This study was first taught on May 14, 2017

Topic: What Kingdom? Which Israel? What Timing?_1: A Historical Perspective

(use the audio to study)

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Background
The last time we engaged in our study, “The Book of the Acts of the Apostles”, we looked at the last of four cruxes of “The Doctrine of Baptisms”, which is “The Matter of Faith”. We noted at that time that if indeed we believe the representations of the word of God of what baptisms are to the Christian, it then follows that as we submit to all four baptisms (baptism into the body (of Christ), Christian (or water) baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, and, baptism of suffering), those representations will be evident in our lives, because of our faith.

As with all spiritual things, faith is essential in baptisms—receiving it and experiencing its benefits. Without faith, nothing can be received and enjoyed in the kingdom of God. Hence, if the benefits of baptisms are to be received and enjoyed, the believer must exercise his or her faith in God, through Christ Jesus. The exercise of our faith in God and Christ, is to believe God’s word, despite evidence to the contrary—what we termed ‘resolute faith’.

As it relates to the doctrine of—the teachings on or instructions about—baptisms, faith is the assurance that we exhibit, and the action we engage in, that speak of our resolute belief in the doctrine of baptisms. For instance, since the Lord Jesus commanded that we be baptized, we obey and are baptized. Also, since God’s word says that through baptism, all those who have been born anew of the Spirit of God are of one family, and of one Spirit, we cannot discriminate against another believer, regardless of the church he is a part of (this presupposes that we are talking of a true church); neither can we discredit his or her baptism because it was not performed in our own local assembly; nor, can we justify engaging in competition with other local assemblies!

The crux of faith as it relates to baptisms then, is that you simply accept God’s word on baptisms, believe it with conviction, and act on it as much as lies within you, or simply, trust in, and depend on, God to bring His word to pass in your life. Hence, having become aware that baptisms are rites of passage, you should desire to go through every one of them, and so attain to spiritual maturity. Similarly, since you now know that through baptisms, God marks/identifies you as belonging to Him, and in so doing, protects and preserves you from the evil to come, your trust in God, must be unflinching and resolute, even when it is the baptism of fire (or suffering), as did the Lord Jesus during His passion, and other saints through the ages past! Baptisms are, therefore, not an issue we debate; but one that we submit ourselves to, because of our faith in God!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:6-8
Our scripture text seems to have picked up from v.3 in which we are told that the Lord spoke to His disciples after His resurrection “… of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” among other things. In the sixth verse, the question the disciples asked, raises three fundamental questions which are critical to not just the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, but also, to Christianity itself. May the Lord give us insight into these matters in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The question the disciples of the Lord raised reveals that they were not on the same page with the Lord, and a historical exploration of the nation of Israel from its inception, up till the time when they asked the question, proves a very valuable venture in appreciating their question. It will also prove valuable in giving us useful lessons that we can relate to, as well as, understand the Lord’s response in v.7-8.
John 1:45-46; 7:40-52; Matthew 4:13-16; Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-21; Acts 7:1ff; Ezekiel 37:15-28; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Haggai 1:3-11; Ezra 3:1ff; 4:1ff; 5:1-5ff; Luke 3:1-2; Matthew 14:1; 23:1-3; 22:15-22, 23-33; Genesis 3:1-11ff; Romans 7:14-25; 8:19-25.

Conclusion
When we look at the history of the Jewish people, as well as the prophesies that have followed them as a people all through scriptures, it is clear why the disciples would have asked the question, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” In understanding this question, the meaning of the word ‘kingdom’ must be taken into account. The word ‘kingdom’ could mean: rule (administration/governance); reign (authority over/government); realm (area, sphere, or, territory/governed). Thus, in a kingdom, there is a person or group of people (rulers) who reign (dominate or exercise dominion) over people in a realm (which may not necessarily be geographically contiguous). Hence, Jesus’ disciples were expressing a deep desire to be free from the domination of those whose rule and reign over them was oppressive; in sharp contrast to the liberty they enjoyed under the Lord, Jesus Christ! The rulers/oppressors the disciples were referring to included, the Roman Emperor and the Roman Senate; the Roman machine of oppression and domination which included the Governors, Romans officers and soldiers, and, even the tax collectors (who were Jews); the Tetrarchs who ruled over the land mass that was the territory of Israel in the time of Solomon, who were really the children of Herod, who reigned over Israel at the time of the birth of Jesus; and, the Sanhedrin, comprising, the religious and political elite of the Jews (the Sadducees and the Herodians, who were not necessarily religious and not a part of the Sanhedrin), as well as, the powerful religious laymen of their day (the Pharisees and the Scribes—the interpreters of the Law).

What the Lord’s disciples expressed in their question, raises for Christians today, an issue which is fundamental to Christianity, in which we, as well as, all of creation are literally asking, “When will the oppression and domination of our slave-masters end, and, we become free from the bondage they have kept us under?” Such was the cry of the children of Israel in Egypt; and God heard them, and sent Moses as their deliverer. The oppressors of the children of Israel in Moses’ time included, not just the Egyptian government and their taskmasters, but sadly, their own brothers who were being used by the Egyptians to oppress and subject them to all manner of oppressiveness. In our own case today, our prayers from freedom must include, not just the peripherals, like political governance and religious persecution, but more importantly, freedom from the real oppression and domination by the many ‘church leaders’ whose teachings make the people “like sheep without a shepherd”, and, the flesh, which continues to lead many into bondage and captivity to drugs, sexual sins, worldliness, etc.

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