"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Savior." 1 Corinthians 1: 3
""Jesus began proclaiming, "Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."" Mathew 4:17
The message the Lord Jesus taught was the Good News (Gospel) of the Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God). It was a continuation of the same message John the Baptizer, his forerunner, proclaimed (Mathew 3: 2). Jesus relied heavily on the use of storytelling to paint a picture of this Kingdom: "All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without using a parable" (Mathew 13:34). Many of these parables are recorded in Mathew 13: vs. 3- parable of the sower; vs. 24- the parable of the wheat and tares; vs. 31- the parable of the mustard seed; vs. 33- the parable of the yeast; vs. 44- the parable of hidden treasure; vs. 45- the parable of fine pearls; and vs. 47- the parable of the fishing net.
A cursory examination of the parables reveals there are various characteristics and requirements for successful living in this Kingdom. From the parable of the sower, for instance, we learn that knowledge of the word of God, endurance of hardship for the things of God, and sacrifice of selfish desires for the sake of Jesus, are needed ingredients for success in the Kingdom. It will be helpful to familiarize yourself with Mathew 13. The parables of the wheat and tares (vs 24) and the parables of the fishing net indicate the good and the bad people must have to co-exist in the Kingdom, until God decrees a separation. Of special note also is the fact that this Kingdom, even though of the smallest beginnings, will eventually be bigger than every other Kingdom (parable of the mustard seed) on earth. Because it is so valuable, people will give up everything they have to attain it (parable of the fishing net and of the fine pearls).
All through his ministry, Jesus demonstrated the power of this Kingdom: "Jesus went all over Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing people from every kind of disease and sickness (Mathew 4: 23). It was, and is, a real Kingdom.
However, it is different from every other kingdom or nation because, among other things, there is no geographical coordinate. In Luke 17: 20- 21, ""The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. "The Kingdom of God," he answered, "does not come with visible signs; nor will people be able to say, 'Look! Here it is!' or, 'Over there!' Because, you see, the Kingdom of God is within, among, you." To keep it simple, just know that it is inside the person.
The Kingdom has a heavenly quality to it. According to Apostle Paul in Romans 14:17- "The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."
This Kingdom did, and does do, a lot of good. The Apostle Peter (Acts 10: 38), states "how God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; how Jesus went about doing good and healing all the people oppressed by the Adversary, because God was with him."
For this Kingdom to be established, Christ had to first, die, and then overcome death by rising up- resurrect- and not stay dead: "God promised this Good News in advance through his prophets in the scriptures. It concerns his son- he is descended from David physically; he was powerfully demonstrated to be Son of God spiritually, set apart from his having resurrected from the dead; he is Jesus the Savior, our Lord." Romans 1:3 - 4
The goal of this Kingdom message was to raise up a people of Faith, who, according to the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 1: 9), would receive "the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls."
We can summarize the message that Jesus preached in the words of the Apostle Paul: "I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15: 3 - 4). Note that even when Christ was alive and had not yet died, he spoke concerning his death as part of the Gospel message. John 12: 24- "Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest." John 12: 32- "As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."
What am I trying to say here? Every teaching of Jesus was given in the context of the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the same message the Apostles took to the the entire world. This Kingdom is not earthly but heavenly. The message, too, is heavenly.
""On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Peter and the other Apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter answered them, "Turn from sin, return to God, and each be baptized in the name of Jesus into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!" " Acts 2: 37 -38
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
""Jesus began proclaiming, "Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."" Mathew 4:17
The message the Lord Jesus taught was the Good News (Gospel) of the Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God). It was a continuation of the same message John the Baptizer, his forerunner, proclaimed (Mathew 3: 2). Jesus relied heavily on the use of storytelling to paint a picture of this Kingdom: "All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without using a parable" (Mathew 13:34). Many of these parables are recorded in Mathew 13: vs. 3- parable of the sower; vs. 24- the parable of the wheat and tares; vs. 31- the parable of the mustard seed; vs. 33- the parable of the yeast; vs. 44- the parable of hidden treasure; vs. 45- the parable of fine pearls; and vs. 47- the parable of the fishing net.
A cursory examination of the parables reveals there are various characteristics and requirements for successful living in this Kingdom. From the parable of the sower, for instance, we learn that knowledge of the word of God, endurance of hardship for the things of God, and sacrifice of selfish desires for the sake of Jesus, are needed ingredients for success in the Kingdom. It will be helpful to familiarize yourself with Mathew 13. The parables of the wheat and tares (vs 24) and the parables of the fishing net indicate the good and the bad people must have to co-exist in the Kingdom, until God decrees a separation. Of special note also is the fact that this Kingdom, even though of the smallest beginnings, will eventually be bigger than every other Kingdom (parable of the mustard seed) on earth. Because it is so valuable, people will give up everything they have to attain it (parable of the fishing net and of the fine pearls).
All through his ministry, Jesus demonstrated the power of this Kingdom: "Jesus went all over Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing people from every kind of disease and sickness (Mathew 4: 23). It was, and is, a real Kingdom.
However, it is different from every other kingdom or nation because, among other things, there is no geographical coordinate. In Luke 17: 20- 21, ""The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. "The Kingdom of God," he answered, "does not come with visible signs; nor will people be able to say, 'Look! Here it is!' or, 'Over there!' Because, you see, the Kingdom of God is within, among, you." To keep it simple, just know that it is inside the person.
The Kingdom has a heavenly quality to it. According to Apostle Paul in Romans 14:17- "The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."
This Kingdom did, and does do, a lot of good. The Apostle Peter (Acts 10: 38), states "how God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; how Jesus went about doing good and healing all the people oppressed by the Adversary, because God was with him."
For this Kingdom to be established, Christ had to first, die, and then overcome death by rising up- resurrect- and not stay dead: "God promised this Good News in advance through his prophets in the scriptures. It concerns his son- he is descended from David physically; he was powerfully demonstrated to be Son of God spiritually, set apart from his having resurrected from the dead; he is Jesus the Savior, our Lord." Romans 1:3 - 4
The goal of this Kingdom message was to raise up a people of Faith, who, according to the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 1: 9), would receive "the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls."
We can summarize the message that Jesus preached in the words of the Apostle Paul: "I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15: 3 - 4). Note that even when Christ was alive and had not yet died, he spoke concerning his death as part of the Gospel message. John 12: 24- "Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest." John 12: 32- "As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."
What am I trying to say here? Every teaching of Jesus was given in the context of the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the same message the Apostles took to the the entire world. This Kingdom is not earthly but heavenly. The message, too, is heavenly.
""On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Peter and the other Apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter answered them, "Turn from sin, return to God, and each be baptized in the name of Jesus into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!" " Acts 2: 37 -38
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