Just for comparison sake, "Repent or Repentance" is only mentioned 22 times, "Save" 38 times, "salvation" 7 times. Not that I'm saying that the Kingdom of God is more important than repentance or salvation. But perhaps we ought to pay more attention to what this Kingdom is all about since it seems to have been one of Jesus's hot topics!
I must honestly tell you that I've never heard a sermon in church about the Kingdom of God. What is this Kingdom? Where is it? Who is in it? And what is its purpose?
We know from Matthew 4:23 that the Gospel is connected to this Kingdom
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
In the beatitudes, Jesus lists numerous qualities of people who will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven
In the Lord's prayer, Jesus tells us to pray for the Kingdom to come here
In Matthew 6 Jesus tells us that we should seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness
We learn in Matthew 8 that apparently people can be cast out of this Kingdom into utter darkness
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.
Jesus said in Matthew 12 that the Kingdom of God had come
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you
Jesus tells several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven which are too many to list here, but give a great illustration of something so wonderful, people give everything to possess it.
Apparently one can inherit this Kingdom
Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Matt 25
Jesus told Pilate that his Kingdom was not of this world and he told the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God was within you.
Apparently, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
The Kingdom of God is "not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14
The Kingdom of God is power! For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
Whee we receive Jesus as Lord we are automatically transferred into this Kingdom
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Collosians 1:13
Apparently, there is something we have to do to be counted worthy of the Kingdom
that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, 2 Thess 1:5
This Kingdom cannot be shaken Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, Hebrews 12
The Kingdom will be a real physical Kingdom on earth
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:15
Who does not inherit the Kingdom?
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
In Summary. Here is what we learned from the above Scriptures
- The Kingdom of God has already come, but it will also come in the future.
- The Kingdom is not of this world system, but will be on the earth one day
- Jesus is the King of this Kingdom and He will rule forever.
- The Kingdom is both within us and will be outside of us in the future.
- The Kingdom is an inheritance given to God's children, but it is also a gift.
- The Kingdom is power and it is righteousness, peace, and joy!
- It is a Kingdom that is spiritual now and will be physical later
- It is a Kingdom not everyone will be apart of and one from which some will be cast away.
- It is a Kingdom we must be found worthy to inherit and go through many tribulations to enter.
- It is a Kingdom we should seek with all our hearts and pray for it to come, yet it is a Kingdom that believers in Christ are already a part of.
- The Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom are inseparable.
I hear lots of salvation messages (And Praise God for it!) But I never hear what we are being saved from or what we are being saved to! I believe if more Christians knew who they were in Christ now (part of His Spiritual Kingdom) and what their inheritance was in the physical Kingdom, they would be more bold about telling others! They'd be more excited about God and the things of God. I'm talking Kingdom stuff here. Kings and Queens and palaces and knights and warriors and princesses and all the pomp and pageantry we all love about Kingdoms!
This is not just the stuff of movies and books. This is our future!!
Thanks for this quick study MaryLu! I agree there aren't enough sermons about what we are saved from and to. Unfortunately in today's world, no one wants to talk about sin and repentance all that much other than to offer the new life. Can't talk about the actual sin, reality of hell, the separation between God and us. There is little need for people to seek salvation if they don't know the danger they are in. How can they repent if they don't know about sin and its result? People need to know so they can recognize their need for a Savior, their need for salvation. Thank you for this message.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by Molly! I couldn't agree with you more. You can't tell people they need to be saved if you don't also tell them what from. So many people here in America and elsewhere don't feel the need for a savior. Their lives are going just fine. They are like blind people walking straight for the edge of a cliff and someone is shouting. "You need to be saved!!" instead of "Stop! You're heading off a cliff!"
DeleteAgain thank you for a thought inspired message. There is so much that we read and do not really take in. I miss my Study Bible,commentaries and etc. while I am down in Georgia. I am relying on my Bible on my IPad but it is not enough for my inquiring mind. I hope you don't mind but I have been sharing and reposting and a few of my friends have read them.
ReplyDeleteI love your messages please keep them coming.
Have a Blessed New Year .
Hi Elsie!! Of course I don't mind.. share away. This blog is not just about me and my books, I want this to be a place where the truth is spoken and it draws people to God. Are you in Georgia on vacation?
DeleteGreat message and so true. Sharing.
ReplyDeleteMaryLu, what an inspiring message and very timely. My pastor has often said that "many think that all they have to do is to be saved and that is their ticket to get into heaven and then go about their lives just as before, not changing their lives in any way at all. But there is so much more to it than that, we must repent and turn our lives over to our Savior and make Him our Lord as well." (he continues on with lots more). You touched on it in your post...I have not heard much preaching on the Kingdom God lately, which is sad. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Tina
Amen Tina.... only half the gospel and a watered-down version of it, is being taught in most churches. Scary.
DeleteSuch a good word. Thank you for digging up these fine scriptures on the Kingdom. It is exciting yet challenging.
ReplyDeleteThe Revelation scripture planted part of a song in my head. It is part of the Hallelujah Chorus...love it! Can you hear it too?
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,
One of my all time favorite songs! And one I believe we will be singing in heaven... love it! Thanks Lori
DeleteI just love your short articles I use them for bible studies. Thank you.. Bonnie B.
ReplyDelete