The Kingdom of God is at Hand! (2)

What is one primary message Jesus and John the Baptist preach?

“Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at Hand!”

As famous as these words are, today, you do not hear many sermons on the subject. Pastors and other church leaders no longer emphasize the vital importance of this kingdom. Many have heard of a godly kingdom, yet they don’t know how to explain what it is and what they need to do to be a part of it.

In this sermon, I will talk about God’s kingdom and the need for it. We will learn what it means for us living now. You will not just sit back and listen to me speak, but you will be part of the discussion. You are allowed to ask questions or make comments with regard to the kingdom so that you understand what it is, how you can be a apart of it, and then share it with others.

What is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is the current heavenly (spiritual) government of the Father and His son Jesus Christ. Yahweh (or Jehovah) is the almighty ruler with Jesus Christ at His right hand sharing in the duties of heaven and earth. It is a kingdom that stands forever and will soon be upon the entire earth with Christ as its King.

What is the Kingdom of God Like?

Luke 13:18–21 CSB

He said, therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.” Again he said, “What can I compare the kingdom of God to? It’s like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened.”

Christ tells us what the Kingdom of God is like by using parables or a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. What does the parable mean? Jesus shows that the kingdom, like a mustard seed, may start small but will eventually grow to be very large and provide a resting place for many. The mention of the birds nesting recalls the description of Ezek 17:23. The kingdom is universal and will include gentiles.

Ezekiel 17:23 CSB

I will plant it on Israel’s high mountain so that it may bear branches, produce fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

So we see that the Kingdom of God will include a great multitude of people from every race, Jew and gentile.

What about the parable of the leaven (or yeast)?

Jesus shows that the kingdom is like leaven placed within a large amount of flour. The leaven is small in comparison to the meal and unseen; yet in an unseen and inconspicuous way, the leaven causes the dough to rise. In the same way, the kingdom will grow in an inconspicuous and unseen way.

Also, calls to mind the potency of Jesus message, being that a very small amount of yeast can penetrate 50 lbs of flour.

This shows that Jesus will take the few whom He has called to help expand the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Hence, this is where in the Lord’s prayer we say “Thy Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven.” The Kingdom of God will soon be all over the Earth and man’s governments and kingdoms will no longer exist.

What does that mean for us?

What this means for us is this: Right this very moment God is searching the hearts of those who say they love and worship Him to see if we will be deemed worthy to enter into this Kingdom.

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament God’s Plan Prevails in Spite of Rejection (13:22–35)

Just as the previous passage shows that the kingdom of God will triumph over physical sickness and low expectations (it begins as a tiny mustard seed), Jesus elaborates in 13:22–35 that God’s plan will prevail in spite of rejection. The rejection that Jesus experiences from the religious leaders of his day shows that the broad way of practicing outward religion does not lead to salvation. Rather, those who think they are on the inside may find themselves on the outside, and those on the outside may find their way inside. This is the way of God’s kingdom

How do we get into the Kingdom?

Luke 13:22–30 CSB

He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God. Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament The Way into the Kingdom (13:22–30)

When Jesus is asked about the number of people who will be saved, he describes the way into the kingdom as through a narrow gate. Jesus declares that many will be outside the kingdom who previously thought they were in it. Even more pointedly, one does not belong to the kingdom just because one is a descendant of Abraham.

So for those of us living now, we must be prepared to enter that narrow path to God’s kingdom. Just because we think we deserve to enter does not make it so in Jesus’s eyes.

Additionally, the Bible tells us plainly that “faith without works is dead.” This does not mean that we have to perform all kinds of good works to get into the Kingdom of God because Jesus offers that freely to those who believe in Him (John 3:16) We cannot earn our salvation.

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

However, what it does mean is our faith causes to be transformed. The lack of works reveals an unchanged life or being spiritually dead. Real faith is demonstrated by good works. We should be doing wonderful things for each other which is what many scriptures confirm throughout the Bible.

Remember this: “works are not the cause for salvation but the evidence of salvation!”

So-called Christians who are consistently and willfully disobedient are not saved. Jesus emphasizes this in Matt. 7:16-23

Matthew 7:16–23 CSB

You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

I do not think I could be more clear than what Jesus said. Christians are required to be obedient to God. True faith leads to obedience. So for those of us who like to use the scripture, “well God knows my heart” as an excuse to be disobedient should realize that won’t cut it if they are trying to enter the kingdom of God. Though they are right: Only God knows their heart. He also knows when we are not doing what we should be doing as His people. Let us be mindful of this fact.

This does not mean that we will not do things that are contrary to what the Bible says is the right thing to do. For we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. But there are some of us who continually sin and they don’t seek true repentance. Those are the ones who will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Now, let’s pause for a moment. Let’s take a second to digest all of this timely information and take some questions.

What are the benefits of God’s Kingdom?

Revelation 21:1–4 CSB

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

What an amazing God we serve! God’s kingdom or government will bring an end to sickness, death, grief, crying or pain. And what’s even better is that God himself will be with us. God tells us that a new heavens and new earth await us in the future. (A new heavens and new earth simply means the earth will be restored to the way it was before Adam and Eve sinned against God. The Earth will not be destroyed.)

What is a disciple of Christ?

A disciple of Christ is one who is a personal follower of Jesus. The actual word disciple means “one who is taught.” We see from this definition that you must be taught to be a disciple of Christ. ff