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LORD, REIGN IN ME
A. Introduction: For most of this year we have been talking about who Jesus is and why He came into this
world, according to the eyewitnesses (the men who wrote the New Testament documents). Tonight we’re
going to begin to transition to how Jesus wants us to live, in light of who He is and why He came.
1. Almighty God created human beings to become His sons and daughters through faith in Him, and then
live in loving relationship with Him, as we bring honor and glory to Him. Eph 1:4-5; Eph 1:12; I Pet 2:9
a. God made us in such a way that He can indwell us by His Spirit and life, and then express Himself
through us as we live in submission to Him. But sin has disqualified us for our created position.
b. Sin is a violation of God’s moral Law, His standard of right and wrong. We’ve all chosen to go our
own way (Isa 53:6). For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Rom 3:23, NLT).
1. Two thousand years ago Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity (God the Son), took on a
human nature (or incarnated) in the womb of the virgin Mary and was born into this world.
Jesus is God become fully man without ceasing to be fully God. Luke 1:31-35
2. Jesus took on a human nature so that He could die as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. By
doing so He opened the way for all who believe on Him to be reconciled to God and restored to
their created purpose as His sons and daughters. Heb 2:14-15; Col 1:19-22; John 3:16; etc.
c. The New Testament makes it clear what kind of sons and daughters God desires. God wants holy,
righteous sons and daughters who are who are like Jesus in character and behavior.
1. Eph 1:4-5—Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and
without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family
by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure (NLT).
2. Rom 8:29—For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so
that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters (NLT).
2. Jesus’ sacrifice at the Cross was so effective that when we turn to God, He can forgive our sin, declare us
righteous, indwell us by His Spirit, and restore us to our position as His sons and daughters. John 1:12-13
a. Jesus died, not only to make us right with God, and restore us to relationship with Himself, He died
to make us right in ourselves—in all of our thoughts, motives, words, and actions. He died to make
us righteous or right in our character and behavior (or Christ-like). II Cor 5:21
b. Human nature has been corrupted by sin, beginning with the first man, Adam. When Adam
disobeyed God and ate from the forbidden tree, he set his own standard of right and wrong.
1. Because Adam was created to live in voluntary submission and obedience to God, he corrupted
himself through his disobedience. His choice also affected the race resident in him.
2. All humans inherit a corruption from Adam that inclines us to go our own way and to put our
will above God and His will. We are born with an inclination toward selfishness—putting self
above God and others, and doing what we want to do the way we want to do it. Rom 5:19
c. II Cor 5:15—(Jesus) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to
please themselves. Instead they will live to please Him (NLT).
1. Salvation is more than getting our sins forgiven so that we can go to Heaven when we die. It’s
about the restoration of human nature so that we can be returned to our created purpose as sons
and daughters of God, who are fully glorifying to Him every thought, word, and deed.
2. This restoration is a process. It begins when we believe on Jesus. He indwells us by His
Spirit, and begins to work in us to make us increasingly like Himself as we cooperate with Him.
3. Right now, we are finished works in progress—fully God’s sons and daughters through faith in
Jesus, but not yet fully Christ-like in every part of our being. However, He who has begun a
good work in us will complete it as we stay faithful to Him. I John 3:1-4; Phil 1:6
3. In the last few lessons we’ve emphasized repentance. Jesus said that He came to call sinners to
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repentance (Matt 9:13). Repentance is the first step in the process of restoration that is now available to
humanity because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
a. Repentance is a moral action—recognizing what is wrong and then choosing to turn from it and do
what is right, according to God’s standard of morality (His standard of right and wrong).
b. Repentance is a gift from God, an expression of His grace. No one would turn to the Lord in the
first place unless He drew us by His Spirit. Acts 11:18; Rom 2:4; I Cor 12:3; John 6:44
1. Repentance is a voluntary return to your created purpose. You choose to turn from sin to God.
You renounce sin and living for self, and turn to Almighty God and His way.
2. Repentance is also an ongoing part of a healthy spiritual life. As you grow and mature in
Jesus, you progressively recognize things in your life that need to change (behaviors, attitudes,
motives). Repentance, or a commitment to turn from what you now know is wrong to what
you now know is right, is an appropriate part of your relationship with God your Father.
c. Let’s look further at how the term repentance, and the concept of turning from serving self to serving
God, is used in the New Testament.
B. Jesus was born into 1st century Israel, a people group that, based on the writings of the Old Testament
prophets, was expecting a Messiah from God who would establish His visible kingdom on earth, renew and
restore the earth, and then live with His people forever. Dan 2:44; Dan 7:27; etc.
1. At the beginning of the 1st century, there was great anticipation in Israel that the time for the Messiah’s
arrival was near. Into that environment came a man named John. He preached a message that men and
women must repent because the kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Matt 3:1-2; Mark 1:3-4
a. John baptized people to prepare them for the Lord’s coming, urging them to turn from sin toward
God: Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins to God (Matt 3:8, NLT).
b. When Jesus came on the scene, He proclaimed the same message: Mark 1:15—The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel (ESV); repent (have a
change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and a change of conduct for the better (Amp).
2. We could do many lessons on the kingdom of God. For now, consider these points. The Greek word
for kingdom means dominion, rule, or reign. The kingdom of God is the sphere of His reign, or where
God reigns. Heaven is God’s kingdom in part because He reigns, and His will is done in Heaven.
a. Right now, the earth is the scene of universal rebellion against God. Because of Adam’s sin, Satan
is now the god of this world, and presides over a counterfeit kingdom of darkness that is in rebellion
to God (many lessons for another day). Luke 4:6; II Cor 4:4; John 12:31; etc.
b. The point for our present discussion is this: Jesus entered time and space two thousand years ago to
begin the process of reclaiming and re-establishing God’s reign in this world. This world is God’s
world. He created it for His glory, and to be a home for Himself and His family.
1. Jesus came the first time to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin, and open the way for men and
women to be reconciled to God and restored to their created purpose. Luke 19:10; John 3:16
2. When Adam rebelled, the earth was infused with corruption and death. Jesus will return to
cleanse the earth and renew and restore it to pre-sin conditions. The Lord will establish His
visible kingdom on earth and live with His family forever. Gen 3:17-19; Rev 11:15; Rev 21-22
c. The prophets were not clearly shown that there would be two comings of the Lord separated by over
two thousand years. First century Israel was expecting Jesus to set up a visible kingdom on earth.
1. When skeptics asked Jesus to show them the kingdom He replied: God’s kingdom is coming,
but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. People will not say, ‘Look, here it
is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ because God’s kingdom is within you (Luke 17:20-21, NCV).
2. Following His resurrection, Jesus began to establish His kingdom (His rule and reign) in men
and women who submit to Him through repentance and faith. God, by His Spirit, comes into
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us—that’s the new birth, Christ in you. The kingdom is in us because the King is in us.
3. Jesus’ first call to humanity when He began His earth ministry was repent and believe the good news
(gospel) that the reign (kingdom) of God is near or at hand: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of
God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15, ESV).
a. The eyewitnesses tell us that as Jesus traveled around Israel proclaiming the good news that the
reign of God (the kingdom) was at hand and that people should repent and believe, He called men
and women to follow Him.
b. In each of the following encounters with specific people, Jesus’ call to them was, follow me—Peter
and Andrew (Matt 4:19); Matthew (Matt 9:9); Philip (John 1:43); a scribe (Matt 8:22); (a wealthy
young man (Matt 19:21).
1. Consider two of them: Jesus told the scribe: Start following with me as my disciple and
continue to do so as a habit of life (Matt 8:22, Wuest). Jesus told Peter and Andrew: Come
here; after me; and I will make you fishers of men (Matt 4:19, Wuest).
2. Note that following Jesus is supposed to be a continuous life habit. Note also, Jesus promised
that if you follow Me, I will make you what I want you to be.
A. In these verses, the Greek word that is translated follow means to be in the same way as.
In that culture the word carried the idea of following as a disciple or learner.
B. To follow a teacher and become his disciple meant to follow his faith, his practice, and his
teaching, or seek to be like him. A disciple was to imitate or copy their teacher’s example.
c. Remember, Jesus is the pattern for God’s family: For God knew his people in advance, and he
chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and
sisters (Rom 8:29, NLT).
1. The next verse is summary of how God restores sinful humans to their created purpose as sons
and daughters who are like Jesus: Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom
he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Rom 8:30, ESV).
A. God calls or invites us to come to Him. When we respond to His call, He justifies us
(forgives our sin and declares us righteous). Then He glorifies us. To be glorified means
to be made alive with God (His Spirit and life) in every part of our being.
B. God, by His indwelling Spirit, then progressively cleanses us of corruption, purifies us, and
restores us to sons and daughters like Jesus in character and behavior.
2. This process requires our participation and cooperation—repentance (turning from) and
conversion (turning toward). God calls us to come to Him. Repentance is our response to
that call. Peter called it repentance unto life. Acts 11:18
C. The repentance or conversion that God requires is changing the end for which we live, from living for self
(doing things our way) to living for God (doing things His way).
1. Jesus made a very specific statement about this: Matt 16:24—Then said Jesus to His disciples, If
anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself—that is, disregard, lose sight of and forget
himself and his own interests—and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadily to Me, conform
wholly to My example in living and if need be in dying, also] (Amp).
a. Note these translations: If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up
his cross and follow me (Matt 16:24, NIRV); If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps he must give
up all rights to himself, take up his cross and follow me (Matt 16:24, J. B. Phillips).
1. Jesus wasn’t asking people to give up all their material possessions. He was asking them to
change the end for which they live, to turn from pleasing self to pleasing God, even if it’s hard
or costly.
2. For Jesus, the Cross was the place of surrender to the will of God, even though it was difficult
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and painful. His greatest desire was to please the Father and do His will. Matt 26:39
3. Follow Me means seek to be like Me. Jesus in His humanity shows us how sons and daughters
are supposed to behave. We should desire to develop Christ-like character and behavior.
b. Turning from self toward God means that our priorities, perspective, and behaviors must change.
We now live with the awareness that eternal things matter more than temporal things. We
understand that this world in its present condition is not our home, we’re only passing through.
1. Sadly, we’ve made living for God about me and my destiny, me and my ministry, me and my
happiness, rather than Him and His glory. What if your greatest desire was to honor God?
2. What if your prayers were—Help me to glorify you, Lord. Help me to live and act in a way
that is pleasing to you. What if you’re first prayer of the day was: Your kingdom (your reign)
come, and your will be done in me. Reign in me and my life. Matt 6:10
A. An atheist could make changes that produce a better quality of life for him—I’m going to
stop all my partying, start eating right, and exercising regularly. I’m even going to go to
church to try to meet better people
B. But that’s a selfish (self-focused) repentance. He hasn’t changed the end for which he’s
living. He’s changed for his good rather than God’s will and God’s glory.
c. What does living for God and not self look like? Note what Paul wrote to someone serving God in
a mundane task: You slaves must obeyyour earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please
them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your
reverent fear of the Lord. Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were
working for the Lord rather than for people (Col 3:22-24, NLT).
2. People sometimes misunderstand repentance to mean that you have to clean up your life and then come
to God. No, you come as you are, with the awareness that you must change the end for which you live.
You must turn from serving self to serving God.
a. Our initial turning (repentance) must be followed by daily choices to reinforce our initial choice.
Even though we’ve changed the end for which we live, we still have a pull toward self (more on this
in later lessons). And, as we follow Jesus, we become aware of changes that we must make.
1. Paul preached the gospel in the city of Ephesus, a city given over to the worship of the goddess
Diana, and multitudes responded. Paul’s message was repent and believe. Acts 20:21
2. Acts 19:18-20 tells us that many who became believers confessed their sinful practices and
some who practiced magic brought their incantation books (several million dollars worth) and
burned them. Changing the end for which they lived led to changing the way they lived.
b. Jesus said: I am the light of the world. The man (or woman) who follows me will never walk in
the dark but will live his life in the light (John 8:12, J. B. Phillips). As you follow Jesus, His light
shines on (exposes) areas where you need to turn from self to Him, so you repent.
D. Conclusion: Paul taught Christians to follow his example as he followed Christ (I Cor 1:11). Paul used a
Greek word that means imitate (mimetes): Follow my example, as I imitate and follow Christ (Amp).
1. The gospel should produce men and women who become imitators of Christ. Sadly, for a number of
years, a watered down, self-focused gospel has been preached in the western world—Just ask Jesus into
your heart and He’ll give you a wonderful life, with no mention of what Jesus said about following Him.
2. Repentance is not a religious ritual, bondage, or Law. It’s the first step to being restored to our created
purpose and an ongoing part of growing in Christ-likeness, as we recognize things that need to change.
a. Even though we may continue to struggle in some areas, we keep moving toward the intended goal
of Christ-likeness with the awareness that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it.
b. Our desire should be that God reign in us increasingly, and that His will be done in us, as we follow
Jesus and seek to be like Him. Much more next week!!
