o Bible Student will question that John the Baptist was a great Bible character He was given the great job as forerunner of the Christ (Matt. 3:3). As to his performance of duty Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matt. 11:11).

 now call our attention to the last phrase of that verse; "yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. " if John is as great as any one ever born of woman, why would Jesus say that the least in the kingdom would be greater than John?

his is a good and fair question and deserves a Bible answer. First, let me say that it is not a contradiction. Based on Bible knowledge I must conclude that John was never in the kingdom. Now let us establish what the kingdom of the passage refers to. What Jesus refers to as the church in Matthew 16:18, he calls the kingdom in verse 19. In Luke's record of the institution of the Lord's Supper He said, "For I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16). Jesus clearly says that the Lord's Supper was to be observed in the kingdom. Jesus was here referring to the time when it would be observed in the church. It was and is to be observed in the church. "And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul preached unto them" (Acts 20:7). The church at Corinth came together to "proclaim the Lord's death" by eating the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:26). These observations show that the kingdom and the church are one and the same. Thus, Jesus’ statement, "He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John" amounts to this: John was never in the church.

ut someone says, "I thought John built the church." No, not only did he not build it he was never privileged to be a member of it. Had he been, Jesus would not have said that the least in the kingdom or church is greater than John.

he church was not even built in John's lifetime. John's death is recorded in Matthew 14. Some time later Jesus said, "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). This passage shows that the church had not been built at this time, and that Jesus promises to build it in the future. There 'is no way that John the Baptist could have built the Lord's church and there is absolutely no scriptural justification for any religious body to wear the name "Baptist."

he church of our Lord was not established until the first Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Christ as recorded in Acts chapter two. All references to the church before Pentecost point forward to that day. All references to the church after Pentecost point backward to it, or refer to it as in existence. Isaiah prophesied concerning "Jehovah's house" saying it would come in the "last days" in the city of Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4). What Isaiah called the "house of God" Paul called the "church of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:15). So Isaiah was speaking of the church or kingdom.

aniel also prophesied of the kingdom. "And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2:44). Sometime, somewhere, God would set up a kingdom which would never be destroyed, according to the prophet Daniel. Do we have such a kingdom? Yes we do, according to the Hebrew writer. "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe" (Heb. 12:28).

ohn was a great man. The Lord commended few as He did John in Matthew chapter eleven and verse eleven. But John was never a part of the kingdom or church of which he spoke. I am thoroughly convinced that, if John had lived until the church was established he would have been a member of it, but he didn't. In this light we can understand Jesus' statement, "Yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matt. 11:11). This is true because being a member of the Lord's church is the greatest blessing ever afforded man (Eph. 1:3; 3:20).

o, John did not enjoy the blessings of being in the Lord's church. But you and I can by doing what they did on Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter and the other apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, preached the first ever gospel sermon (Acts 2:22-36). Having heard heaven's message people became believers, and being pricked in their hearts they cried, "men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37) To this question the apostle Peter replied, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto (for) the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The people were further exhorted to save themselves, and three thousand responded to the gospel call and were baptized into Christ (Acts 2:40-41). And the Lord added to the church or kingdom those who were saved (Acts 2:47). This is what I am convinced that John would have done if he had had the opportunity. Why don't you become a member, now? & [Via Words of Life]

HOT - COLD - LUKEWARM

By J. F. Dancer

he Bible sets forth at least 3 spiritual conditions. They are the three words in the title of this article. The passage where they are found is Rev. 3:15-16). The Lord spoke of these three conditions as he wrote to the saints at Laodicea. It could just as welt describe us today

OT - This is one who zealously serves the Lord, one who is anxious to do as God says (Tit.2:14). This is what we all should be.

OLD – This is one who has quit the Lord and makes no pretense of being a Christian. Sin, in some form, is his life and there is no apol­ogy for it.

UKEWARM - This describes that one who is a child of God but who will not become involved in God's work. They will not do as the word of God (Eph. 4:16) says; they supply little to the strength of the church. They are not trying to tear it apart; they just simply will not commit themselves to work and to build. They are satisfied as things are, although they may complain and gripe occasionally.

od would have us all to be HOT. He had rather us be COLD than luke­warm because the LUKEWARM saint is a stumbling block to others. But God really wants people to be committed to service (Matt. 6:24; 12:30).

OU determine in your own heart and life which you will be. ARE YOU HOT? COLD? LUKEWARM? You know; so does God! & [Via The Eastside Teacher]