The King is Love - Santosh Poonen - July 29, 2015
http://rlcfchurch.org/the-king-is-love RLCF Youth Conference 2015 - Session #5 River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that the fundamental law governing the Kingdom of Heaven is the law of love. The speaker warns that merely being 'set free' from old legalistic structures without entering the New Covenant—governed by love—leads to chaos and a worse condition than being under law. True freedom comes through Jesus, leading into this new law of love, which is superior to both old legalism and outright sin.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What is the primary characteristic of the kingdom of God?Every kingdom operates on laws, and the supreme law in the kingdom of heaven and God is the law of love.
The danger of leaving law without entering the New CovenantIf a person is freed from old Covenant legalism but does not enter the New Covenant law of love, they end up in worse chaos and sin than before.
Why the Bible becomes a closed book to the proudDrawing from Isaiah, the speaker explains that God closes the Bible to those who are proud, while offering mercy to the humble.Isaiah 29:11–12
Lip service versus a heart far from GodMany people draw near to God with words and religious traditions, but their hearts remain far from Him, loving money and worldly things.
God wants children, not robotsGod created humans with free will so they have the genuine capability to love, choosing Him rather than obeying merely as programmed robots.
The new commandment of loveJesus replaces the hundreds of old Covenant commandments with one new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us.
The Holy Spirit pours out the love of GodWhen a person is born again, the Holy Spirit plants a seed and pours out the love of God within their heart so it can flow out to others.
The entire Bible summed up in loveJesus teaches that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.Matthew 22:37
God is loveGod does not merely act in love; love is His very nature, and the one who abides in love abides in God.
The limitation of the old CovenantThe speaker illustrates the old Covenant as an external standard where people tried to act against their nature without inner transformation.
A better high priest and a better covenantJesus came as the mediator of a better covenant enacted on better promises, establishing a ministry that actually transforms us from within.Hebrews 8:1
God's promise to write His laws on our mindsQuoting the prophetic promise of the New Covenant, God declares He will put His laws into our minds and write them on our hearts.
The kingdom of God is a familyUnlike a harsh school, the kingdom of heaven is a family where Jesus stands right beside us to help us fulfill His requirements out of love.
