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Showing posts with the label Kingdom

His Pathway

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Jesus arrived in Galilee proclaiming the “ Kingdom of God ” – “ Repent, for the kingdom is at hand .” In his ministry, the reign of God was invading the Earth, but his realm was of a different nature than the governments and ideologies of this fallen world, and on more than one occasion, Jesus refused political power, especially when it was offered by Satan.

Adversity and Fulfillment

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Jesus began to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God in Galilee following the arrest of John the Baptist, an incident that foreshadowed the opposition he would face throughout his mission. In the end, resistance to his efforts culminated in his own arrest, trial, and execution in Jerusalem. His message brought fulfillment but also adversity. Unlike the prophets of old, his work did NOT begin or center in Jerusalem, though it certainly ended there - (Matthew 4:13).

His Unparalleled Kingdom

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When Jesus first appeared in Galilee, he proclaimed the “ Kingdom of God ” – “ Repent, for the kingdom is at hand .” In his ministry, God’s reign had begun to invade the Earth. But his realm was and remains of an entirely different nature than the political systems of the present fallen age. Moreover, on more than one occasion, Jesus refused THAT kind of political power, especially when it was offered by Satan who tempted him with sovereignty over “ all the kingdoms of the world .”

Fleeting Power

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Despite human pretensions, History demonstrates  WITHOUT EXCEPTION  the impermanence of political power and governments. Rome endured for a thousand years, but that Empire fell all the same. Like life, political power is fleeting, and regimes often collapse quickly and unexpectedly when their allotted time expires. Only the “ Kingdom of God ” will endure.

No Middle Ground

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Humanity is divided into two and only two groups – The followers of the Lamb or subjects of the Beast . In the Book of Revelation , every human being is either “ Tabernacling in Heaven ” or included among the “ Inhabitants of the Earth .” These descriptions are not geographical or spatial. They reflect the allegiance of either group. A man or woman either belongs to “ Heaven ” or to the “ Earth .” Those who “ Tabernacle in Heaven ” elect to “ follow the Lamb wherever he goes ” no matter the cost, but the “ Inhabitants of the Earth ” are enslaved by the “ Dragon ” and await a grim fate.

Greatness in His Kingdom

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His disciple is called to engage in self-sacrificial service for others just as Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many . After predicting his death, two of the disciples began jockeying for positions of high status in his coming Kingdom. Thinking according to the ways of this world with its concepts of political power, they did not comprehend what kind of Messiah Jesus was and remains, and therefore, what it meant to follow him “ wherever he goes .” However, in Jerusalem, he would soon demonstrate just how one achieves “ Greatness ” in the Kingdom of God.

His Present Reign

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The New Testament links the enthronement of Jesus to his death and resurrection by applying key messianic texts in the Hebrew Bible to him. He qualified to rule over all things because of his faithful “ obedience unto death ,” and this fact God confirmed and vindicated by raising him from the dead. Not only did his Father resurrect him, but He also seated him “ at His right hand ” where he now reigns supreme over the entire Creation.

Kingdom or Christendom?

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In popular usage, the English term ‘Christendom’ refers to “that part of the world in which Christianity prevails,” either because most of a nation’s citizens claim to be Christian, or because a specific church or denomination is recognized by the State as the country’s official religion. Thus, that nation becomes identified as “Christian,” it is one of the “Christian nations” of the world as opposed to the less enlightened non-Christian peoples and cultures elsewhere on the planet.

Forcing the Kingdom

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Jesus declared that “ violent men are seizing the Kingdom of God .” Was he referring to malevolent men from the outside who attempt to take control of the Kingdom through force? Should his disciples “forcefully seize” the promises of God and otherwise vigorously “press into” the Kingdom and the “spirit realm”? Or must it advance in the world through forceful action? In the passage, Jesus is discussing the ministry of John the Baptist, and how he was rejected and abused by the leaders of the Jewish nation.

Sovereign Over All Things

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Jesus has reigned as the sole sovereign over the Earth and Cosmos since his death, resurrection, and ascension. Already he sits on the Messianic Throne of David as he reigns from “ Mount Zion .” Because of his obedience “ unto death ,” God installed him as the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” Before his ascension, Jesus declared that God had granted him all authority in Heaven and on Earth. His sovereignty is without limits - - (Matthew 28:18-20).

Slave of His Kingdom

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The man who decides to follow Jesus joins his “ Kingdom of Priests ,” and as one of his priestly representatives, the new disciple rules with him, both now and in the future. This understanding raises the question: How, exactly, does a believer participate in the sovereignty of his Lord and exercise his authority? Fortunately, Jesus and Paul have provided us with straightforward answers.

He Removes Kings

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Church leaders often exhort their members to work diligently for the election of politicians of whom they approve, claiming it is God’s will to do so as well as their “Christian duty.” They warn of the dire consequences that will befall the church and the nation if they fail to immerse themselves in partisan politics and promote the moral values and social policies endorsed by them. Moreover, they do this despite what Scripture declares on the matter.

Priestly Kingdom

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Disciples reign with Jesus as priests who render service in his Tabernacle and mediate his light and Word in the World . The present sovereignty of Jesus is based on his past death and resurrection, and his disciples participate in his reign over the Earth. Like him, their position is paradoxical. It is characterized by self-sacrificial service rather than overlordship over their enemies. The shedding of his blood is what consecrated them as “ priests ” for God, and priestly service for others IS how the disciple reigns with him.

The Kingdom Herald

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After his baptism, the Spirit “ drove Jesus into the wilderness… for forty days and nights .” Like Moses on Mount Sinai, the Messiah of Israel found himself alone in the Judean wilderness where he was confronted by the Devil. His only guide was the Word of God. Like Israel, he was “ tested .” Unlike that nation, he overcame every challenge and emerged victorious from the experience “ FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ,” and he then began to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom in the villages of Galilee.

Reigning from Zion

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According to the Psalmist, the anointed “ Son ” would reign “ on Mount Zion… my holy mount .” As attested by the New Testament, that king is Jesus of Nazareth. His reign over the Earth began following his Resurrection and Ascension. Ever since he has been extending his sovereignty by sending his envoys to the “ uttermost parts of the Earth ” to announce his Gospel to the nations.

Ransom for Many

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After predicting his death, two of the disciples began jockeying for positions of high status in his coming Kingdom. Thinking according to the ways of this world with its concepts of political power, they did not comprehend what kind of Messiah Jesus was and remains, and therefore, what it meant to follow him “ wherever he goes .” However, in Jerusalem, he would soon demonstrate just how one achieves “ Greatness ” in the Kingdom of God.

Questions on Divorce

Opponents question Jesus about divorce to trap him, but he uses the issue to teach the higher ways of the Kingdom of God .  In Mark  and  Matthew , Jesus is confronted by opponents with questions about divorce. However, this is intended to trap him with his own words. They are not soliciting an all-encompassing ruling on divorce from him. In  Mark , the incident is another in a series of confrontations between Jesus and the religious establishment linked to the Temple.

Kingdom Parables

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The  Gospel of Mark  provides only a few examples of the many parables taught by Jesus (“ Apart from a parable he did not speak to the crowds ”). In them, the dominant theme is the Kingdom of God that invaded the Earth in the ministry of Jesus and continues to grow and produce fruit wherever the Gospel is preached. The “ Son of Man ” taught the Jewish people in parables, but only as they “ were able to hear ,” and this clause stresses the responsibility of the listener to hear and heed his words.

Sower and Seed

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The  Parable of the Sower  provides the key to understanding the parables of Jesus. The story’s point is that the Kingdom of God began to invade the present age starting with the proclamation of the Gospel by the “ Son of Man .” That process commenced with his announcement of the Good News when he was in “ Galilee of the Nations .” Ever since then, the Kingdom has been advancing across the Earth though largely unnoticed by humanity and even by many of his followers.