Part 2
A few weeks ago, I began to share on what I consider to be one of the least understood and yet most fundamental components of the Gospel. The Kingdom of God provides a framework to understanding all the other aspects of redemption.
(Missed Part 1, read it here.)
The Kingdom of God is God’s big picture initiated in the garden, disrupted by the fall, and reinstated and restored through the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. The climax will take place when Jesus sits as King over the new heavens and the new earth. Between Jesus first and second coming, His Church has been given a mandate to extend the Kingdom of God by preaching and teaching this message, discipling the nations and demonstrating the love and power of heaven.
In the garden of Eden God created a man and a woman who were formed in His image and given a mandate to exercise dominion over all the earth. This couple was a prototype of God’s plan and purpose. Adam and Eve were image bearers, stamped with God’s very own identity, free from shame, fear and guilt. They walked and talked with God, operated in heaven’s authority and had everything they could possibly need or desire. Everything was good until they began to doubt God’s integrity, causing them to rebel against their God and Father. Their one act of sin caused the whole earth to fall under the curse of sin and death.
During the years from Adam to Christ, God repeatedly tried to reintroduce mankind to His original plan. Abraham enjoyed a covenant relationship with God based on faith and grace. God promised to make him a great nation and bless him to be a blessing. Later on, in Exodus, God declared His plan for all of the people of Israel to be Kings and Priests before God. (Exodus 19:5-6) God’s plan was simple. He wanted a people, walking in relationship, following His prescription for abundant life, and demonstrating His power and kindness to all the other people on the earth.
Finally, through Jesus Christ’s life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, the ultimate payment for sin was made through His perfect sacrifice. The sin problem was dealt with! Then a new day was inaugurated when Jesus defeated the power of death by rising from the dead. The power of sin, death and the devil were finally overthrown. The curse had been put in reverse. Now because of Christ's absolute victory over evil the stage was set for God to push the reset button on his original plan.
Finally, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. God came to make His home in people once again. The payment for sin had been made, righteousness was available, and the revolution had begun.
For the last 2000 years, God has been working to restore this world and its inhabitants back to Eden, back to the Garden of God. The Kingdom has come. Now, as God’s sons and daughters, we have been given the incredible mandate and privilege of extending God’s Kingdom on the earth.
Grace and the Kingdom
A revival of grace is taking place across the world. Thousands of believers who love Jesus but were trapped in legalism are suddenly beginning to understand that God is good, that they are eternally forgiven and made righteous solely on the basis of faith in what Jesus has done. Good News! The Good News that every person needs to understand and experience. Believers are throwing off the shackles of the bondage produced by living under law and are coming into the freedom of the children of God.
The word repent in the new testament is a compound Greek word (Metanoia) ‘meta’ meaning after or according to and ‘noia’ which means to perceive or think. Repentance as used in the new testament is literally “a radical transformation of your thoughts and beliefs which cause you to see and live your life from a new vantage point.” Repentance has to do not only with what you change your mind from but what you change it to.
Many believers are embracing the truth of grace and the finished work but are not going a step further to embrace what Jesus called the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The kingdom of God is the realm which every believer has available to them through the finished work of Christ. In this realm every need is met and righteousness, peace and joy in Holy Spirit reigns (Rom 14:17) The kingdom of God is not just the realm of talk and intellectualism but of power and transformed living. (1 Cor 4:20) The kingdom is the realm where Jesus is Lord and those who enter submit to His Word, His ways and His wisdom. The kingdom is for disciples not just converts. The kingdom is for those who want to see not only personal change but also change in their neighborhoods, cities and nations.
As members and citizens our call is enter into this internal realm called the kingdom, partake of its provision and then begin to export these benefits and freedom to the world around us. The message of the kingdom is that here and not only in the future Jesus reigns and the kingdom has come. God is setting things right and it starts with you and me.
It is absolutely essential that we grasp the grace given to us. However, unless we have an outlet we will implode, and unless we embrace the purpose of grace, we can become self-centered. The message of grace must join with the message of the kingdom of God or it will lose its scriptural power and mandate.
Therefore, since we are receiving a KINGDOM which cannot be shaken, let us have GRACE, by which we [may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Heb 12:28
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the KINGDOM.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8-10
But whether I live or die is not important, for I don’t esteem my life as indispensable.[a] It’s more important for me to fulfill my destiny and to finish the ministry my Lord Jesus has assigned to me, which is to faithfully preach the WONDERFUL NEWS OF GOD’S GRACE. 25 I’ve been a part of your lives and shared with you many times the MESSAGE OF GODS KINGDOM REALM. Acts 20:25-26
Living in the Tension
There is a tension of living life within the reality that the kingdom is here with us but will only be fully experienced when Jesus comes again. Embracing both aspects of the kingdom message will keep you from falling into the ditch on either side.
Many falsely assume because the kingdom has come that this means a political kingdom of God on the earth. There are plenty of examples throughout history of the abuse and hurt this has made. Another ditch is pushing all the promises into the future and settling for a weak and powerless brand of Christianity. I believe most of us settle for the later…
So where is the balance? To stay true to scripture we must understand that the gospel of the kingdom proclaims both the present and the future reign of King Jesus. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is also the future coming king who will establish true justice on the earth.
Until that time, we are called to live in the provision and victory of the kingdom while we expand the kingdom through preaching the gospel, demonstrating compassion, making disciples even as we look forward to and usher in the return of Jesus.
-Nate Tanner