God has come down to tell all humans the true message, so all the living souls can have eternal life in His kingdom. The souls that truly believe the Holy Word and glorify the Trinity of God, those souls, have a place in His kingdom. Specifically, in John 18:36-38, the Lord Jesus tells all that He came into the world to “bear witness to the truth” and that all those who are of the truth hear His voice.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, that I might not be delivered to the Jews; however, now My kingdom is not from here.
Comments John 18:36. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.” The beloved Son of God has told all humans where His kingdom is; He has come to this world of flesh, but this world is the world of flesh living; His kingdom is elsewhere.
“If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, that I might not be delivered to the Jews.” As the verse tells us, if His kingdom were of this world, His soldier servants would not let Him be delivered to the rulers of this flesh world. His soldier servants would fight with His human nation, the Jews, to prevent them from delivering Him to the outsiders. Remember as well, at the end time, this earth will disappear, and the world of His kingdom is not here; the world of flesh and the world of the holy are not in the same place.
“However, now My kingdom is not from here.” The beloved Son of God has told all humans, then and now, that the Holy Kingdom of the beloved Son of God is not here on this earth itself. The world of the flesh is not the same as the world of the holy beings.
37 Pilate, therefore, said to Him, So then, are Thou a King? Jesus answered, You say that I am a King. I for this have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.
Comments John 18:37. “Pilate, therefore, said to Him, So then, are Thou a King?” What the beloved Son of God told Pilate made him understand that he was talking with the true King, who has a kingdom, but not as the kingdom of this world. This world has the kingdom of this world, and Pilate himself also has his kingdom, but the beloved Son of God’s kingdom is much better than the one here on earth.
“Jesus answered, You say that I am a King. … that I might bear witness to the truth.” Because Pilate asked the beloved Son of God, He answered. The beloved Son of God has told not just to them here but to the whole world that He did not claim Himself to be King of this world; however, people have lifted Him up to be King of this world as well, and they accused Him and put Him as claiming to be the King of the Jews. The beloved Son of God is the true witness of the Father; the King of the true message from the Father is the beloved Son of God Himself. His Word is the true Word from the Father, and every word the beloved Son has spoken in this world is not from Himself but from the Father. The Father Himself is the true King of the universe, but the beloved Son of God in human form is also the true King of all souls of the flesh that have been created. And the beloved Son of God has come down to tell all the true message, so all the living souls can have a chance to have true life in His kingdom. The souls that truly believe the Holy Word and glorify the Trinity of God, those souls, have a place in His kingdom.
“Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” The souls of true believers have paid attention and listened to the teaching of the Holy Bible; those souls have taken the Holy Bible as true teaching from the Father, and the ears of those souls have heard the Father’s voice Himself. When those souls listen to the Father’s voice, they also hear the beloved Son of God’s voice, and all those souls that listen and obey in their hearts will feel the true relationship between themselves and the Trinity of God.
38 Pilate says to Him, What is truth? And having said this, he went out again to the Jews, and says to them, I find no cause in Him.
Comments John 18:38. As the verse tells all true believers, Pilate himself wants to seek the truth as well. And he has asked many questions of the beloved Son of God, but the answers he received do not prove to him that the beloved Son of God has done anything wrong to the people. That is why the verse says that he said to them, “I find no cause in Him.”
See also, Comments Luke 23:4, and Comments Luke 23:14-16.
Reflecting on this Bible passage, we recognize that, despite one’s position or training, many people do not understand the truth about the Lord Jesus. As followers of the Lord Jesus, it is our responsibility to share the truth about Him: that because of His love for humans, He came to earth and died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and rose on the third day to bring salvation to all and to show the way to the Kingdom of God.
We need to show mercy to everyone and share the truth with all, regardless of our personal opinions about them. Pilate condemned the Lord Jesus to death on the cross, yet the Lord Jesus still shared the truth with him. This principle of sharing the truth without passing judgment can be reflected in the Bible passage from James 4:11-12, which states:
“Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or judges a brother speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. So who are you to judge your neighbor?”
We can apply this teaching to all the “neighbors” around us, regardless of their social status or beliefs. The best way to avoid judging anyone is by sharing the love of the Lord Jesus with them. The Lord Jesus came not to judge, but to save and offer everyone the chance for salvation, so that all may find peace and joy in His kingdom. Therefore, we should share with all our “neighbors” what the Bible teaches, specifically the truth about the Lord Jesus and His kingdom, and guide them to read and meditate on the Word of God.
Additionally, in Romans 12:14-18 we read:
“Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with those that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lies, be at peace with all men.”
This passage encourages us to show love, extend blessings to everyone, and be at peace with all. The greatest blessing that a follower of the Lord Jesus can offer to others is to humbly and gently share the message of the Lord Jesus’ love and of being born again to “a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” and to an inheritance found in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4). We should also encourage everyone to read and meditate on the Word of God.
Conclusions
In conclusion, these passages of Scripture teach us that as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, our primary duty is to share the truth about Him with everyone, regardless of their social position or status. The Word of God instructs us not to judge others and to bless those around us. The most effective way to avoid passing judgment and to bless others is by sharing the truth about the Lord Jesus. The truth about the Lord Jesus includes the message of salvation He offers to all. He loves every person and invites them into His kingdom. The Lord Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He came to earth to show us the way to the kingdom of God. Through His death on the cross for the sins of the world, He provides the way for repentance for all. He was crucified, died, was buried in the tomb, and rose again on the third day in the flesh. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, and through His resurrection, He defeated death. All who believe in the Lord Jesus and in the Trinity of God—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—will rise with Him for eternal life and be part of His kingdom.
Meditation Tasks
- As followers of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, our mission is to preach repentance and share the good news about Him. We should remember that we are not to judge anyone, as God Almighty is the only true judge. While sharing the message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, it is important to distinguish between the right and wrong ways to address sin. We encourage everyone to reflect on how to convey the truth about the Lord Jesus to those around them. Additionally, we invite you to read our article titled “Non-Condemning Messages.”