The Gospel of Jesus Christ (19) The Gospel of the Kingdom of God (1)

​“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”” (Mk 1:14-15)
 
Review
For about the past 5 months, we’ve talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul summarized what the gospel is all about in the first passage of the book of Romans. He said,
 
 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God - the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures  regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rm 1:1-4)
 
Here, we find three important things to know about the gospel. First, the gospel was promised before Jesus was born through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. In the Old Testament, we find a lot of symbols, events, figures, and prophecies that indicate the coming of the Messiah and His ministry. That’s the reason Jesus said that all the Scriptures are really about Him.
 
What we know from this is God’s providence, power, and wisdom, which transcend our understanding. Jesus didn’t come and die by chance. Every part of His life, including His birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, was carefully planned out by God for our salvation and accomplished at the time He set.
 
Second, the gospel is about God’s Son, who had an earthly life like us and was a descendant of David. The Word that existed even before the creation of the world and through which all things were made came to the world in human form.
 
Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, which showed that He was both perfectly God and perfectly human, and that He was the only person without sin and thus was the only One who could save the whole world from sin and death. Jesus was also a descendant of David, which fulfilled God's promise that the Messiah would come from the line of King David.
 
Lastly, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. He died, enduring severe pain on the cross to pay the price for our sins. But God raised Him from the dead, showing that Jesus’ work of salvation on the cross was complete and that there  is eternal life after death, which we may also have.
 
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
These are the things we’ve talked about regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s very important for us to stand on the truth as Christians. However, there’s one more important subject we need to cover regarding the gospel, which is the kingdom of God. In fact, the kingdom of God was the purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
They can’t be separated from each other. Instead, they go hand in hand. It could be dangerous and misleading if we try to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ without the kingdom of God.
 
 If we only understand the gospel as individual salvation from sin and death, we will end up neglecting the privileges and responsibilities we have as people of God's kingdom. We may be satisfied with the fact that we’re saved, but we will find ourselves living without regard for the kingdom of God, which would be contrary to Jesus’ command to “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Mt 6:33)
 
So, for us to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ more deeply and to live it out in our lives, we need to know what the kingdom of God is and how it’s closely related to the gospel. That’s what I want us to think about for the next few months.
 
How, then, can we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ from the kingdom perspective and vice versa? The relationship between the kingdom of God and the gospel is clearly stated by Jesus Himself. In today’s passage, Jesus said,
 
“The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15)
 
This is what Jesus first proclaimed as He started His ministry in earnest. What was Jesus’ primary concern in this verse? What was at the center of His heart? What did He strive so hard for? What did He lay down His life for? People often think it's the salvation of our souls. Others think it's our love for one another. Some others may think it's the revival and growth of His church in the world.
 
These are all correct. He died to save us from our sin and death. By laying down His life on the cross, Jesus demonstrated the kind of love He has for us so that we may also love one another with His love. That was the greatest command Jesus gave us. Jesus also wants us to be witnesses of His grace and proclaimers of the gospel so that people around the world can be saved. That’s what the greatest commandment is about.
 
Of course, there's nothing wrong with those ideas, but still, there was a bigger picture in Jesus' heart that was both related to and beyond those things. The Bible says it so clearly: it's the Kingdom of God.
 
There is little disagreement among biblical scholars that the kingdom of God was a central theme of Jesus' preaching. The phrase “kingdom of God” appears 39 times in the Synoptic Gospels: twice in John, and 37 times in Matthew, along with the phrase “kingdom of heaven.”
 
In other words, almost every time Jesus taught, He was talking about the kingdom of God, either directly or indirectly. In the gospels, we find many sermons about the kingdom of God in which Jesus taught what the kingdom of God is, where it is, who could enter it, and its characteristics. The kingdom of God is also one of the central themes of the Lord’s prayer, which He taught His disciples to pray.
 
The Bible says that after being raised from the dead, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples and spent 40 days with them before ascending to heaven. What do you think Jesus taught the disciples during that time?
 
If you were told you only had 40 days left to live, what would you do in that time? What would you say to your loved ones? The things you do and say during this time would be the things that matter most to you. But what did Jesus do during this time? Surprisingly, Jesus was still talking about the “kingdom of God,” which means that His mind was filled with visions and thoughts about the kingdom of God from the very beginning to these final moments
 
Acts 1:3 says, “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Ac 1:3)
 
But the disciples still didn’t understand what the kingdom of God really is. So they asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
 
The disciples seemed to think that the kingdom of God was the same thing as the kingdom of Israel. It is understandable for them to think that way because Jesus' disciples and all the Jews of that time believed the Messiah would restore Israel. The disciples thought that Jesus would restore the kingdom of Israel with the wisdom and power by which He had been raised from the dead.
 
But, to correct their idea about the kingdom of God, Jesus told them,
 
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” (Ac 1:7)
 
Here, Jesus is not denying the restoration of Israel. He likely had in mind the restoration of the spiritual nation of Israel, where not only Jews but all people on earth could have citizenship through their faith in Him.
 
But Jesus said that now was not the time to be concerned with that. He was leaving the timing of the restoration of Israel to God. Instead, He continued,
 
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Ac 1:8)
 
Jesus told them to be His witnesses, but not just to Israel, not just to Jerusalem and Judea, but to Samaria and all the nations and people on the earth. By doing so, Jesus broadened their concept of the kingdom of God—from Israel to the ends of the earth.
 
What Jesus envisioned was the unity of Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles from the ends of the earth, all coming together under God’s presence and sovereignty.
 
Then, what did the disciples do after receiving Jesus' command? According to the book of Acts, after the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they went out into the world and spread the good news of Jesus.
 
What's interesting is that Acts calls what the disciples preached “the kingdom of God”. One of the disciples, Philip, went to Samaria and started to preach the gospel. What’s interesting is that Acts 8:12 says that Philip preached about the kingdom of God. It says,
 
“When they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Ac 8:12)
 
I really wonder what Philip preached about the kingdom of God, but the Bible doesn’t reveal that part.
 
When Paul was in Ephesus teaching in the synagogue for three months, the main subject of his teaching was also the kingdom of God. Acts 19:8 says,
 
“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.” (Ac 19:8)
 
After his third mission trip, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and transferred to Rome because he appealed to Caesar. In Rome, Paul was under house arrest for two years. He stayed there in his own rented house. Even though he was not free to leave, he could welcome everyone who visited him.
 
And this is what Paul did during those two years. The last verse of the book of Acts says,
 
“He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Ac 28:31)
 
So, we can say that the kingdom of God was the vision that was at the center of Jesus' mind and the vision that captivated His early followers, including the apostles. Then, if we believe in Jesus and want to follow Him as His disciples, what's most important to Him should be most important to us.
 
If the kingdom of God was at the center of His every teaching and the gospel, our lives must also be based on the kingdom of God. We’re to remember that the reason Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead was not only to forgive our sins and save us from death but also to reconcile us with God so that we may truly be people of His kingdom who seek His will and His righteousness first.
 
What Is the Kingdom of God?
There are some important questions we need to have answers to in order to understand the kingdom of God, such as, “What is the kingdom of God?” “Where is the kingdom of God?” “When will the kingdom of God come true?” These are the questions I want us to think about as we discuss the kingdom of God together.
 
Let’s start with the first question. What is the kingdom of God? We've all heard about the kingdom of God as Christians. But, despite its importance, it seems that there are not many Christians who really understand what it is. That’s because there are some misunderstandings about the kingdom of God. 
 
So, let me ask you a question. What do you think the kingdom of God is? What is the first thought or concept that comes to mind when you hear the words “kingdom of God”?
 
The kingdom of God is also called the kingdom of heaven in the Bible. There’s no difference between the two terms. But, the term “kingdom of God” is used much more frequently throughout the New Testament than the expression “the kingdom of heaven,” which is only used in the gospel of Matthew.
 
So, I think the term “the kingdom of God” is more appropriate to use than the kingdom of heaven, not only because “the kingdom of God” is more widely used in the Bible, but also because I think the term conveys what the kingdom refers to more than “the kingdom of heaven.”
 
So then, why did Matthew use the term “the kingdom of heaven” instead of “the kingdom of God”?
 
Many theologians guess that it was because the original readers of his gospel were Jews, and it was a common practice among the Jews to use the word “heaven” instead of “God” because they didn’t want to directly refer to God.
 
Thus, even though Matthew used “heaven” when he referred to the kingdom of God, he likely didn't use the term to indicate where the kingdom is located. To Matthew, “heaven” was simply an alternative word for God. The Jews at that time would’ve thought that way too. So, whenever you find the expression “kingdom of heaven” in Matthew, you can always read it as “kingdom of God.”
 
Although there’s nothing wrong with using the term “the kingdom of heaven,” the reason I’m explaining this is because the word “heaven” can cause misunderstandings about the kingdom of God.
 
Even though the expression “kingdom of heaven” only appears in the book of Matthew and the rest of the Bible uses the phrase “kingdom of God,” it seems that many Christians tend to use the term “the kingdom of heaven” more frequently than “the kingdom of God,” especially Korean Christians.
 
One of the problems this can cause is that we may think that heaven is the only place where the kingdom of God is located. Again, Matthew didn’t use the word “heaven” to indicate where the kingdom is but as an alternative word for God.
 
But it seems that many Christians understand “heaven” as the place where the kingdom of God is located. From their understanding of the kingdom of God, it is a spiritual realm where only their souls go after death.
 
That’s not what Jesus taught about the kingdom of God. If we carefully read what He said about the kingdom of God in the four gospels, we’ll understand how it is different from that concept of the kingdom of God.
 
The kingdom of God that Jesus taught is not a place we should go, but something we should welcome here on earth. Again, Jesus proclaimed at the beginning of His ministry,
 
“The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15)
 
Jesus didn’t say, “Believe the good news to go to the kingdom of God.” We should repent and believe the gospel not to go to heaven but because the kingdom has already come with Jesus Christ.
 
When Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, some Pharisees said that He was only able to drive out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
 
And this is what Jesus said to them:
“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?…  But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt 12:26, 28).
 
Here, Jesus again used the word “come” rather than “go” regarding the kingdom of God.
 
In Luke 17, some Pharisees came to Jesus and asked when the kingdom of God would come. And Jesus answered,
 
“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Lk 17:20-21)
 
These are some important verses that show what the kingdom of God is. The Bible doesn’t depict the kingdom of God as a spiritual place somewhere in heaven which only our souls enter after death like some Christians believe.
 
Rather, the biblical kingdom of God started to be built here on earth in earnest with the coming of Jesus. And it’s being expanded by those who believe in Him, repent, and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ as truth. It will finally and perfectly come true here on earth when Jesus returns.
 
We also see this in the Lord’s prayer. Again, Jesus didn’t teach His disciples to pray to “go” to heaven, but to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Mt 6:10)
 
So, the kingdom of God is not where we’re “going”, but what we’re to look forward to and make every effort to build and expand here on earth while waiting for the day when Jesus brings the kingdom with Him when He comes back.
 
The kingdom of God started to come in earnest with the first coming of Jesus Christ. It has already started but isn’t complete yet. But this kingdom has been expanded throughout the world. And it will perfectly come true on earth when our King returns.
 
On that day, we’ll see the kingdom coming in its glory with our own eyes. And, not only our souls but also our bodies, which will be resurrected like Jesus, will enter the kingdom of God. That’s the hope we have as Christians. That’s the day we’re waiting for.
 
That’s what John wrote in the book of Revelation. While John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, he had a vision of the end times given to him by God. Much of what he saw was related to the tribulation, suffering, and fighting of the last days. However, when it was all over, what he saw was a glorious future in which the kingdom of God would be fully and beautifully realized on earth.
 
He wrote,  “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Rv 21:2)
 
That’s the moment we’re waiting for now. When that day comes, huge banquets will be held for every believer. Jesus will welcome us as our husband and we’ll see Him face to face. On that day, our pain and suffering will end and only joy and praises will remain. That’s the kingdom of God we should try to enter.
 
In order for us to enter the kingdom of God, we should also be able to live in the kingdom of God that has already come with Jesus. And the key to living in the kingdom of God is to surrender ourselves to our true King and Lord in perfect obedience to Him, since the kingdom of God basically refers to God’s reign, kingship, and sovereignty.
 
We shouldn’t think that the kingdom of God has nothing to do with our lives here on earth. It’s not just a spiritual place we go after death.
 
How we think of the kingdom of God is very important because the way we perceive the kingdom has a massive impact on our lives. If we think it is only a spiritual world in heaven, where only our souls will go after we die, we wouldn’t consider the things we’re doing here on earth as important.
 
But, if we really believe that the kingdom of God came to the earth with Jesus, is currently being expanded, and will be complete someday, we’ll realize that everything we do here on earth is actually related to the coming of the kingdom of God. Then, we’ll be more devoted to being used as kingdom makers while living in this world by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, loving others, and obeying God’s word.
 
I believe that’s how we can really help build the kingdom of God through our lives. That’s what Jesus wants us to pray for as we pray, “Your kingdom come.”
 
We’ll explore the meaning of the kingdom of God in more depth next Sunday, but the essence of it is God’s sovereignty. The kingdom of God is established wherever His people submit to His sovereignty. It means that everywhere we are can be God's kingdom.
 
Wherever we are, if we obey God’s will and act under His sovereignty, the kingdom of God will come, which means that we can actually experience the presence of the kingdom of God everywhere, whether at home, in our workplaces, with our friends, and more.
 
On the other hand, even though we’re in church, if we don’t surrender to God’s will or acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives, we won’t experience the presence of the kingdom of God in our midst.
 
Then, this is my prayer for us. I hope and pray that we can all be renewed in the vision of the kingdom of God so that we may experience God's presence in our lives and in every place we go. I pray that we may truly be God’s people who build His kingdom wherever He sends us. All right. We’ll continue to talk about the kingdom of God next Sunday. Let’s wrap up with prayer.
 
[Prayer]
Dear Lord, thank You for teaching us about the kingdom of God, which was the central mission of Your Son, Jesus, whom we follow.
 
We pray that Your kingdom would come on earth and fill every place. We want to see the whole world being filled with Your will. We want to see many people turning back to You, having knowledge of Your truth, and being saved through Jesus Christ.
 
Oh Lord, please correct our thoughts if we misunderstand Your kingdom. Renew our minds and hearts through the kingdom perspective so that we may be more devoted to the establishment of Your kingdom here on earth.
 
Open our eyes and let us see eternal value in Your kingdom so that we may seek Your kingdom and Your will first. Let us experience Your kingdom coming and Your will being achieved in every area of our lives.
 
We thank You for giving us this great chance to participate in Your mission for the world to make Your kingdom come and expand it. We pray that Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven through our lives.
 
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
1. What do you think the kingdom of God is? If you had to pick the single most important word to describe the kingdom of God, what would you choose? Have you experienced the presence of the kingdom of God in your life?
 
2. How do you think the gospel of Jesus Christ is connected to the good news of the kingdom of God? Why do you think it's important to think of these two concepts together?