Sermon Tone Analysis

The Kingdom of God

Why Study the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God was the focal point of Jesus’ teaching (all 4 Gospels)

The Kingdom of God was central to the early apostolic preaching (Acts)

The Kingdom of God is one of the great themes of Scripture - from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22

The Kingdom of God has profound implications for Christians, as we are exhorted to walk “worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom” (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

Despite the abundance of the Bible’s teaching, the Kingdom of God is the subject of much confusion & difference of opinion, between Christians as well as cults/nonorthodox movements

Questions about the Kingdom of God

Who rules the Kingdom?

God the Father, or Jesus Christ, or the saints?

Who is are its citizens?

The Church? Israel?

Gentiles?

What is its nature?

Spiritual or physical (or both)?

When is/was the Kingdom established?

Now, or in the future (or both)?

Where is it?

Earth, Heaven, or in our hearts?

Why a Kingdom?

What are God’s revealed intentions?

How will the Kingdom be established?

Through our efforts, or God’s (or both)?

What is a Kingdom?

Ruler - an individual or individuals that are sovereign over the kingdom’s affairs

Right - (to rule); an authority possessed by, or that validates, the ruler (king)

Realm - a domain that belongs to the kingdom

Reality - the actual reigning activity of the rightful king over the realm

Kingdom Vocabulary

Kingdom of God (65)

Kingdom of Heaven (31)

Kingdom of Christ and God (1)

Gospel [good news] of the kingdom (3)

The everlasting kingdom (5*)

* or “everlasting dominion”

A kingdom which shall never be destroyed (1)

Kingdom Vocabulary (Cont)

King (2,288)

Kingdom (364)

Reign (178)

Throne (169)

Prince (168)

Authority (112)

Rule (85)

Crown (63)

Palace (41)

Dominion (38)

Subdue (37)

Subject (33)

Scepter (22)

Enthrone (13)

Kingdom of God in Scripture - New Testament

The term “kingdom of God” (AKA “kingdom of heaven”) appears first in the Gospels - especially Matthew - in the teaching of Jesus

Jesus made frequent references and comparisons to the kingdom in his preaching and his parables - he preached the “gospel of the kingdom” (Matt 4:23, 9:35, etc)

The Apostles continued the preaching of the kingdom (e.g, Acts 14:22, 19:8, 28:31)

The epistles do not use the term as frequently, but it appears in the letters to the Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Hebrews, 2 Peter, and in Revelation

Jesus and the NT authors do not (re)define the kingdom - rather, they assume its knowledge & describe/proclaim its reality.

Thus, the New Testament builds upon previous revelation from the Old Testament

Kingdom of God in Scripture - Old Testament

The technical term “kingdom of God” does not appear in the Old Testament.

However, the language of royalty, dominion, and kingship are found throughout the Hebrew Bible, including prophecies of a coming kingdom under God’s chosen ruler

The major messianic poetic passages in the Old Testament are focused on the idea of a Messianic Kingdom (Genesis 49, Numbers 24, Deuteronomy 32)

Daniel prophecies “the God of heaven will cause a kingdom to rise up which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself stand forever.”

(Daniel 2:44)

Jesus frequently alluded to Daniel’s prophecies (Matt 24:15, 24:30, 26:64, Mark 13:14, 13:26, Luke 21:27) and the phrases “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of Heaven” are a direct link to Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2

Kingdom of God in Scripture - Old Testament (Cont)

The Old Testament prophets and psalmists frequently connect their proclamations of the kingdom with the doctrine of creation

Psalm 93:1: “Yahweh reigns, He is clothed with majesty; Yahweh has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken.”

Psalm 96:10: “Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns; Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken; He will render justice to the peoples with equity.””

2 Kings 19:15: “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.

You have made heaven and earth.”

Thus, a study of God’s kingdom program must begin at The Beginning: Genesis

Kingdom of God in Creation

Kingdom of God in Creation

The opening verses of Genesis 1 immediately establish that God (אֱלֹהִים) is the self-existent, independent, and absolute sovereign Ruler

God’s Right to rule is established by his status as creator of all things

““Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

- Revelation 4:11

The “heavens and the Earth” (הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ) constitute a Realm over which God is the indisputable king

God’s repeated acts of creation (בָּרָא, עָשָׂה) by speaking things into existence demonstrate the Reality of his created kingdom (see John 1:1-3)

The Kingdom of God in the Creation Account

Ruler: God

Right: Right of Creation

Realm: Heavens and the Earth

Reality: Acts of creation by the spoken Word

The Image of the King

On the 6th Day, God declares his intention to create “Adam” (אָדָם)

God’s stated purpose for creating man in his image: to rule the Earthly creation

“Image” (צֶלֶם) - Mankind is created as God’s standard-bearer (2 Cor 4:4); his royal representative; a co-regent; a vassal king

“Likeness” (דְּמוּת) - Mankind “resembles” God, thus making God’s Ruling attributes visible within the physical creation (Romans 1:20, James 3:9)

Man has both spiritual & physical aspects: made from dust, “breathed” to life by God

Both male and female are included in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:27) - diversity & unity

The Commission to Rule

Mankind (male & female - note the plural) were given a twofold mandate:

Be fruitful (פְּר֥וּ)- Imperative; God’s intention was for man and woman to reproduce, and for their children to populate and subdue (מִלְא֥וּ) the Earth

Have dominion (רְד֞וּ) - Imperative; God desired that man would rule and reign over his creation, giving them both preeminence and responsibility over it

The Dominion Mandate is encompassed by a creation blessing (see 1:22), and included the provision of food (necessary for fulfillment of man’s commission)

Following the climax of the creation and commissioning of his chosen rulers, God exults over his finished work: וְהִנֵּה־טֹ֖וב מְאֹ֑ד - “Behold!

It [is] very good!”

Universal vs Mediated Kingdom: Two Aspects of God’s Rule