Laws of the Kingdoms
Just as the nations of this world have laws that their residents must follow, spiritual kingdoms have laws as well. And just as the physical realm has physical laws like gravity that are unalterable, so the spiritual realm has unalterable laws. These laws imply there is a fixed relationship between things; there is cause & effect – you do A, you get B.
Within the kingdom of darkness there is the law of sin & death – you sin, you die (Rom 6.23). This is a dominating principal that is fixed in the domain of darkness. Sin is disregard for God’s moral law – breaking His standard of right-ness (1 Jn 3.4). The consequence is a 2 part death – spiritual & physical. God is the source of life. When we sin, we reject God & our life source. We die spiritually, then physically. Within the kingdom of darkness, there is separation from God now, then eternally (Eph 2.12, Isa 59.2).
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. – Eph 2.12
As natural born citizens of the kingdom of darkness, we are all sinners by birth (Rom 5.12) – we are all guilty (Rom 3.23, 1 Jn 1.10). We are slaves to our sinful nature, but don’t know it (Jn 8.34, Rom 6.16). We unwittingly carry the banner of guilt & fly the flag shame on our consciences. We don’t realize that while we are in the kingdom of darkness, God considers us enemies because our sinful behavior is hostile to His holy character (Rom 5.10, 8.7, Col 1.21). In fact, we are under His wrath with eternal condemnation hanging over our heads (Jn 3.36, Eph 2.3). Our natural condition is so bad that we are unable to recognize it & don’t want to acknowledge it (Jer 17.9).
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? - Jer 17.9
As spiritually dead, enemies of God, it is impossible for any occupants of the kingdom of darkness to please God – they are utterly powerless (Rom 5.6). No amount of good deeds or religious activity can break the law of sin & death or appease God’s perfect justice (Mt 7.21-23, Rom 8.8, Heb 11.6). But there is good news for these occupants.
The law of gravity is in affect & we can’t do anything to change it; we can only escape it. And there are various examples throughout history of people living in oppressive countries who are unable to change the burdensome laws & seek to flee to another country for freedom. And that is precisely what anyone who is tired of living in the kingdom of darkness can do – they can flee to the kingdom of God. They can lay down their sin & surrender to King Jesus who will receive them with grace & mercy.
Jesus can do this because He already paid the full price of freedom & citizenship by laying down His own life for those in His kingdom. When He died by crucifixion on a Roman cross, He was taking God’s punishment & wrath against our sin to satisfy God’s justice. He then came back to life to prove He broke the law of sin & death – He provides the power to save us that we did not have (1 Cor 1.18). Anyone who surrenders to Jesus & trusts that He did this for them, they are transferred to the kingdom of God & have the honor of serving & following King Jesus! This is the good news of the Gospel!
He (Jesus) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Col 1.13-14
In the kingdom of God, the power of sin & death was destroyed by Jesus. In this physical life, those in God’s kingdom still struggle against the dark heritage of their sinful nature, but now they don’t have to obey it & have the power to follow God. This kingdom is dominated by the law of the spirit of life (Rom 8.2). Sin no longer leads to spiritual death (1 Jn 5.16-17). Instead of slavery to sin & death, there is freedom & spiritual life (Rom 6.17-18, Eph 5.1, Jas 2.12) – now & forever!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. – Rom 8.1-2
Because their sins are all forgiven, those in the kingdom of God are never under God’s wrath or condemnation (Rom 5.9, Rom 8.1) – ever! There is no longer separation from God, but reconciliation (Rom 5.10-11). There is no longer hostility, but peace with God. If you are in the kingdom of God, that means you are already completely justified & righteous in God’s sight because of your faith in the sacrifice of Jesus.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Rom 5.1-2
Now that is wonderful news! Which kingdom are you in? If you’ve found you’re in the kingdom of darkness, surrender to Jesus & follow Him today!
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – Jn 8.12
Truly, truly, I (Jesus) say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. – Jn 5.24
Within the kingdom of darkness there is the law of sin & death – you sin, you die (Rom 6.23). This is a dominating principal that is fixed in the domain of darkness. Sin is disregard for God’s moral law – breaking His standard of right-ness (1 Jn 3.4). The consequence is a 2 part death – spiritual & physical. God is the source of life. When we sin, we reject God & our life source. We die spiritually, then physically. Within the kingdom of darkness, there is separation from God now, then eternally (Eph 2.12, Isa 59.2).
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. – Eph 2.12
As natural born citizens of the kingdom of darkness, we are all sinners by birth (Rom 5.12) – we are all guilty (Rom 3.23, 1 Jn 1.10). We are slaves to our sinful nature, but don’t know it (Jn 8.34, Rom 6.16). We unwittingly carry the banner of guilt & fly the flag shame on our consciences. We don’t realize that while we are in the kingdom of darkness, God considers us enemies because our sinful behavior is hostile to His holy character (Rom 5.10, 8.7, Col 1.21). In fact, we are under His wrath with eternal condemnation hanging over our heads (Jn 3.36, Eph 2.3). Our natural condition is so bad that we are unable to recognize it & don’t want to acknowledge it (Jer 17.9).
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? - Jer 17.9
As spiritually dead, enemies of God, it is impossible for any occupants of the kingdom of darkness to please God – they are utterly powerless (Rom 5.6). No amount of good deeds or religious activity can break the law of sin & death or appease God’s perfect justice (Mt 7.21-23, Rom 8.8, Heb 11.6). But there is good news for these occupants.
The law of gravity is in affect & we can’t do anything to change it; we can only escape it. And there are various examples throughout history of people living in oppressive countries who are unable to change the burdensome laws & seek to flee to another country for freedom. And that is precisely what anyone who is tired of living in the kingdom of darkness can do – they can flee to the kingdom of God. They can lay down their sin & surrender to King Jesus who will receive them with grace & mercy.
Jesus can do this because He already paid the full price of freedom & citizenship by laying down His own life for those in His kingdom. When He died by crucifixion on a Roman cross, He was taking God’s punishment & wrath against our sin to satisfy God’s justice. He then came back to life to prove He broke the law of sin & death – He provides the power to save us that we did not have (1 Cor 1.18). Anyone who surrenders to Jesus & trusts that He did this for them, they are transferred to the kingdom of God & have the honor of serving & following King Jesus! This is the good news of the Gospel!
He (Jesus) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Col 1.13-14
In the kingdom of God, the power of sin & death was destroyed by Jesus. In this physical life, those in God’s kingdom still struggle against the dark heritage of their sinful nature, but now they don’t have to obey it & have the power to follow God. This kingdom is dominated by the law of the spirit of life (Rom 8.2). Sin no longer leads to spiritual death (1 Jn 5.16-17). Instead of slavery to sin & death, there is freedom & spiritual life (Rom 6.17-18, Eph 5.1, Jas 2.12) – now & forever!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. – Rom 8.1-2
Because their sins are all forgiven, those in the kingdom of God are never under God’s wrath or condemnation (Rom 5.9, Rom 8.1) – ever! There is no longer separation from God, but reconciliation (Rom 5.10-11). There is no longer hostility, but peace with God. If you are in the kingdom of God, that means you are already completely justified & righteous in God’s sight because of your faith in the sacrifice of Jesus.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Rom 5.1-2
Now that is wonderful news! Which kingdom are you in? If you’ve found you’re in the kingdom of darkness, surrender to Jesus & follow Him today!
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – Jn 8.12
Truly, truly, I (Jesus) say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. – Jn 5.24