This world is in desperate need of God’s rule. As small as a seed and as grand as a great dinner party, the kingdom of God grows among us and transforms everyone who embraces it. [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel. This is precisely why Jesus says to the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21). Here’s another shocking thought that may surprise you: The major subject of Jesus’ preaching was not about going to heaven at death. God’s Kingdom would be no part of this world. It should be everyone’s primary goal, the central focus of your life. Get spiritually ready. They will be “kings and priests to our God . He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; an… He wanted all to look to a time of hope, beyond our personal problems, beyond the stressful condition that this world is in. Jesus Teaches About God’s Kingdom. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:14–15). Though his mission was primarily to teach the Israelites, he also reached out to help Samaritans and Gentiles, or non-Jews. Everyone needs to seek God’s Kingdom now. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 9:6-7 [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Schreiner: Two difficulties present themselves in defining the kingdom. American King James Version×). Now that’s a promise! United Church of God is a 501(c)3 organization.  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use. Today, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of God's kingdom that He brought down, is ours to deliver. They rejected Him and despised His gospel of the Kingdom. You’re probably familiar with this one: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. Mar 4:30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? Perhaps a similar question comes to your mind. Jesus preached that same message from the very beginning of his own ministry (Matt. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 [50] Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. He was not implying that his reign had nothing to do with the world, but that his dominion came not from any earthly human, but from God. Copyright © 2020 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Humanity will at last see a world of peace, a world with happiness, a world with clear purpose. So don’t wait. Can you imagine it? In death, Jesus went from the messenger bringing the good news of God's kingdom to the king who would reign over it. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. So how will you endure? But just in case you’re tempted to think that the Kingdom of God is something that is off in the future or only exists in eternity, Jesus told people that the Kingdom of God was already at hand in his time. That’s when the Kingdom will truly be in the midst of all mankind! The Greek phrase entos humon, translated “within you,” would be more accurately translated “in your midst” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “Within”). The Kingdom of God was plainly not in the hearts of the Pharisees who withstood Christ, many even wanting to kill Him! Through stories and images, Jesus teaches that God's presence among us-his powerful reign-is both mighty and quiet, both welcoming and demanding. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15 Mark 1:14-15 [14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Christ was definitely not saying that the Kingdom of God was in them! If you truly want the future that Jesus proclaimed, you must begin living by its terms today! But what did they do? 1. Numerous scriptures plainly record the clear message that "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying… the kingdom of God is at hand. So is God! As the prophet Daniel had written: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. It was no accident that Jesus spoke about the Kingdom more than any other subject. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. This isn’t just good news, it’s great news—and the only hope for a world that’s rushing straightforward to destruction! Jesus was designated King. He himself said: “I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth.” (Luke 4:43) Consider four things that Jesus taught about that Kingdom, the central theme of his preaching. "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases among the people. Jesus Himself described His purpose and the message He brought: “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent” (Luke 4:43 Luke 4:43 And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. He is also an instructor at Ambassador Bible College as well as a host on the Beyond Today television program. The big switcheroo…. When we understand the thrust of Jesus’ message about the Kingdom of God, we understand better why He made the statement in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” He tells us to seek first the Kingdom because the Kingdom of God was His primary message. Jesus Preached the Message of the Kingdom. You might be surprised to find that His gospel message wasn’t just “Invite Me into your heart and be saved.” It’s also startling to realize that He didn’t say you’ll go to live with Him in heaven when you die. The prophet Isaiah was also inspired to write many prophecies about the Kingdom of God. You can have a different life, a better life, right now—living the way your Creator designed you to live! Take His message to heart and “believe the gospel.” Be dedicated and make the choice to be fully committed. At the heart of this theme is the idea of God’s messianic kingdom. For this reason, Jesus rejected the use of worldly fighting to achieve his purposes. Drawing on Old Testament teachings, the Christian characterization of the relationship between God and humanity inherently involves the notion of the Kingship of God. (John 6:14, 15) He told one politician: “My kingdom is no part of this world.” (John 18:36) To his followers, he said: “You are no part of the world.” (John 15:19) He would not allow them to use weapons of war, even to defend him personally.—Matthew 26:51, 52. “He went . . . Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God constantly. Jesus repeatedly referred to the Kingdom of God as “the kingdom of the heavens.”* (Matthew 4:17; 5:3, 10, 19, 20) God’s Kingdom… It’s not about going to heaven at death. Instead, He taught that people must believe that He would come again and establish God’s government. What Jesus was telling them was that as the King of the Kingdom of God, He was right there in their midst expounding His message and doing the work of the Kingdom.  Together, he and his wife, Kathe, have served God and His people for over 25 years. Obviously, John the Baptist and Jesus meant something more about this concept of the kingdom of God. He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Many people know the Lord’s Prayer. Just imagine it! First, your life must be guided by a goal, a godly vision of the future. The Kingdom of God (and its related form the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew) is one of the key elements of the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. If you’re to endure the troubles that lie ahead, it’s going to require spiritual strength. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27 Daniel 7:27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.American King James Version×). And 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, and it shall stand for ever. Many think the gospel message is solely about Jesus as Savior. The central message of Jesus: The Kingdom of God There is a unanimous agreement today among all theologians and exegetes that the main topic and the central message of Jesus was the Kingdom of God. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Answer: Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33). Imagine that! They outright rejected Him and His return as King! American King James Version×). Can you explain it? His message was the good news of the Kingdom of God. There will be no more crooked rule, no more fraudulent systems of men. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Some have equated it with heaven, saying the kingdom is the place where we go when we die. When you begin to understand, you’ll find it jumps out at you throughout the Bible. (Matthew 11:28-30) He lived up to his word. What is the meaning of the phrase: “Let your Kingdom come”? Jesus is the kingdom. Are you sick and tired of the evil world we live in? [21] Neither shall they say, See here! Central to the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ was this message of the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven, as Matthew called it. God gives eternal life to those who will live and reign with Christ in the coming Kingdom. When will Christ return and establish the Kingdom of God? Jesus and the Kingdom of God Please do me a favor right now: Please bookmark the main Jesus and the Kingdom Bible Study page so you can find it again easily. This Kingdom is the focus of Jesus’ message, yet it has often been misunderstood or even ignored. His first public message was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." or, see there! TERMS OF USE Jesus' parables centered on the nature of the Kingdom of God. Would you like to read this article in %%? “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ʹHere it is,ʹ or ʹThere it is,ʹ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20b‐21, NIV) “For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the Introduction. As followers of Jesus, however, we don’t just proclaim the message of the Gospel. Jesus will finally put an end to war and other violence, starvation, disease and every other form of suffering. It is the message about God’s redemptive work accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Since God rules over all creation, the Kingdom exists now in part, but Christ looked beyond today to a time when the entire world will be submitted to God’s rule! . Now let’s think about that for a moment. Jesus primarily taught about the kingdom in parables and these parables must be read in the context of the Jewish hopes and expectations. No wonder Christ constantly taught about it! Did you know that Jesus did something powerful after the crucifixion and resurrection that emphasized the importance of His teaching about the Kingdom of God? 3. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. Still others have seen the kingdom of God as simply ethics, Jesus’s announcement i… God’s Kingdom would promote true justice. The Kingdom and our place in it was right at the heart of Jesus’ message: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 Matthew 6:33But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.American King James Version×). But yes, “…the kingdom of God is within you” doesn’t appear anywhere else except Luke… In His shocking prophecy of Matthew 24, He tells us He will intervene at a time when this world is in crisis, “a time of great distress, such as there has never been before since the beginning of the world, and will never be again,” when conditions will be so terrible that “if the time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive” (verses 21-22, Revised English Bible). What would you say is the central message Jesus taught? First, since the kingdom is nowhere defined in the Scriptures, people tend to pour in their own meaning. From it, a tree grows. 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