READ: Acts 8:14-40
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he was heralding the Gospel about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the Messiah, they were being baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the gospel of Jesus…The eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
AB footnote, Acts 8:35.
In the NT [the gospel of Jesus] always means both the Gospel of the Kingdom as Jesus preached it and the facts about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Talking Points
- To get baptized you must have heard, understood the gospel of (not just about) Jesus;
- This all starts with the parable of the sower in order to be “born again,” from above.
- Then ask yourself at least these 2 key questions:
- What does the NT mean by the Gospel?
- What does the Bible as a whole mean by the Kingdom of God?
- Anything else = "another Jesus,” I.e., “God-man”; “another gospel," e.g., Past (preterist),
- Present (Millennial Kingdom Now), “Already Not Yet" (most Postmill)!
- Readings: Dan 2;7; Ps 2; Isa 11;
Introduction
- Jesus Purpose Driven Life (Luke 4:43) was not sent/commissioned to preach: “the kingdom is under construction”; “the kingdom is spiritual,” in your heart; “the kingdom is your country,” “one nation under God”; or “the kingdom of God is” here or spreading.
- Jesus did not change the fundamental definition of the kingdom as envisioned, proclaimed, warned about and promised by the OT prophets: i.e., the restoration of Israel, the throne of David, and the people of God ruling the nations, ultimate peace on earth.
READ: Dan 2:37-45; 7; Ps 2; Isa. 11.
- The prophecies define the kingdom as the worldwide government of God, ruled by a glorified human person, the son of man = His unique, anointed Son.
- The kingdom comes suddenly, abruptly not in stages let alone human effort, USA or UN.
- Jesus in Luke 17:22-36 and Paul in 1 Thess. 5:1-10, stress that the kingdom arrives like lightning, flood, fire, or a stone crushing the kingdoms of this world—not like some long, drawn out building project.
Christian/Kingdom Living Now
- Christian or Kingdom Living now, must not be confused with the future Kingdom on earth;
- Jesus and the apostles consistently, primarily talk about the Kingdom as yet future to us, e.g., we enter, inherit, that is possess the kingdom at the parousia.
Matthew 25:34
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, and inherit the Kingdom which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Now I say this to you, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; the perishable does not inherit the imperishable.
- Jesus taught us to pray, “May Your Kingdom come,” not, “May Your Kingdom keep growing in our hearts” or in this present evil age, Matthew 6:10;
- Galatians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God who is the Father and from our lord Jesus Messiah, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
(Matt. 19:28; Mark 9:47; Luke 22:18; Luke 22:29-30; Acts 1:6-7; Acts 3:21; Acts 14:22; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:21; 2 Tim. 4:1; Jas. 2:5; 2 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:4-6).
What About?
- The few texts that speak of the Kingdom in a present sense, such as Col. 1:13 and Rom. 14:17, must be understood in their wider prophetic context.
- Paul’s point is that Christians have already been rescued from this present evil age so they live now as kingdom people now.
- Romans 14:17 likewise describes the same Christian living for those who expect to inherit that coming Kingdom.
- The Kingdom itself remains future, to be established at Jesus’ return, when judgment, peace, and the reign of the saints over the nations will become reality. Until then, believers endure trials as they await entry into that Kingdom.
- The NT also sometimes uses what is called a futuristic or prophetic present, speaking of an event so certain that it is regarded as already in the process of coming to pass. This is similar to the more familiar prophetic past, where future events are spoken of in the past tense because they are certain to occur.
- For example, in his communion service (Matt. 26:28, Jesus says, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins”;
- The future judgment (Matt. 3:10, where John the Baptist says, “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”);
- And in Matt. 23:13 Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for shutting the Kingdom of heaven in people’s faces, not allowing “those entering to go in,” cp. Luke 16:16; Heb. 6:5.
- For more 2022 kogmissions conference: https://youtu.be/A6Oa2M53Ffo?si=elbX80o6FGWcX6w_
- Right now we have the foretaste, firstfruits, and spirit as down payment but we do not yet possess the Kingdom itself in its concrete, prophetic form.
Ephesians 1:13 In him, when you heard the word of the truth — the Gospel of your salvation — you believed it and were sealed in him with the holy spirit of the promise, 14 which is a down-payment on our inheritance, until we acquire possession of that inheritance, to the praise of His glory.
Hebrews 2:7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 and You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him. (Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5; Col. 1:13).
- Therefore, we are waiting to inherit the Kingdom and rule with Jesus at the parousia and resurrection, when all things will finally be subjected under God’s appointed Messiah.
1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will reign as kings with him. If we renounce him, he will renounce us.
(Dan. 7:27; Matt. 24:30-31; Luke 19:11-12, 15; Heb. 2:5; Rev. 2:26-27; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 20:4-6).
Acts 14:22: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
- Recommended Readings
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