How Did We Lose the Gospel of the Kingdom? Pt 2
Now this interpretation of the Kingdom as "in the future, when Christ shall return", makes the Kingdom innocuous now.
Innocuous: something that does not injure or harm; harmless not controversial, offensive or stimulating; dull and uninspiring.
Focus Point: Do you remember what the King stated in the Constitution of Mark's gospel?
"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is". (Mark 13:33)
We can do nothing until Jesus comes, but keep proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. Keep in mind, this cuts across the fact what Jesus stated after His resurrection. He spoke to His disciples for forty days concerning the Kingdom of God, or as the English Bible puts it, "taught them about the Kingdom of God". Read it for yourself:
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
Please note: Evidently it wasn't a future kingdom with future implications, but a kingdom here and now with implications for now. This I will repeat for emphasis: Remember, Philip and Paul both preached "the kingdom" and "the name of Jesus" as an issue for now.
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Focus Point: The Kingdom of God was an issue then, and it's an issue when they believe the good news; they were all baptized. Have you read what Paul stated:
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 20:25 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
Please note: Paul was proclaiming for a decision now. He spoke urgently of the Kingdom of God, and he sought to convince them about Jesus the Christ. Read what Paul stated and his actions:
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom 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.
Focus Point: He was preaching urgently, and for a decision or verdict concerning the Kingdom, now, not a later time. The decisive word is this "from morning til evening Paul explained the Reign of God to them from personal testimony". Take note: the kingdom was preached to them from personal testimony; then the Kingdom was not just a hope, bound up with Jesus (parousia) meaning His Second Coming. The Kingdom is something to be experienced now, therefore it is an issue now.
Question: My question to all those who read this: What gospel are you preaching? If it is not the Gospel King Jesus preached and taught, then you are preaching the wrong gospel. If you are teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God, then you are in great company.
So the gospel of the Kingdom of God is a vital issue now. It is a head-on and total answer to man's total need, now. What it isn't, is a religious service, tradition, custom or cliche. Never before have we needed to preach the Unshakable Kingdom of God as now. For never were the pillars of civilization so shaken as now. The gospel of the Kingdom is coming back; coming back out of sheer necessity.
Keep in mind, the Kingdom of God is within you in the very laws of your being. It is also among you, in the relationships which we have with others; it is at your door. It is ready to break into you and your relationships and remake you. So, it is all three: within you--among you--and at your door. It is present. Remember what Jesus our King stated:
Constitutional Scripture: Luke 11:20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Innocuous: something that does not injure or harm; harmless not controversial, offensive or stimulating; dull and uninspiring.
Focus Point: Do you remember what the King stated in the Constitution of Mark's gospel?
"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is". (Mark 13:33)
We can do nothing until Jesus comes, but keep proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. Keep in mind, this cuts across the fact what Jesus stated after His resurrection. He spoke to His disciples for forty days concerning the Kingdom of God, or as the English Bible puts it, "taught them about the Kingdom of God". Read it for yourself:
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
Please note: Evidently it wasn't a future kingdom with future implications, but a kingdom here and now with implications for now. This I will repeat for emphasis: Remember, Philip and Paul both preached "the kingdom" and "the name of Jesus" as an issue for now.
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Focus Point: The Kingdom of God was an issue then, and it's an issue when they believe the good news; they were all baptized. Have you read what Paul stated:
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 20:25 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
Please note: Paul was proclaiming for a decision now. He spoke urgently of the Kingdom of God, and he sought to convince them about Jesus the Christ. Read what Paul stated and his actions:
Constitutional Scripture: Acts 28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom 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.
Focus Point: He was preaching urgently, and for a decision or verdict concerning the Kingdom, now, not a later time. The decisive word is this "from morning til evening Paul explained the Reign of God to them from personal testimony". Take note: the kingdom was preached to them from personal testimony; then the Kingdom was not just a hope, bound up with Jesus (parousia) meaning His Second Coming. The Kingdom is something to be experienced now, therefore it is an issue now.
Question: My question to all those who read this: What gospel are you preaching? If it is not the Gospel King Jesus preached and taught, then you are preaching the wrong gospel. If you are teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God, then you are in great company.
So the gospel of the Kingdom of God is a vital issue now. It is a head-on and total answer to man's total need, now. What it isn't, is a religious service, tradition, custom or cliche. Never before have we needed to preach the Unshakable Kingdom of God as now. For never were the pillars of civilization so shaken as now. The gospel of the Kingdom is coming back; coming back out of sheer necessity.
Keep in mind, the Kingdom of God is within you in the very laws of your being. It is also among you, in the relationships which we have with others; it is at your door. It is ready to break into you and your relationships and remake you. So, it is all three: within you--among you--and at your door. It is present. Remember what Jesus our King stated:
Constitutional Scripture: Luke 11:20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Seeking the Kingdom is a priority
