The Gospel of the Kingdom

As I said last time, our purpose is to win the lost. Mark 16:15-18, Matthew 28:18-20

But what is the gospel? What are we supposed to be preaching?

Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Acts 1:3 – He (Jesus) presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Acts 8:12-13 - But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

Acts 28:30-31 – He (Paul) lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus.

We do a good job of preaching about Jesus but we tend to leave out the kingdom.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 3:18–19 (ESV): Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

No other name by which you may be saved.

Acts 4:11-12 - This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:13-14 – He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

John 3:3-6 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

See – know, be acquainted with, and experience

In the gospel of Matthew, he mentions the Kingdom of God or heaven over 30 times!

So we see that the gospel of the kingdom of God was important.

The Old Testament is full of prophecies about a coming king, the messiah, who would redeem His people and establish His kingdom so they understood what that meant. They also had kings so they understood kingdom.

We don't understand kingdom in America.

We have a government for and by the people.

We have seen bad rulers, and we fought a revolution against one. Because of that we struggle.

Kingdom refers to the domain over which a king rules.

Kingdom of God – The domain ruled by God as the sovereign king.

It's the rule of Christ on the earth and in heaven.

It’s the blessings and advantages that flow from living under Christ's rule.

It's the subjects of the kingdom of the Church

The kingdom has a king and his name is Jesus!

He must first reign in our hearts and lives. It's more than asking Jesus into your heart or believing He is God. Submit to God’s authority, the reign of the messiah, His King, Jesus!

Then we're called to extend His rulership on the earth.

In a kingdom, the king is sovereign, not the people.

The king issues decrees and they cannot be overturned. Can't argue with Him or vote to overturn the law. He can only issue a counter decree like with Esther and Jesus.

Luke 6:46 – Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I say?

Only the king issues or assigns titles. Ephesians 4:11

If we lose the lordship of Jesus, we lose his authority as kingdom ambassadors.

“The task of the Church is to make the invisible kingdom visible.”

John Calvin

Matthew 6:9 – 13 – Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

There is danger in preaching the wrong gospel.

Galatians 1:6-9 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Accursed – anathema - alienated from God without hope of being redeemed.

Paul was dealing with Judaizers.

Trying to force gentiles to keep the law.

We have the same thing today.

Gnosticism – Believed that salvation was from spiritual enlightenment and knowledge. All flesh was unholy. Believed Jesus was a divine being without a physical body. Others believed he was a man who attained enlightenment through gnosis and taught his disciples to do the same.

Today we have multiple religions that deny the deity of Christ.

Those who are New Age and mix it with Christianity.

We have the Hyper-grace gospel.

The prosperity gospel

Our purpose is to win the lost but we must preach the true gospel of the kingdom of God!