Monday, November 6, 2017

The Good News About Coming Kingdom Of God

Jesus the Messiah and the apostles preached the gospel! Jesus commanded in Mark 1:15, Repent you, and believe the gospel.” But exactly what is it that we supposed to believe? Just what is the true gospel? Do you know? Are you certain?

Here is more of Mark’s account: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (1:14). This is the gospel Jesus preached. It was in this very same context that He said, “Repent you and believe the gospel” (vs. 15). Which gospel? Of the “Kingdom of God.” Verse 1 in Mark 1 refers to this

message when it states, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus God's anointed one.” The gospel of Jesus the Messiah is about the Kingdom of God; not something else! One must believe the gospel about the coming Kingdom of God as your future depends on believing the good news about the coming Kingdom of God.

Notice: Luke 8:11-12: Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Did you catch that one must believe the word of God in order to believe and be saved!

Notice that Matthew defines what "the word of God" and "the word" mentioned in Luke 8:11-12 is:

Matthew 12:19: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.

So the "word of God" and "the word" in Luke 8:12-12 is "the word of the kingdom" which is the only message that Jesus proclaimed. Everything that he preached was to prepare people to believe and enter into the coming kingdom of God.

This subject is so important that God inspired the apostle Paul to warn the Galatians then and us now: “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace
of God's anointed one unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of God's anointed one. [Understand. The gospel - God's anointed one's message - can be perverted!] 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. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed” (1:6-9).

This is a blunt statement and strong warning to all who will heed! Tragically, almost all have not heeded. A little later, in chapter 2, verse 5, Paul stressed his hope that the “truth of the gospel might continue with you.” So there is one true gospel - all others are false! I did not
say that - God did, through Jesus and Paul.

Although some assert that Paul taught a different or additional gospel, it is plain that he never did. Ironically, God used Paul to warn against ever allowing such false teaching by pronouncing a curse on any man or angel who violates this command. Remember, “But though we [apostles]… preach any other gospel… let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

What a powerful scripture and warning!

Paul explained that the apostles were entrusted by God to preserve the true gospel about the coming Kingdom of God. Notice I Thessalonians 2:4: “But as we [apostles] were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts.”

This is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. True ministers must always teach what God commands not what pleases men (including Bible “scholars”). Any claim that Paul taught a different or second gospel (usually thought to be about Christ or some separate idea about “peace” or “grace”) is impossible. Had he done this, he would literally have been pronouncing a curse on himself!

Did you know that Jesus was foretold to bring the gospel? In the Old Testament, Jesus was prophesied to come as a messenger. Notice Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send My messenger

[typed by John the Baptist in the first century], and he shall prepare the way before Me [God's anointed one the Messiah]: and the lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in…”

God's anointed one, the Messiah is the “Messenger” of the gospel about the coming Kingdom of God, he is not the message itself. Now compare the passage in Malachi with another: “The law and the prophets were until John [the Baptist - only Old Testament

scriptures had been preached previously]: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man [who chooses] presses into it” (Luke 16:16).

Remember that in Mark, Jesus preached the Kingdom of God and called it the gospel.

The word gospel comes from the Old English term “god-spell” or good news. The word kingdom also derives from an Old English term that simply means “government.” Therefore, it is accurate to say God's anointed one, the Messiah preached “the good news of the government of God.”

You can know the who, what, where, when, why and how of this good news, and how it relates to the Bible’s very greatest prophecy. The Kingdom of God is the dominant theme of not only the New Testament but also of the whole Bible. Incredibly, most know little or nothing of it. This world’s ministers seem to be oblivious to this gospel and seldom if ever preach about it. Therefore, virtually the whole world stands in complete ignorance of the single greatest truth in God’s Revelation!

All God’s Prophets Preached the Kingdom The book of Acts contains an extraordinary

statement from the apostle Peter. Let’s read it: “Repent you therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord. And He shall send Jesus His anointed one, which before was preached unto you: whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution [or restoring] of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21).

Notice that Peter refers to the coming of God's anointed one (vs. 19) as “the presence of the Lord,” meaning He will be back on Earth. Verse 20 states that God “shall send Jesus the Messiah.” Verse 21 describes God’s Kingdom as the “restitution of all things.” Peter stated that this “restitution” (the Messiah establishing His Kingdom) is something “God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (vs. 21).

Did not God actually use all of His prophets to announce His Kingdom? Indeed His did! Bible scholars and religionists ignore this knowledge and even reject it without examination.

Let’s review just a few examples:

In fact, let’s start with the period before the Flood. The apostle Jude, Jesus’ brother, stated, “Enoch [Noah’s great-grandfather]…prophesied… saying, Behold, the lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all…” (vs. 14-15). These verses clearly refer to God's anointed one, the Messiah establishing a world-ruling government.

The Bible calls Enoch a “preacher of righteousness” (w Peter 2:5). Including Abel, there were six other men who previously held this role, with their lives spanning the entire period between Adam and the Flood.

All of them spoke the same message. Remember, Peter said, “since the world began” (Acts 3:21). Is there evidence the gospel was preached in the period following the Flood? In Genesis 12:3, God said to Abraham, “…in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” this verse is also referenced in Galatians 3:8, but is phrased a little differently: “… In you shall all nations be blessed.” This verse also states that the gospel was “preached…unto Abraham.”

This is fascinating understanding! Not only did Abraham have the gospel preached to him (probably by Melchizedek), but it is also preached in Genesis through the writings of Moses! Ask: how could all nations be blessed unless God's anointed one, the Messiah establishes his government on Earth where the nations are?

Moses was the first man God raised up to lead ancient Israel. As both a prophet and judge, he preached the gospel to Israel in the wilderness. Acts 3:24 references Samuel, also a prophet, as having preached the gospel. Notice: “All the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these days.”

These are powerful statements that cannot be glossed over. This verse says, “All God’s prophets…as many as have spoken…foretold of these days”! King David preached the Kingdom of God! He recorded, “…for You [God] shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth” (Psalm 67:4). This obviously refers to God’s coming supergovernment. Nations are on Earth, not in heaven!

Notice what the prophet Isaiah wrote: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty Hero, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever” (9:6-7). This prophecy is so obvious it needs no explanation!

Now the prophet Jeremiah: “Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch and that King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely [neither of these taking place now]: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, the lord our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6). These verses also need no explanation.

Ezekiel wrote this of Israel’s descendants alive today: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (36:24).

The next 10 verses describe a period of rebuilding and national prosperity that can only happen after the Messiah's Return. They are unmistakably clear.

Did the prophet Daniel preach the Kingdom of God? The Bible answers: “In the days of these kings 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 [of men], and it shall stand forever” (2:44).

All the so-called minor prophets also recorded the gospel of the Kingdom of God in one way or another. God’s Servants Preached the Same Message. Remember, the phrase “the gospel of the kingdom of God” is not the only proper way of describing this coming government! Peter wrote: “God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” until the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21).

An important point from this verse. It says, “God has spoken…” The gospel of the Kingdom of God is a message from God. It should be clear that God speaks through whatever kind of servant He is using—prophet, patriarch, judge, deacon, preacher of righteousness, king, apostle or pastor!

His servants always spoke the same message! The word gospel is found over 100 times in the Bible. Sometimes it is found alone, and sometimes “of the kingdom” follows it. Other times, it includes “of the kingdom of God,” or the equivalent phrase “of the kingdom of heaven.” Note that it says “of heaven,” not in heaven.” It is heaven’s Kingdom, and there is a big difference between the two. Grasp this crucial point!

Throughout the New Testament, the word “kingdom” is found 27 times, “kingdom of God” 75 times, and “kingdom of heaven” 34 times. All are clearly one and the same. Paul preached the Kingdom of God to the Gentiles, yet some believe he preached to them a “different” gospel again, unaware that it was Paul who pronounced a curse on anyone who did this. However, he did not neglect the subject of Jesus roll in the salvation process.

First, Acts 19:8 establishes which gospel he preached: “And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” In many of his epistles, Paul taught the Kingdom to Gentile congregations. His message was always the same. He continually preached, taught and referred to the Kingdom of God. He wrote, “I have gone preaching the kingdom of God…repentance toward God, and faith toward our lord Jesus Messiah” (Acts 20:25, 21). He preached the same gospel to both Jew and gentile. Finally, let’s read this last recorded picture of Paul’s life: “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, AND teaching those things which concern the lord Jesus the Messiah…” (28:30-31).

Luke, who was the writer of Acts, differentiates between preaching about the Kingdom of God and preaching about Jesus God's anointed one! While both are vitally important, they are clearly two separate subjects!

The deacon Philip also preached both in Acts: “But when they believed Philip…concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus God's anointed one, they were baptized, both men and women” (8:12). Philip differentiated between the Kingdom of God and God's anointed one Jesus. Remember, the messenger is not the message.

Notice that those in Samaria were baptized only after “they believed” the right message. Also, Jesus’ name was taught as all-important as to it's meaning, but as additional understanding. Jesus is not the gospel. However, He does stand directly alongside the true
gospel and, as head of God’s Kingdom on Earth under the Father, will rule the entire Earth with the saints co-ruling with him! after he returns to establish it. Do not lose sight of this!

The apostle Paul further distinguishes between the gospel and the person of Jesus God's anointed one in this powerful warning: “For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached…or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians11:4). Paul wanted the Corinthians to reject false teachers and hold to what he had taught them. The point here is Paul distinguishes between the teaching of a false Jesus and that of a false gospel. These are and always have been separate errors.

Some get confused when reading I Corinthians 15:1-4, thinking Paul contradicts himself by stating that “the gospel…[is] how that God's anointed one Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day.” Careful reading will make clear “the gospel” reference in verse 1 is not connected to Jesus’ death for our sins and his burial, referenced in verses 3 and 4. When correctly understood, rather than saying Jesus is the gospel which would contradict all other passages on the subject this passage confirms the opposite, and supports all the scriptures we have covered.

Since Jesus preached “repent and believe the gospel,” it should now be clear why. His role must always be preached alongside the Kingdom of God and the part he will play in it. One cannot enter the Kingdom unless he understands and accepts that “God's anointed one Jesus died for our sins” and that person has repented of his sins.

What evidence is there that other New Testament writers preached the same message? A great deal! All the Apostles Preached This Same Gospel. The apostle Peter also preached the Kingdom of God: “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our lord and savior Jesus the Messiah” (2 Peter 1:11). So did the apostle James: “Hearken, my beloved brethren, has not God chosen the poor of this world
rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to them that love Him?” (2:5).

Matthew’s account mentions the phrase “gospel of the kingdom” three times. Notice one: “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (9:35). In most of His parables, Jesus taught the basics of the Kingdom of God. Matthew alone makes over 50 references to it. Luke records what Jesus the Messiah
commissioned his disciples to preach: “Then He called His twelve disciples together…And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God…” (9:1-2). Soon after, He sent 70 others to preach, and they also carried the message of the “kingdom of God” (10:1, 9).

Being Preached Today In the Matthew 24 and 25 Olivet Prophecy, Jesus was asked about the events that would be the signs of His return and of “the end of the world [age]” (24:3). He foretold certain trends and conditions that would occur first. In verse 14, He also stated, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Make no mistake! Jesus God's anointed one will soon return to Earth and establish his Kingdom. It will ultimately reign over the entire Earth - all nations - and the resurrected saints those who have qualified to rule with God's anointed one and shall co-rule with Him.

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