* The Gospel of the Kingdom

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:13

Though Jesus provided the means for mankind to experience the kingdom of God here on earth, the majesty of the coming of the kingdom of God has not yet been revealed and will not be revealed until Jesus returns again.  We establish our citizenship in the Kingdom of God through our lives being lived in righteousness and holiness before God. 

Though the occurrence of the establishment of the Kingdom of God is not revealed to man,

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  Matthew 24:36  

God gives us signs and indications to reveal its soon coming:

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Matthew 24:6-8  

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  2 Peter 3:3-4  

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  1  John 2:18  

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  2 Timothy 3:1-5   

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  Luke 21:25-26  

Another sign of the coming of the kingdom of God that affects believers is the spreading of the gospel:

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 24:14  

This sign is so important because it pertains to believers following the commission given by Jesus.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen  Matthew 28:19-20  

The key event which will precede the end of the world and the climax of God's plan for the nations is the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom to all people. We have an obligation; a responsibility in fulfilling God's plan!

Just as we are taught in the word, love is the very essence of the nature of God.  God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son for us.  How then can we as believers and followers of God not have the same love for mankind; not to mention our family, friends, associates.  The bible tells us we should always be ready to speak His word. 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  2 Timothy 4:2   

Apostle Paul spoke this to Timothy as a young leader in the church but we all benefit from being instant in season and out of season as witnesses of God ready to share the gospel of Jesus and the kingdom of God. 

Once God has called us out, we are to be ambassadors for Christ.  An ambassador is a representative sent by one kingdom to represent itself to another. In this case, we are the representatives for the kingdom of God [the kingdom of light] sharing the good news with the kingdom of darkness.  We are the messengers and authorized agents of the kingdom of God. Apostle Paul said:

We are ambassadors for Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:20  

We are the ambassadors sent by the King to represent and transact the business of the Kingdom of God in the kingdoms of the world.

Our assignment as ambassadors of the Kingdom is a lifetime commitment. Once we have accepted this commission, we cannot look back:

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.  Luke 9:62  

We must at all times be ready to witness the gospel of Jesus and let others know of the kingdom of God.  In order to do this, we must have a thorough knowledge of it:

The message of the witnesses is this...

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:46-48  

However, according to God’s word, the end comes after the gospel of the Kingdom is preached. 

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 24:14  

In these verses Apostle Paul gives the elements of the Gospel:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Corinthians 15:1-4  

The final establishment of the Kingdom of God will not come until the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached to all the world. Note that it is not just the Gospel...it is the Gospel of the Kingdom.

According to the scriptures, the basic Gospel message is that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.  This Gospel must be preached, but it must include the message of the Kingdom. Men must be informed of its existence and taught how to enter and live as Kingdom residents.

The plan of God is that believers not only preach the Kingdom but that we should be a living example of the Kingdom.  The only way we can be truly successful in this is to know and experience the Kingdom of God for ourselves.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  Colossians 3:2

But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 

Our focus should always be on the kingdom of God and our citizenship in the kingdom; that the things that we do or don’t do may rescind our citizenship.  It is our lives; not just our words that demonstrates to others what kingdom living is all about.  When we exemplify the 

fruit of the spirit, we are witnessing the demonstration of kingdom living.

(Biblical Studies)




11/29/19

05/20/21