Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:17; Matt. 7:21; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:24; 5:6-7, 10; Gal. 6:10, 15-16
Ⅰ
We need to do the will of God in the kingdom of God—Matt. 7:21; 12:50:
A
“He who does the will of God abides forever”—1 John 2:17:
１
The world is against God the Father, and the things in the world are against the will of God—vv. 15-16:
ａ
On the positive side, we have the Father and His will.
ｂ
On the negative side, we have the world and the things in the world.
２
We need to do the will of God habitually and continually, not just occasionally; this is indicated by the fact that the Greek verb for does in verse 17 denotes doing (things) habitually and continually by abiding (in the things).
B
In order to enter into the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens in the coming age, we must do the will of our Father in this age—Matt. 7:21-23; 6:10; 12:50; Rev. 4:11; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 1:5, 9, 11; 5:17; Col. 1:9; 4:12:
１
The kingdom is absolutely a matter of God's will and completely fulfills God's will; in fact, the kingdom is God's will—Matt. 6:10.
２
The ultimate issue of the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens is the will of the heavenly Father—7:21.
３
As the kingdom people, we are on earth to do the Father's will—v. 21; 12:50.
４
In order to do the will of the Father, we need to enter in through the narrow gate and walk on the constricted way—7:13-14:
ａ
The narrow gate excludes the old man, the self, the flesh, the human concept, and the world with all its glory; only that which corresponds with God's will can enter in.
ｂ
As we walk on the constricted way, we are restricted by a mysterious, invisible, inward control, and we live under this control.
５
Whoever does the will of the Father is a relative of the Lord Jesus—12:50:
ａ
Christ, the heavenly King, always submitted to the Father's will, taking God's will as His portion and not resisting anything—11:28-30; 26:39.
ｂ
Whoever does the will of the Father is a brother who helps the Lord Jesus, a sister who sympathizes with Him, and a mother who tenderly loves Him.
６
The Father's eternal will is to build up the church upon Christ the Son as the rock—16:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 4:16.
Ⅱ
In order to do the will of God in the kingdom of God, we must live the Christian life under the government of God—1 Pet. 1:17; 2:24; 5:6-7, 10:
A
In his writings Peter combines the Christian life and God's government, revealing that the Christian life and the government of God go together as a pair— 1:17; 2:21, 24; 3:15; 4:17; 5:5-8:
１
The subject of 1 Peter is the Christian life under the government of God, showing us the government of God especially in His dealings with His chosen people—1:2.
２
The subject of 2 Peter is the divine provision and the divine government, showing us that as God is governing us, He supplies us with whatever we need—1:1-4; 3:13.
３
God governs by judging; this judgment of God is for the carrying out of His government—1 Pet. 1:17; 4:17.
４
The judgment in 1 Peter 1:17, which is carried out by the Father, is the present, daily judgment of God's governmental dealings with His children.
５
God judges everything that does not match His government; therefore, in this age we, the children of God, are under the daily judgment of God—v. 17.
B
As believers in Christ and children of God, we should live a Christian life under the government of God— John 3:15; 1:12-13; 1 Pet. 4:13-19; 5:6-7:
１
The Epistles of Peter reveal the Christ who enables us to take God's governmental dealings administered through sufferings—1 Pet. 1:6-8; 2:3-4, 19, 21-25; 3:18, 22; 4:1, 15-16; 5:8-9.
２
In the death of Christ we have died to sins so that in the resurrection of Christ we might live to righteousness under God's government—2:24:
ａ
To live to righteousness is to fulfill God's governmental requirements— v. 24.
ｂ
In our Christian life we should live in a way that matches the righteous requirements of His government—Psa. 89:14; Matt. 5:6, 10.
３
We should be humbled under the mighty hand of God, which carries out the government of God—1 Pet. 5:6:
ａ
In verse 6 the mighty hand of God refers to God's administrating hand seen especially in His judgment—1:17; 4:17.
ｂ
To be humbled under God's mighty hand is to be made humble by God; however, we must cooperate with God's operation and be willing to be made humble, lowly, under His mighty hand—5:6.
４
We should cast all our anxiety on God because it matters to Him concerning us—v. 7.
５
We should commit our souls to the faithful Creator—4:19:
ａ
God can preserve our soul, and His loving and faithful care accompanies His justice in His governmental administration.
ｂ
While God judges us in His government, He cares for us faithfully in His love; as we are suffering His disciplinary judgment, we should commit our souls to the faithful care of our Creator—Matt. 10:28-30; 11:28-29.
６
As we live under the government of God, the God of all grace will Himself perfect, establish, strengthen, and ground us—1 Pet. 5:10.
Ⅲ
Doing the will of God in the kingdom of God under the government of God issues in the church as the Israel of God—Gal. 6:10, 15-16:
A
God's New Testament economy is not only to make us sons of God but also to make us the Israel of God; the real Israel, the spiritual Israel, is the church— Eph. 1:5; Heb. 2:10; Rom. 8:14, 19; Gal. 3:26; 4:6-7; 6:16; Matt. 16:18.
B
We need to become such an Israel, a prince, to execute God's government on earth—6:9-10.
C
The apostle Paul considered the many believers in Christ—who are the household of the faith, the new creation—collectively the Israel of God—Gal. 6:10, 15-16; 3:7, 29.
D
In God's New Testament economy we have been made both the sons of God and the Israel of God—v. 26; 6:16:
１
We are sons of God, members of God's family, for His expression—v. 10.
２
We are kings-to-be, those destined to be kings; kingship is related to the Israel of God—Rev. 5:10.
３
Our destiny is to be sons of God expressing God and also kings reigning in the kingdom of God—21:7; 22:5b; 12:5a.
E
As the Israel of God, we represent God, exercise His authority, and carry out His administration on earth for the fulfillment of His purpose—Gen. 1:26, 28; Luke 10:19; Rev. 12:5, 7-11:
１
God wants His creature man to deal with His creature Satan in order to bring the earth back to God—Psa. 149:7-9.
２
God needs man to do the work of God—to reign over His creation, to proclaim His triumph, and to cause Satan to suffer loss—Gen. 1:26.