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But we understand ourselves almost entirely not in those terms. Why is this? I suggest a few possible reasons. The first reason is that we are largely a gentile church, and we have not quite the sense of personal connection with the flow of Israel’s history. The second reason has to do with the success of dispensational theology in America over the last 100 years. This theological system formally separates God’s plans and intents for the church from His plans and intents for Israel. The kingdom as a concept is associated with national and physical Israel, not with the church. For example, in classic dispensationalism, the Sermon on the Mount was considered “law” for the millennial kingdom of Israel, but this kingdom was rejected by the Jews, at which point God inserted the church age, which is governed “not by law but by grace.” Obviously, there is much rich teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about the kingdom, such that if this sermon is defined as being not for the church per se, it follows that the church would not be as concerned about the kingdom. One day in the dispensationalist scheme God will remove the church and get back to his plan for Israel, which will be fulfilled in the 1000 year millennial reign of reconstituted Old Covenant Israel, at which time the kingdom of God will be back in gear. In the meantime, the kingdom of God is not so much the concern of the church. The third reason why we understand relatively little about the kingdom of God is that as a concept it is simply not commonly addressed in our systematic theologies and books summarizing the Christian faith. In the traditional ways of systematically organizing biblical topics, the kingdom of God often gets left out entirely! Before me is a 1200 page “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine” by Wayne Grudem, a very good book I might add, but it hardly says boo about the kingdom of God. The fourth reason I would suggest as to why we find it difficult to enter into the concept of the kingdom of God has to do with our own experience. We do not easily think in monarchy terms. We are culturally removed from a world of kingdoms, king-vassal covenants, etc. Our world view is not kingdomish. Fifth, the biblical teaching about the kingdom is simply not easy to understand sometimes. The reason for this is largely due to fact that the kingdom is “here but not yet here.” It is present, but it is future. It is in process now, but it awaits consummation. Add to this the idea of the overlap of kingdoms – the idea that the kingdom of God is superimposed in time over the kingdoms of this world, but is distinct from them, and we see why it takes some effort to enter in to the idea. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said. Well, does that mean that kingdom is merely an internal matter of the heart? Does that mean that Jesus was a proponent of the concept of separation of church and state? Does that mean that what happens in this physical world is of no concern to those who would seek the kingdom? All of these factors mitigate against our understanding the biblical concept of the kingdom of God. But unless the classic dispensationalists are right, then Jesus was speaking also to us when He appeared preaching the good news about the kingdom of God. I give myself away here. Yes, I think Jesus was teaching this to me too and not just to people in the “millennial kingdom.” He understood himself and His mission in terms of the kingdom of God. He taught us to seek the kingdom of God, and that this somehow has something significantly to do with us today. He taught us to pray that God’s kingdom would come and that God’s will would be done. He told us that if we forsook all things for the sake of the kingdom then we would receive our reward and enter the kingdom. He told us that the kingdom of heaven is for the poor in spirit and for those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. He told us that the good news of the kingdom was to be preached to all the nations. He told us that the kingdom of God belonged to those who were as little children, and that it was very hard indeed for the rich to enter the kingdom. He taught in parables what the kingdom of God was like. So how can we understand Jesus and his teaching and his mission apart form the kingdom! How can we understand what it means to follow Him apart from the kingdom? Having said all that, what then is the kingdom of God and what has it to do with me? Jesus announced the good news of the kingdom. The long awaited kingdom was at hand. What kingdom? The kingdom promised by the prophets – the kingdom of David, the kingdom of Israel united under and loyal to her covenant king – the anointed one, the messiah, the Davidic king. Finally, as promised, the Sovereign Lord would restore the kingdom of Israel, and would do so through His anointed king and servant. John the Baptist calls God’s people to prepare for the restoration of Israel, for the visitation of her king, for the good news of victory. Jesus comes to the water; Jesus is baptized; Jesus receives anointing form God; Jesus is the king. Whatever God is going to do to fulfill His promises regarding the coming kingdom, He will do it through Jesus. The kingdom of God is not so much a “thing in itself” apart from God Himself. The kingdom of God is first and foremost to be understood in a God-centered way. God rules or reigns. Whatever the kingdom of God is, it begins with God as king on his throne. In one sense God as sovereign king reigns over all things, over all events and all natural and human phenomena. In another sense God is doing a particular thing in history to restore the world to Himself and to His kingship. The world has rebelled against its king. But the king in His goodness has chosen not to let the world continue in its rebellion. He will work to restore it to its purpose. Ultimately it will be the case that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Ultimately, “the meek will inherit the earth,” “for he has made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." And so there is a growth and a dynamic to God’s rule in history. He is king over creation even if no one ever repents and turns to Him. As king He has authority to destroy and judge the earth completely. He would still be king. But He has chosen to intervene and to act in His world to restore it ultimately to Him, that His original purpose for it would be realized. In so doing He proves Himself to be not just a just king, but a merciful and good and gracious king. When God made the foundational promise to Abraham, He in effect promised that one day all nations would enter the blessing of loving subjection to His kingship, a promise that ultimately would be realized in the New Heaven and New Earth. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:2-3 NIV) Abraham in time would beget Isaac who would beget Jacob (whose other name is Israel) who would beget twelve sons (one of whom was Judah), who would grow in number in Egypt, who would be brought out by Moses, who would enter the land of Canaan, who would be constituted a nation in special covenant with God who promised to be present with them in a special way, who would hanker after a king, who would be given Saul and then David and then Solomon (who would build a temple), whose descendants would fall into and out of disobedience and judgment and eventually be led into exile, the prophets of whom would call them back to covenant loyalty and promise a time when one would rule on David’s throne in such a way that the rule of God would be restored not only in Israel but even unto the ends of the earth. And so Jesus came and was born and was anointed as the long awaited Davidic king: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV). But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. (Matthew 2:6, from Micah 5:2 NIV) 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 is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:1-15 NIV). The greater part of Jesus’ earthly ministry would then be devoted to teaching what this kingdom was like and how people could enter into it, and what living as subjects of this kingdom looked like. It would not be all as expected. This kingdom would not be for Jews only; and amongst Jews, not simply for those most passionate for the Torah. Living obediently to the king would involve following in His ways. The way into the kingdom would be personal trust and faith (and the resulting and associated obedience) in the anointed king, the messiah, a messiah who did not swoop in with legions of armed battalions but who humbled himself in obedience even unto death on the cross. This kingdom would be not for the strong and rich and powerful of this world, but for the poor in spirit, for those who mourned, for the meek in heart. Entry into this kingdom would become the ultimate issue of life, and no other attachments were to get in the way of seeking the kingdom. This kingdom like the mustard seed would start small but would grow into the equivalent of a great tree. And so the king came, was born, grew up, was anointed, pronounced the good news of the kingdom, exhibited the power of the kingdom, showed the way of the kingdom which is the way of the cross, and was crucified, suffering covenant curse and the wrath of God for the sins of His subjects, thereby saving them from the kingdom of darkness. But He rose victorious, breaking the condemnatory power of sin and the ultimate power of death, and ascended to the Father, where he reigns over his people and his kingdom forever. One day he will return, and the kingdom will be consummated. All enemies of the kingdom will be swept away and the meek will inherit the earth. In the mean time his followers are to preach the kingdom to the ends of the earth, to call people to repent and embrace King Jesus as the son of God, to exhibit the life of the kingdom in their love and fellowship, to worship the reigning king as they gather, and experience conflict as the inbreaking kingdom of God collides with the kingdom of darkness. To say that the kingdom is not of this world is not to say that it is merely an internal or “spiritual” reality. God’s reign extends to whatever extent our real human bodily life is in submission to the way of the king. When I sacrificially love in the manner of Christ, the rule of God is made manifest. When I walk in obedience despite alienation from family or friends, the reign of God shows itself. When I choose to trust in the love and care of my King instead of being swept away by the cares of this world, the reign of God is manifest. When I am able to base my identity on who I am as a child of the king, then His reign over me is revealed. When I do the dishes or work hard in my job as “unto the king,” as a service to Him, then the reign of God has come. When I work to see that righteousness and justice be done in an earthly situation, then the reign of God is revealed through me. When I exhibit the joy and peace of being in relationship with King Jesus, then the kingdom of God shines forth. When I cast out a demon in Jesus’ name, then the reign of God is at hand. But the reign of God is not manifest merely or only through individuals. The people of God show forth the rule of God as they live appropriately and obediently as subjects of Jesus the reigning king. The church and the kingdom are not equivalent. But the reign of God breaks forth into the world significantly through the shared life and service in the world of His people the church. The way of the kingdom is the way of love, joy, peace, gentleness, forgiveness, kindness, humility, patience – all exhibited in real relationships and in real everyday life situations by the by the power of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to the king. Yes, the reign of God is more extensive than or is “bigger” than the church. But the church, the gathered people of God, bears witness to the kingdom in word and deed. The church preaches the good news of the kingdom and is thus an instrument of the kingdom. And the church is a custodian or guardian of the kingdom, having been given the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19). The church prays corporately for the kingdom, “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallow your name. May your kingdom come, may your will be done, here on earth, as it is in heaven.” The passion of the church in its worship is the glory and honor of its king. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made (Psalms 145:8-13 NIV). For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise (Psalm 47:7 NIV). Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13 NIV). To follow Jesus is to be subject to Him as our King. Following Jesus is to be understood in terms of the kingdom. If I seek first the kingdom of God, then I will seek to live in every way in obedience to and for the glory of the king of the Kingdom. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a subject of King Jesus, to place my life at his disposal, to seek above all else to do his will, to obey his teaching, to learn to walk in His ways. To repent means to turn from whatever or whomever I am living for, and to bow before Him as king, to be humbly remorseful over following after other kings and other gods, to intend to follow Him with all of my heart and mind and strength, and to seek his strengthening to do so. Repentance is a turning, a changing of allegiance, a leaving behind one way of life and an embracing of another. Repentance is saying that we from this day forward will follow after our new king. To believe means to acknowledge and embrace Jesus as the rightful king, to accept joyfully the blessings which He brings as king, such as the blessing of eternal life in His kingdom, the blessing of forgiveness and pardon, the blessing of a verdict of acquittal before the king’s court. The reign of Jesus is good news indeed. God has not abandoned His world. He is in the process of reclaiming it. He has broken the back of the enemy. Jesus has won victory over sin and death. He is alive and he reigns. And he is coming back in power and judgment. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:31 NIV). But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 NIV). To be a disciple of the king is to follow him, to do his will, to learn from him, to die for him. The whole life of discipleship is one of continual believing in our King and continual turning to our King. But there is a beginning -- a decisive laying down of the gauntlet. “King Jesus, from this day forward I will follow you and walk in your ways.” Yes, we learn as we go all that this means. We learn as we go what living unto our King is all about. We acknowledge that we are never done repenting and turning to Him. It is life-long and continual process. But we cannot say, “Yes, I will follow you, but I will keep my autonomy here, I prefer not be loyal there.” We cannot say, “I know Jesus says to do such and such, but he knows my needs and understands that I just cannot.” We cannot say, “But I am a victim. I have special needs. I am in a special category.” We cannot say, “King Jesus calls me into loving community with other believers, but I would rather do my thing than assemble with the saints.” I say this in love, and I say it with some fear and trembling, but if you are intentionally reserving your loyalty to King Jesus then you may not be a disciple and you may not inherit the kingdom. “But you don’t understand. I’ve got fields and houses to tend to. I have security needs. I’ve got a life and family to maintain. I’ve got my personal relationship needs. I’ve got my plans for retirement. I’ve got my mutual fund to tend to. I’ve got my house. I have financial needs. Later I will give myself to Him completely, but now I cannot. He understands that.” Sorry. When we rationalize our refusal to bow in loyalty, when we insist that we may follow after what our flesh says we need, when we say, “I know he says that, but…” – then we are in peril, and we need the warning of his word: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV). Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV). Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21 NIV). Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28 NIV). I include these passages not to undermine anyone’s confidence or assurance, but to remind us all that the call of Jesus to “repent and believe the good news of the kingdom” remains in force and, yes, is serious business. The stakes are high. Our Father accepts us into his kingdom – into his family – without prior condition, solely on the merits of Jesus messiah, yet He fully intends that we in our manner and way of life keep turning, keep repenting, keep believing, keep giving our hearts unto him in loyalty and faithfulness. We must never forget: Our God reigns. He wins. Whatever seems to be happening to the people of God in the world, whatever seems to be working to undermine the work of the kingdom, yet he will be victorious. “Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.” No matter what assails us, our king will hold us firmly in His hands. He will enable us to persevere in faith and love until the end. He will be victorious, and one day we will enter into the fullness of the consummated kingdom. There will no more death, no more tears, no more sorrows, no more persecutions, no more curse. And we will reign with him forever and ever. Amen. |
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