26-0614p - Detailed Summary

Jim announced that the evening sermon would conclude the morning’s message titled "A Tale of Two Kingdoms," focusing this time on the Dominion of Darkness, the other kingdom. He explained that in today’s world, there are two unique kingdoms, both invisible and encompassing every human being—each person is in one or the other. People in the domain of darkness often do not even realize they belong to it. This kingdom is characterized by everything negative and malevolent, ruled by Satan, whom Jim described using every negative adjective imaginable. The audience was reminded that the kingdom of God is the oldest.

Jim established from Scripture that God the Father is the invisible, eternal King whom no one has seen. Within the Godhead, Yahweh the Son has always served as the human interface, interceding for humanity. Jesus came to earth, lived as a man, was tempted in every way yet remained sinless, making Him the perfect sin offering after 4,000 years of waiting since Adam and Eve’s sin. Animal sacrifices in the Old Testament could not permanently remove sins but pointed forward to Christ’s perfect sacrifice. When humans exercise free will against God’s commands, it results in sin, which transfers them from God’s kingdom into the kingdom of darkness. Jim emphasized gratitude for Jesus paying the penalty none could pay.

Sin leads to death, but accepting God’s plan of salvation through Jesus frees one from sin’s penalty. Citizens of Christ’s kingdom are those who recognize their helpless sinful state, humbly accept Jesus as Savior, and obey Him, thereby renouncing Satan’s kingdom. Jim referenced Jesus' words about letting the little children come to Him, noting that the kingdom belongs to such as these. Children who die go to heaven as innocents who have not sinned. Those without mental capacity to discern right from wrong are similarly in God’s kingdom. However, all eventually sin and enter Satan’s kingdom unless redeemed.

Jim addressed how Jesus can be sovereign over the universe while Satan maintains a kingdom opposed to God. This does not contradict divine sovereignty, as earthly kingdoms coexist with God’s rule (e.g., England’s monarchy alongside parliament). Satan’s kingdom represents temporary, granted authority over the fallen world system due to humanity’s sin after the Fall. God retains ultimate ownership of creation, while Satan rules through deception and human rebellion. The kingdoms are spiritual, defined by allegiances rather than geography—not divided by physical location but by hearts transformed by faith in Christ.

The kingdom of God resides in the hearts of believers transformed by faith, mercy, and grace, restoring them to peace with God as they were as children. In contrast, Satan’s kingdom involves rebellion influenced by fallen angels, demons, and Satan, along with people following base natural desires like animals (as Peter describes in 2 Peter). These kingdoms coexist until the end of the Christian age, when Christ returns and God’s kingdom fully prevails, ending Satan’s rule. Jim noted Jesus' own acknowledgment of Satan’s kingdom in Matthew 12:26.

God originally granted dominion over creation to humanity in Genesis 1:26-28, creating man in His image to subdue the earth and rule over its creatures. God transferred authority to man as His domain. However, during the temptation in Luke 4:5-8 (and Matthew 4), Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, claiming they had been delivered to him and that he could give them to whomever he wished. Jesus rebuked him but did not correct the claim of authority, suggesting an element of truth. This authority is transferable.

Jim revisited the Genesis 3 temptation: the crafty serpent questioned God’s command, assured Eve she would not die but become like God knowing good and evil. She and Adam ate the fruit, their eyes opened, and they covered their nakedness. They chose the serpent’s lie over God’s truth, rejecting God’s authority and willingly subjecting themselves to the serpent. In doing so, they handed over their God-given authority to Satan. This act established the transfer of power, marking the beginning of the dominion of darkness.

All who reject or disobey God’s word become subjects of Satan in this second-oldest kingdom. Adam and Eve were its first citizens, followed by others like Cain after killing Abel. Corruption grew rapidly, leading to the flood in Noah’s time. After the Fall, God intervened by sacrificing animals to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness and guilt with skins, forgiving them and rolling forward their sins until a perfect sacrifice. Animal sacrifices continued for 4,000 years (2,000 years to Abraham, another 2,000 to Christ) to cover sin.

The same divine figure (Yahweh the Son) was born of a virgin, lived sinlessly, and became the true Passover lamb whose blood takes away sins. Belief in Christ and obedience to His commands is the only escape from Satan’s dominion. Jim quoted Colossians 1:13-14, where God rescues believers from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, providing redemption and forgiveness. Once in the fold, believers must remain vigilant as Satan seeks to reclaim them.

Paul’s warning in Ephesians 6:10-18 urges strength in the Lord, putting on the full armor of God against the devil’s schemes. The struggle is not against flesh and blood but spiritual forces of evil. The armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of gospel peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), accompanied by constant prayer. Believers are not orphans; God provides His Spirit, His Word, and the church family. Nothing can separate believers from God’s grip except their own choice to turn away.

Jim concluded with 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, describing the end when Christ hands over the kingdom to the Father after destroying all dominion, authority, and power—including death as the last enemy. Believers will receive eternal bodies and live forever with the King. An invitation was extended for anyone needing strength from the church’s prayers to come forward.