Untitled Sermon

The Gospel is the announcement of the arrival of the rightful king, Jesus the King, and the establishment of his kingdom.  The Western view focuses mainly on salvation by grace alone through faith as the pinnacle of the gospel.

I want to explain the differences between these two views, what they mean, and what the implications are according to one’s view. 

Gospel proclamations

When did the gospel begin to be announced?

Through a Divine Counsel Worldview, the establishment of the Kingdom of God is clearly seen throughout the creation story as God establishes himself as the creator ruler when he establishes a land, a rule, and appoints humans to reign over creation. 

Later in Genesis 12, we see God establishing his rule through Abraham beyond that of the Israelites to all nations.  This later in confirmed in Philippians 2:10-11 and Romans 14:11.

The story continues with the establishment of the Israelites as the chosen ones to bring forth the ruling and reign of God and his kingdom throughout the whole land.  The people had cried out to God, and he heard their cries.  He sends forth through Moses a plan for redemption out of the bondages of slavery, freedom from their oppression and establishment of their purpose to divinely represent the kingdom of God.  Exodus 19:3-5. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

It's important to notice that God does remind Moses and thus the people, that it was in fact the Lord who freed them from slavery, but redemption was not the thrust of the conversation.  If redemption from Egypt represents our freedom from sin and bondage through salvation in Jesus, it’s a very important part of the conversation, but it’s an incomplete story if it stops there.  God continues to declare Israels purpose as children of God’s kingdom, set apart to display to the world through their lives who God is and how his kingdom functions.    

If through Noah, God is establishing again his land, though Abraham his people, Moses his good law, it is fitting that through David he is declaring and establishing his rule as King.  2 Samuel 7: 12-13“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 

As the Bible chronologically advances, there is a calling and design for people to rule and reign as representatives of God’s kingdom continues.  However, as the people fail in faithfulness, the opportunity as divine representatives is presented to the next one in line who holds true to the commitment. 

The Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenant all hold pieces of the kingship of Jesus Christ and the establishment of his kingdom that he later brings to fulfillment with the new Covenant though his complete allegiance to the father. 

It's important to notice that God does remind Moses and thus the people, that it was in fact the Lord who freed them from slavery, but redemption was not the thrust of the conversation.  If redemption from Egypt represents our freedom from sin and bondage through salvation in Jesus, it’s a very important part of the conversation, but it’s an incomplete story if it stops there.  God continues to declare Israels purpose as children of God’s kingdom, set apart to display to the world through their lives who God is and how his kingdom functions. 

The future establishment of God’s kingdom is written all over the pages of the Old Testament and much of its foreshadowing comes to fruition through Jesus the Christ and the announcements declare these truths, but still yet before Jesus declares it himself, the announcements of his impending arrival are throughout the pages of the New Testament as well. 

In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel visits Mary, tells of her upcoming purpose to carry for the birth of the king the law and prophets have been declaring.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Luke 1:31-33

In Luke 2, we see the angels declaring the arrival of the one true king into the world to the shepherds.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  Luke 2: 9-11

As we can see from the beginning of the Bible, there is an ascension that is building towards a revelation of the king and the kingdom established by the hand of God.  John the Baptist is one of the final trumpet blowers with the messages of urgent repentance before the arrival of this king. 

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’  Matthew 3:1-3

It was the arrival of the king that generated a response within the people.  It was clear their hearts were out of alignment.  When John exhorted to “prepare a way”, it is an urgent warning to turn from any evil that may be within them.  Jesus, came making the same statements yet he was declaring his rightful title as king. 

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”  Mark 1:14-15

But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  Luke 4:43

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17

These declarations by the prophets and Jesus himself did not come without mocking as they still do today, but the truth remains that there is a Kingdom that has been established, a king that rules, and the people empowered by the Holy Spirit through the church that are called to advance the attributes of that kingdom through discipleship.  The good news, or the gospel, is that no longer does evil have dominion over the people of the world through the establishment of God’s principles found in the ruling and reigning of his kingdom.  The greatest play the enemy had was death, and even that was no match for the life-giving power of God.  Jesus was raised, ascended to heaven, and is seated at his proper place to the right hand of God the Father. 

In many western churches today, the message doesn’t quite sound like what was previously described. 

What often is preached is the part of John the Baptists message of repentance, but even that is only partially preached.  What’s focused on is the benefits that asking Jesus into your life will bring, not necessarily the reverence that is owed to a king. 

Jesus triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on what we know of as Palm Sunday was a mockery to modern day kings, but a clear representation of the humility and servant nature of the true king.  The arrival of a king into a city on a colt was not a new practice, but it was reserved to those who wanted to express the peaceful nature of the king.  A royal steed or decorated chariots often symbolized strength and authority.  This is another declaration of the upside-down attributes of the kingdom of God, especially a king who would rule the world. 

It is the humble, servant nature of Jesus, still having all power and authority yet choosing to lay down his life, that should leave one in awe and generate reverence, yet many of our lives do not reflect our understanding of that truth. 

A story in the New Testament that displays the holy reverence of the revelation of Jesus as King is found in Luke 23:42 by a man who was taking his last breaths at the same time Jesus was.

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Humility opened this man’s heart to be enlightened of the revelation of Jesus as king.  He declared him as lord over his life as he recognized him as king and hearing his statements beforehand, he repented from his sins.  The other criminal rebuked him, but he still responded with “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  Luke 23: 40-41.  Just by realizing who Jesus was he acknowledged his own waywardness, but in that moment turned his whole heart toward Jesus. 

What we see displayed by the thief on the cross is holy reverence.  This man set his mind from everything to the truth of who Jesus is and placed him in his heart as the rightful king of not just his life, but overall creation. 

The second gospel story is common in most evangelical church in the west today.  It’s a gospel that Scot McKnight has called the Soterien Gospel.  The Soterien Gospel focuses on:

“The personal benefit of the gospel — forgiveness, justification, happiness, success, peace, eternal life, heaven (another possession) — became the driver of the gospel.”

He goes on to say “The point I want to make is that the soterian gospel is too often an individualistic, even at times incredibly selfish and self-serving, reshaping of the Story. The Story of the Bible is about God directing all of history toward Jesus as King and toward the arrival of the New Jerusalem where God will be all in all. We join in on that, but we are not the Center of the Story. The soterian gospel makes us too much the center of the Story.”  Scot McKnight Jesus Creed

The Soterien Gospel may sound something like God loves you and has a plan for your life.  (Jer 29:11) Your sin has separated you from a holy God. (Romans 3:23) The dept you owe to God for your sin is a debt that is too high to ever be paid.  (Romans 6:23) God sent his son, who lived a sinless life, so that the punishment you deserve and the debt that you owe would be paid in full.  (Romans 10:9-10).

Bill Bright developed in the 1950’s what’s called the four spiritual laws. 

Bill Bright was the founder of CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ). He started this mission’s organization out of a great desire to reach college students. A large part of CRU’s ministry is evangelism and outreach. Many people have been in churches but have never accepted the gospel for themselves. Many people have never heard of Jesus before. Bill decided to create a booklet called, Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?  Crosswalk Ministries. Emma Danzey.

Similar to much theology that has gotten off track over the years, Bill’s statements and claims of gospel theology are not entirely wrong, but incomplete.  The danger however in presenting the gospel this way is the focus.  The focus is on the individual and not on Jesus as King.  The message becomes about what I get or what I receive as a benefit as accepting Jesus into my life rather than the natural reverential response that declares Jesus as King does to one’s heart.  Focusing on ourselves is the same as eating from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:16-17. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

The knowledge and reverence of Jesus as king generates a natural response of complete allegiance to Jesus and his good order which leads to salvation.  Just as we can’t leave the enthronement of Jesus as the only part of the gospel, salvation alone cannot be the main part, let alone the thrust of the message.  The damage happens when discipleship begins.  With the soterian gospel, discipleship becomes part of the later journey rather than the focus of the journey and the effort is put into learning to lead others to Christ rather than learning how to walk like Christ.  The churches inherently become void of the spirit of God and can appear like whitewashed tombs as Jesus described the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.  (Matthew 23:27-28)

The entrance of a King fosters reverence. 

People who encountered a messenger from the Lord had a common response, which was to bow down in worship.

Isaiah 11:1-4

Luke 2:20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  The is the response!

Bowing down:

Joshua 5:13-15

Genesis 16-Hagar

Genesis 18:2-5

Revelation 19:10

Reelation 22:8-9

Joshua 5:13-15