Sermon Title : A Tale of Two Kingdoms
Date : 7th June 2020 2020
Delivered by : Rev. Christopher Pak

**1 Peter 2 : 9 - 12

The Existence of Two Kingdoms**

• We live in the Now and Not-Yet
• John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
• Jesus declared that the kingdom of God is here
• From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
• But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

The Realms of the Two Kingdoms

• Kingdom of Heaven
  • The realm of God’s rule
  • Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
  • I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

The Conflict of the Two Kingdoms

• Paul’s Description that there’s a war taking place
• The Law versus the Spirit
• For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
• It is a hopeless fight if we depend on human ability and capacity
• Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Underlining Truth of God’s Kingdom

• The Foundation of our lives
  • For you are a chosen people - to declare His glory
    • Chosen race - not our ethnicity, culture...but the people of God.
    • We bear the mark of God in our lives.
    • Our chosenness validates our identity and value

The Underlining Truth of God’s Kingdom

• A Royal priests
  • Used 3x in Bible
  • Literally, Kingdom of Priests
  • Priests stand between God and the people...

The Underlining Truth of God’s Kingdom

• A Holy nation
  • A holiness that has nothing to do with us (our own doing)
  • To embody who God in us, reflecting His nature

The Underlining Truth of God’s Kingdom

• A People belonging to God
  • Belonging is basic innate nature of a person
  • God’s possession

Duality of our Identity

• These four aspects (chosen people, royal priests, holy nation, God’s possession) deal with our identity - who we are - our being.
• The second portions - to declare the praise - what we do

The Finality of the Two Kingdoms

• The kingdom of God: everlasting, reigns forever and ever
• “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
• The end has been prophesied, the outcome decided
• Kingdom of God will prevail over Satan’s kingdom

Peter’s Exhortation to Us

• Human life is fleeting, with all its trappings
• God’s Word endures forever
• We are liken to be aliens & sojourners
• Emphasis on temporal nature of this present life
• Live good lives to glorify God