The King & His Kingdom Come
I. Why the Truth of The Kingdom is crucial to the Body of Christ.
Salvation is a many faceted Jewel represented in God’s Word by many truths, but the Kingdom of Christ, ruled by a King Who reigns in Grace through Righteousness (Romans 5:17-21, 14:17) is integral to all other facets. The “loss” of Kingdom Truth is a key reason the “church” is at such a low ebb today. Supposedly we live in the “church age” and the “salvation” preached speaks of no Ruling King nor counting the cost of entering His Kingdom. The “gospel” of today speaks of a savior who came to fix our stuff and insure our happiness in the here and now, who thinks it would be nice if you listened to him once and a while, at least on Sunday from 11-12 am, and oh, by the way, he’ll take you to heaven some day—but no rush!!
II. What the King and His Apostles/Ambassadors have to say about His Kingdom This is a walk thru of several passages stressing the Kingdom context of Christ’s thinking, and that of His Sent Ones. Be patient with any repetition, it’s good for the soul!!!
A. Our King And His Teaching:
1. Matt. 1:1, 5-6, 16-17 The first words of the first book in the NT lay out the lineage of the One who ascends the Throne of David, the One Eternal King of which Peter speaks in Acts 2:22-39.
2. The content of Jesus’ preaching:
Matt. 4:23: "Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom.....
Mark 1:14&15: "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, 'the Kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe the gospel."
Notice the union of Kingdom and Gospel in these two texts.
Luke 4:16-22 This is the same context as the two previous texts, but it shows that the content of His Kingdom preaching as fulfillment of prophecy--He was anointed to preach the gospel.
Luke 8:1 "He went through every city and village preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God."
a. I hear a voice of objection, “Yeah but, those are Jewish gospels, that was for the Jews.” So consider with me the “gentile gospel”. John 3:3-5—the context of everyone’s favorite verse. “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God……” The truth of the new birth is first spoken by our Lord to a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus. The new birth is essential for Kingdom citizenship!!!
b. John 18:36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…..:but now my Kingdom is not from hence.” And lest we think His Kingdom is a natural . earthly kingdom, Jesus assures us that His is an heavenly kingdom!
B. Our King’s Sent Ones, what was their message?
1. His final instructions: Acts 1:1-3 Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples“speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”!!! I would say that speaks to the core subject of their ministry.
2. How did they understand that teaching? Acts 2:22-39 Peter's classic sermon, which is the foundational interpretation of the lineage and kingdom of David finding its fulfillment in Jesus--proclaims that Jesus is the King, foretold in the OT as ascending the throne of David, Who is now seated on that Throne in Heaven at the Father's Right Hand!!!
Acts 8:12 Philip preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, to Samaritans, turning them from devotion to Simon the sorcerer.
Acts 19:8 Paul spent 3 months “reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God.”
Acts 20:25 Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders, “among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God”. Remember, Ephesus was a “gentile church", and Paul’s letter to them speaks of the “bride of Christ”, His Church, which some would have us believe is different from believers in the OT, the “kingdom people”.
Acts 28:23-31 This was Paul's final "to the Jews first" attempt and note the content of his message, "many came to him in his lodging, to who he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. Paul's focus, both with Jew or Gentile, was the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.
3. Just a few more: Romans 14:17 "The Kingdom of God is not food and drink (physical things), but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." In other words, the Kingdom of God is the Spiritual reign of the risen Jesus in the hearts of His people by the Holy Spirit, bearing this glorious fruit of righteousness, peace and joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Hebrews 1:8 Here we have the quotation from Psalm 45:6-7 proclaiming that Christ's scepter of authority is a scepter of righteousness. This verse is a fitting complement to Romans 14:17.
Take time to look through the following verses. They just scratch the surface as to the spiritual nature of Christ's Kingdom. I Cor. 4:20, 6:9-10, 15:24, 50; Gal. 5:21; Eph 5:5; Col 1:13, 4:10-11 (His fellow workers for the Kingdom of God); I Thes. 2:12; II Thes. 1:5.
REVELATION12:7-12 The Kingdom has come, Satan has been cast out of approaching God with accusations. He is full of fury for his time is short. But He is overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of His Testimony. OUR LAMB IS THE KING, RULER AND RESTORER OF ALL CREATION!!! Rev 5:1-14
I. Why the Truth of The Kingdom is crucial to the Body of Christ.
Salvation is a many faceted Jewel represented in God’s Word by many truths, but the Kingdom of Christ, ruled by a King Who reigns in Grace through Righteousness (Romans 5:17-21, 14:17) is integral to all other facets. The “loss” of Kingdom Truth is a key reason the “church” is at such a low ebb today. Supposedly we live in the “church age” and the “salvation” preached speaks of no Ruling King nor counting the cost of entering His Kingdom. The “gospel” of today speaks of a savior who came to fix our stuff and insure our happiness in the here and now, who thinks it would be nice if you listened to him once and a while, at least on Sunday from 11-12 am, and oh, by the way, he’ll take you to heaven some day—but no rush!!
II. What the King and His Apostles/Ambassadors have to say about His Kingdom This is a walk thru of several passages stressing the Kingdom context of Christ’s thinking, and that of His Sent Ones. Be patient with any repetition, it’s good for the soul!!!
A. Our King And His Teaching:
1. Matt. 1:1, 5-6, 16-17 The first words of the first book in the NT lay out the lineage of the One who ascends the Throne of David, the One Eternal King of which Peter speaks in Acts 2:22-39.
2. The content of Jesus’ preaching:
Matt. 4:23: "Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom.....
Mark 1:14&15: "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, 'the Kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe the gospel."
Notice the union of Kingdom and Gospel in these two texts.
Luke 4:16-22 This is the same context as the two previous texts, but it shows that the content of His Kingdom preaching as fulfillment of prophecy--He was anointed to preach the gospel.
Luke 8:1 "He went through every city and village preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God."
a. I hear a voice of objection, “Yeah but, those are Jewish gospels, that was for the Jews.” So consider with me the “gentile gospel”. John 3:3-5—the context of everyone’s favorite verse. “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God……” The truth of the new birth is first spoken by our Lord to a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus. The new birth is essential for Kingdom citizenship!!!
b. John 18:36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…..:but now my Kingdom is not from hence.” And lest we think His Kingdom is a natural . earthly kingdom, Jesus assures us that His is an heavenly kingdom!
B. Our King’s Sent Ones, what was their message?
1. His final instructions: Acts 1:1-3 Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples“speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”!!! I would say that speaks to the core subject of their ministry.
2. How did they understand that teaching? Acts 2:22-39 Peter's classic sermon, which is the foundational interpretation of the lineage and kingdom of David finding its fulfillment in Jesus--proclaims that Jesus is the King, foretold in the OT as ascending the throne of David, Who is now seated on that Throne in Heaven at the Father's Right Hand!!!
Acts 8:12 Philip preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, to Samaritans, turning them from devotion to Simon the sorcerer.
Acts 19:8 Paul spent 3 months “reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God.”
Acts 20:25 Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders, “among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God”. Remember, Ephesus was a “gentile church", and Paul’s letter to them speaks of the “bride of Christ”, His Church, which some would have us believe is different from believers in the OT, the “kingdom people”.
Acts 28:23-31 This was Paul's final "to the Jews first" attempt and note the content of his message, "many came to him in his lodging, to who he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. Paul's focus, both with Jew or Gentile, was the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.
3. Just a few more: Romans 14:17 "The Kingdom of God is not food and drink (physical things), but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." In other words, the Kingdom of God is the Spiritual reign of the risen Jesus in the hearts of His people by the Holy Spirit, bearing this glorious fruit of righteousness, peace and joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Hebrews 1:8 Here we have the quotation from Psalm 45:6-7 proclaiming that Christ's scepter of authority is a scepter of righteousness. This verse is a fitting complement to Romans 14:17.
Take time to look through the following verses. They just scratch the surface as to the spiritual nature of Christ's Kingdom. I Cor. 4:20, 6:9-10, 15:24, 50; Gal. 5:21; Eph 5:5; Col 1:13, 4:10-11 (His fellow workers for the Kingdom of God); I Thes. 2:12; II Thes. 1:5.
REVELATION12:7-12 The Kingdom has come, Satan has been cast out of approaching God with accusations. He is full of fury for his time is short. But He is overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of His Testimony. OUR LAMB IS THE KING, RULER AND RESTORER OF ALL CREATION!!! Rev 5:1-14