UNIT 2: THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE LAST JUDGMENT
2.1.1. INTRODUCTON The Decalogue (Exodus 20, 12-18 )
Decalogue refers to the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses
WHY God gave Israelites the ten commandment and others laws
They were given to the Israelites to regulate their relationships with God and themselves. God chose
them as His nation and so they were expected to live according to His laws (being guided)
Ten commandment of God are:
The kingdom of God is linked to the commandments of god and the values that should lead our
daily life to the Kingdom of God.
1 The Kingdom of God
God’s Kingdom is connected with the exertion of God’s will, with the act of ruling, of reigning, the
exercise of authority.
The Fruits and Results of Kingdom of God
They are about faith not sight. The fruits of God’s kingdom are seen with spiritual eyes.
Examples:
• To be clothed with imperishable body and immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53).
• The victory over sin. • The eternal life and happiness.
• Transformation in God’s likeness with ever increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The teachings of Jesus explain well results of Kingdom of God. The results reflect the judgment, that is,
the award and the condemnation/punishments as in the Parable of talent (Matthew 25: 14- 30;
Workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20: 1-16); Parable of 10 virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13).
Element of kingdom of God As every Kingdom has four elements, God’s kingdom also has
1. Territory (earth and heaven), 2. subjects (all believers),
2. Rules (authority, will of God) 4. Ruler (Jesus Christ).
3. The Kingdom of God is already present because we are seeing the sick being healed, the love
among people, peace and unity in the society, forgiveness and reconciliation
The Last days
Signs that will mark the end of times
The holy scriptures highlight the signs of the end of times.
• Nations will rise against nation and Kingdoms against Kingdoms (Matthew 24:7).
• There will be food shortages (famine).’
• There will be great earthquakes.
• There will be pestilences and pandemics or diseases (Luke 21: 11). ‘
• The traits of people of the last days will be: lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
disobedience to parents, disloyal, having no natural affection, without self-control, fierce, lovers
of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its
power (2 Timothy 3: 1- 5)
The positive signs that will mark the last days are
the abundance of knowledge (Daniel 12:4);
the Good News of Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth (Matthew 24: 3-14;
Ephesians 7:9, Luke 21: 17).
Four Realities of End of Times
1. Death : Christians should not be afraid of death because Jesus Christ rose (1Thessalonians 4:
14). Death is inevitable.
2. Judgment : Judgment is an evaluation process that leads to a decision and a reward (Luke 19:12-
27). God will come to judge all (Jude 1:14-15)
There are different reasons why God will execute judgment:
• To restore the relationship with God. (Genesis 3:15)
• To abolish the consequences of sin.
• To give glory to the Son of Man (Matthew 25: 31-33)
• To reward the righteous.
• To permanently restore God on Earth as it is in Heaven
According to the Scriptures, the Proceedings for the judgment include the judge, the accuser, the
accused and the attorney:
a. Judge: God and Jesus Christ (ruler) John 12:31, Jude 1: 14-15
b. The Accuser: Each one of us will give an account of him/herself to God (Romans 14: 10-12), bad
or good (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 P: 4 -5)
c. Accused: the accused ones are the unrepentant hearts (Romans 2:5), the ungodly men (2 Peter
3:7), who went on sinning willfully (Hebrew 10:26-28). In front of judgment seat, the dead and
the living men will attend (Daniel 12: 2).
d. Attorney: Attorney refers to a qualified lawyer. Attorney of God is Jesus Christ, Messiah.
3. Heaven: Heaven is living fully in glory of God after the judgment. The righteous will see God,
look like Him, and praise Him everlasting. Heaven refers to the place where God and the holy
livings are (angels).
4. Hell : According to the common belief, it is a place or state of punishment of wicked after death
and judgment.
UNIT 3 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE SOCIETY
1 Christian and the civic values.
The Civic values are principles of conduct centred on personal relationships within a society and serve to
maintain social order. e.g. being responsible, having respect, offering justice, being in unity, solidality,
tolerence.
Christian values are based on God’s principles and the work of Jesus Christ. Christian values are based on
spiritual things versus material things . e.g. respecting God, having hope, being righteous, loving God,
humility etc.
a) Eight fundamental Christian social values
The following Eight fundamental Christian social values lead to happiness and peaceful life:
• Grace: Giving people more than they deserve.
• Hope: a guarantee of immunity from harm but a conviction that God is always present.
• Faith: to believe in something that is not yet seen.
• Love: means to show affection to others.
• Justice: A concept in favor of the disadvantaged.
• Joy: inward pleasant feeling.
• Service: support offered to another.
• Peace: not just the absence of fighting, but the state of positive living.
b) Some examples of Sources of Christian happiness
Christian happiness finds its foundation from the grace of loving and being loved by Jesus who offered
his life for the world. It is expressed in the faith and hope for the following spiritual truths:
• God is our perfect Father. • We know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
• The Holy Spirit is sanctifying and empowering us. • Our sins are forgiven. • God lives in our hearts.
• We are justified and adopted into God’s world-wide and heaven-wide family.
• Everything is working together for our good. • God is our guard and guide
• We have all the promises of God.
• Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven and will welcome us there
