The Kingdom Is Near

Intro

The Word become flesh.

The Time Is At Hand

Mark 1:14–15 (NKJV)

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

John the Baptist had announced Jesus’ arrival as the One who was “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” and as the One who would “baptize with the Holy Spirit”.

Jesus is baptized and is led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus returns to Galilee and make this declaration concerning the “kingdom of God”.

It is at hand–God’s redemptive purposes will now reach the climatic fulfillment in Christ.

Transition–to fully understand this we need to look more closely at the idea of the “kingdom of God”.

The Kingdom of God

“Kingdom” means kingship, royal rule, as opposed to a “territorial rule”.

This is a dynamic (not static) concept that refers to God's Sovereign activity or ruling over his creation.

Psalm 103:19 NKJV

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 47:2 NKJV

For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

Psalm 47:7–8 NKJV

For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.

This is referred to as the “universal rule” of God.

As Creator, God has this sovereign right to rule.

EMPHASIS: God’s plan was for his kingly rule to be executed by mankind submitted to his authority.

When man failed, he forfeited this responsibility.

Quote: “God is still King, but human rebellion causes dissonance in creation. His kingly rule is no longer respected by his subjects. The world has become like a territory that wants to assert its independence from the country to which it belongs.”

Living in the Kingdom of God by Sigurd Grindheim

EMPHASIS: A major part of God’s redemptive purposes is to reestablish a people who would faithfully perform these duties.

The Kingdom and Israel

God formed Israel from Abraham to be the community that would by submitting to his lordship be an example to the world.

They would assume the role of Adam.

God gave his Law to govern his people.

They were to be a kingdom of priests.

He gave them judges, priests, prophets, and kings to lead the people to this end.

He gave them covenants to insure his purposes would come to pass.

Yet, the people’s failure to keep covenant with God and fulfill his purposes resulted in God’s “new covenant”.

Transition–It would be in this covenant God’s rule would be reestablished and realized.

The Kingdom and Jesus

When Jesus arrives on the scene he declares, “the kingdom of God is near”.

Jesus was calling Israel to recognize and acknowledge that he was the promised Messiah.

This Messiah would usher in a new age for Israel.

Remember the “Triumphal Entry”?

Remember Jesus on the road to Emmaus?

Luke 24:19–21 NKJV

And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

Repent and Believe

In order for them to receive this Kingdom they needed to repent.; turn away from an existing object of trust.

And in Israel's case this was the law.

They also needed to believe which means to commit oneself wholeheartedly to an object of Faith.

This object being Jesus Christ himself.

Transition–Jesus would now establish a new community of people who would willingly submit to his lordship and fulfill the mandate to be fruitful and multiply.

The Kingdom Community

In Christ, God is forming a “kingdom community” to live under the conditions of God’s reign and extend his reign through faithful witness and declaration.

He gathered disciples and many followed him because they believed he was the promised Messiah and king.

Now, all who “repent and believe” become kingdom adherents.

This is the church!

Luke 17:20–21 NKJV

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Let’s be reminded that kingdom of God is not territorial, but the “king’s rule” expressed by those who submit to his authority.

The teachings of Jesus give us the guidelines to how we are to live under his lordship.

Many of Jesus’ teachings and parables began with, “the kingdom of God is like…”

The Kingdom to Come

The consummation of all things will result in God’s kingdom once again being universal.

Jesus will rule and reign over the “new heaven and new earth”.

His obedience to the Father’s will has earned him this privilege.

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephesians 1:15–23 NKJV

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

This will become reality at the return of Christ at the end of this age.

This will be the “final restoration of all things”.

Revelation 21:1–6 NKJV

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

This is the final hope of all the world!

Final Thoughts

God’s reign over his creation is universal.

Man was created to recognize and exercise GOD’S AUTHORITY IN THE WORLD.

Yet, due to The Fall and sin, man has rebelled against God’s sovereign authority.

God determined to separated a people who would express his intend at Creation–to exercise his authority in the world.

Israel–the Old Covenant

Jesus–the New Covenant

Jesus became the perfect representative of God’s authority and through his life, death, and resurrection has assumed the throne of God’s kingdom.

The church is now God’s “kingdom community”.

The church exists to express God’s authority in the world through our allegiance to Jesus and our faithful witness in the world.

The Final Restoration of the Kingdom

We are awaiting the final consummation of all things when Jesus returns and reestablishes God’s universal rule over redeemed Creation.

This is our hope!