CHRISTIANITY WITHIN
Luke 17:21
Morning Meditation 3/22/2013
"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Man's religion is a religion of keeping rules and doing good deeds. It says there is a spark of divinity within man, and if fanned will flame up, and bring man to perfection, to the extent at least where he can be accepted by God on the basis of his good deeds. This humanistic religion takes on all forms and all the forms bring you to the same place, i.e., man can attain salvation by his good works. This is Satan's lie and he has been successful in injecting this poison in unbelievers from the time of the fall in the Garden of Eden until now.
Jesus says that the kingdom of God is within you. Let's take some examples of this:
TO NICODEMUS IT WAS INWARD LIFE
Jesus says to Nicodemus in John 3:7-8, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
Jesus tells Nicodemus that he will have to experience a new birth which in substance is the creation of a new man within. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The word creature in this verse is the word used to describe a new creation.
The new life that we have in Christ is not the Adamic life made over or patched up. It is a birth that marks the beginning of a new life completely. So when Nicodemus came to Jesus he received instructions concerning that new life. Nicodemus' problem was not external, it was internal. Christianity is within. One's heart is changed. He sees things from a divine viewpoint. He accepts Christ as Saviour and Lord and his submission is an inward submission. Next,
TO THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA IT WAS INWARD SUPPLY
John 4:14, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
The water that Jesus spoke to this woman about is thirst quenching. Thirst is that strong desire we have for something that satisfies. Jesus told this woman that she could have her thirst quenched from a fountain that would originate within her. She would not have to go looking for water, there would be a spring of water constantly flowing from within that would satisfy forever. Jesus knew this woman needed inward supply and He gave it to her. Next,
TO THE PHARISEES IT WAS INWARD CLEANSING
Matthew 23:25-26, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."
The Pharisees knew only outward religion. Jesus said that they had cleansed the outside of the platter but the inside was full of extortion and excess. He told them they were blind to the truth of salvation within.
Jesus said, "Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. True salvation is within first. God changes the heart of the repentant sinner. The outward form will change because the inward change will always result in clear external evidence of the mighty work of grace within.
Whitewash is good for cellars, but it is no good for sinners. Sinners need to be washed white in the Blood of the Lamb. Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
The kingdom of God is within. The King reigns as Lord over those who have believed in Him as a personal Saviour.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
