Please enable Javascript to play audio

The Kingdom Focus Is Plain And Clear (Part 2)

September 24, 2006

At the center of Jesus Christ’s ministry was the

message of the kingdom of God

Luke 4:43 He (Jesus) said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."

From the beginning…

Mark 1:1;14-15 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel

Matthew 4:17,23 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Luke 8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him.

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of ~~eternal life~~ age-lasting life or kingdom life.

To the end

Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion [or suffering & death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom of God confirmed

the promises made unto the fathers

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.

The kingdom of God that Jesus preached referred to

the land promised unto Abraham

Genesis 15:7 Then He said to him (Abraham), "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it."

Genesis 28:4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.

Acts 7:2,4-5 And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia…4 "Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 5 "And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.

Hebrews 11:13 These all (including Abraham) died in faith, not having received the promises…”

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 5:21…as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 4:13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (RSV)

Matthew 25:31,34 Jesus said, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Luke 13:28-29 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Psalm 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5 Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

The kingdom of God which Jesus preached referred to

Daniel’s prophesy of God’s kingdom on earth

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings [the dignitaries of human government existing at the time of Jesus’ future Coming] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms (on earth), and it shall stand for ever.

Daniel 7:13,14,18,22,27 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Jesus claimed to be “the son of man” that Daniel described as

the conquering ruler of the kingdom of God

Mark 14:53,61-65 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. 65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

The apostles & disciples of Jesus preached the kingdom

Matthew 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand

Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them topreach the kingdom of God…

Luke 10:1,9 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luke 9:59-60 And he (Jesus) said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

The kingdom that Jesus preached is to be the NT churches message until the kingdom comes at the end of the age

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Mark 16:15 And He (Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel (of the kingdom) to every creature (Jew and Gentile). 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved (into the kingdom); but he who does not believe will be condemned.

The same gospel of the kingdom Jesus preached

was confirmed unto the NT churches

Hebrews 2:3,5 How shall we (Christians) escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord (the gospel of the kingdom of God), and was confirmed unto us (Christians in the NT Church) by them that heard him (the apostles); 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection [or rulership] the world to come [or the coming habitable earth, Rotherham], whereof we speak.

The apostle Peter preached the kingdom

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of [or from] the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise [to inherit the kingdom, Rom.4:13; Jam.2:5] is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Peter’s main focus in His teaching was the coming kingdom

2 Peter 1:15-18 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty (Mt.16:28-17:2). 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory (the characteristics of a King), when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount (the Son of man coming in his kingdom, Mt.16:28).

Philip preached the kingdom of God

Acts 8:5,12 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

The apostle Paul’s ministry was centered around

the gospel of the kingdom of God

From the beginning

Acts 14:21 And when they (Paul & Barnabus) had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

To the end

Acts 28:23,30-31 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Paul’s one gospel not two gospels

Acts 20:24-25 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testifythe gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

The last book of the Bible ends with the fulfillment of

the coming of the kingdom of our Lord

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." (RSV)

The King of kings returns to earth

Revelation 19:11,16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The saints are raised to reign with Christ in His kingdom

for a thousand years

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

"We shall dwell in glorified bodies on the glorified earth. This is one of the great Christian doctrines that has been almost entirely forgotten and ignored. Unfortunately the Christian church – I speak generally – does not believe this, and therefore does not teach it. It has lost its hope, and this explains why it spends most of its time in trying to improve life in this world, in preaching politics…But something remarkable is going to be true of us according to the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? This is Christianity. This is the truth by which the NT church lived. It was because of this that they were not afraid of their persecutors… This was the secret of their endurance, their patience and their triumphing over everything that was set against them."

Martin Lloyd Jones, Commentary of Romans

“The Kingdom — the central subject of Christ’s doctrine. With this He began His ministry (4:17) and wherever He went He taught it as Good News [Gospel] (4:23). The Kingdom He taught was coming, but not in His lifetime. After His ascension He would come as Son of Man on the clouds of heaven (16:17, 19:28, 24:30) and would sit on the throne of His glory (25:31)…Then the twelve Apostles should sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (19:28). In the meantime He Himself must suffer and die and be raised from the dead. How else could He come on the clouds of heaven? And the disciples were to preach the Good News [Gospel] of the coming Kingdom (10:7, 24:14) among all nations, making disciples by baptism (28:18). The body of disciples thus gained would naturally form a society bound by common aims. Hence the disciples of the Kingdom would form a new spiritual Israel (21:43)”

Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels

“It is fitting that the Reign of God should be in the hands of Christ and his Saints, for it is just that in the very creation in which the Saints toiled and were afflicted and were tried in every way by suffering, they should receive the reward of their suffering, and that in the very creation in which they were killed for the love of God, they should be revived again; and that in the very creation in which they endured servitude they should also reign. For God is rich in all things, and all things are His. It is fitting therefore that the creation itself, being restored to its primeval condition, should without qualification be under the dominion of the righteous” (Against Heresies, Bk. 5, Chap. 32, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1).

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, circa 170 AD