Tip of the Day, November 26

26 November

November 26 – Romans 14:17-20; “For the kingdomof Godis 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 one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.”

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Again we need to make sure all things are looked at in context, therefore, we look at and read all historical and geographical materials we can, as well as using dictionaries and concordances.  This way we have assurance we’ve exhausted all venues.  A great example is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance; here’s what it says about the word kingdom:  in the Greek, the word is basileia.

The transliteration for this is:  properly royalty, that is, (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):—kingdom, + reign.”

Nowhere does it say in the actual text (or the concordance) anything about an organization being the kingdom of God.  In fact, when we research these verses, along with reputable commentaries, they all say the kingdom is where the Christian is living a life acceptable to God, living righteously and not causing others to stumble.

According to the Holman Bible Dictionary it means it is the rule or sovereignty of God.

It is not a “geographical area, nor is it a political entity such as the nation of Israel…  The establishment of the kingdom is a work of God.  God will reign, and people can contribute nothing to that reigning of God.” – Holman Bible Dictionary.

Since the kingdom of God is not the nation of Israel, that would also include the Mormon Church.  If it’s not a nationality, not an organization and not a political entity, where does that leave the people of Mormonism?  I always think of my mother when I see things like this.

They claim it is the duty of the Church to prepare man to live with God.  However, Jesus says otherwise.  Jesus told everyone they are welcome to enter the kingdom and to have the heart of a child.  (Mark 10:14)

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“The church is a kingdom; it is God’s kingdom. . .and as such is designed to prepare men for an inheritance… which is the celestial kingdom. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal King; his representative on earth is the President of the church…Where there is no kingdomof Godthere is no salvation.” Without the church, man cannot be saved.  “Whenever men can find out the will of God and find an administrator legally authorized from God, there is the kingdom of God; but where these are not, the kingdom of God is not. All the ordinances, systems, and administrations on earth are of no use to the children of men, unless they are ordained and authorized of God; for nothing will save a man but a legal administrator; for none others will be acknowledged either by God or angels.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 271-72, 274.”  Bruce R. McConkie, New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 326- 337.

The Church-Its Nature and Purpose

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