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     Jesus declared He would build His kingdom, then left the earth before doing so.  Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), thus it is invisible.  Thirty years later the apostle Paul said the kingdom was in existence (Colossians 1:13).
     Last week we considered the first three of the four elements which makeup any kingdom:  (1) king – Jesus (2) subjects – Christians (3) territory- Christians spirit (heart) (4) royal edicts.  What are the royal edicts given by the king?

     On the night before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples He would send the Holy Spirit to give them His word when He ascended into heaven (John 14:16,17,26; 15:26; 16:7,8,13,14; Acts 1:4,5,8).  Thus the writings called the New Testament are from Jesus – His royal edicts.  What does Jesus demand of His citizens?  The short answer is, citizens are to glorify Jesus in their lives (2 Thessalonians 1:11,12; 3:1).

     Since citizens are saved by grace through faith and not by our own merits (Ephesians 2:8,9), some folks believe they can live in any way they desire.  However, this is damnably false thinking, usually fostered by ignorance of Jesus edicts.  First, ignorance of the royal edicts is no excuse and will result in eternal expulsion from the kingdom

     We have the great privilege of a glimpse of judgment day – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).  A person might think he is an upright citizen, but in reality is not.  This citizen was active, thinking he was honoring the King, but in fact was doing what he considered to be acceptable, rather than what the King had instructed.  

     The book of Revelation (chapters 2-3) begins with the King’s accounting of seven congregations of His kingdom.  Five of these were judged unacceptable because they failed to follow His royal edicts.  So what are Jesus royal edicts in the New Testament by which citizens can glorify the king?

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