The Kingdom of God or Heaven is the gospel that Jesus Christ preached.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 4:17
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:23
Why Did Jesus Come?
The gospel of the Kingdom is WHY Jesus came.
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
Mark 1:38
Although the Kingdom of God is mentioned 116 times in scripture (NIV), it's not the gospel the church preaches today. The church preaches: born again (mentioned only 3 times), the cross, holiness, prosperity etc.. While these are important subsets they are NOT the gospel Jesus preached to the masses. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God.
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 1:14-15
Is There a Gospel of the Kingdom?
If there is a Gospel of the Kingdom, why do modern preachers preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, rather than the gospel that Jesus Christ preached?
Mostly because they have not understood that there was a message of the Kingdom, opting to view the words “Kingdom of God” as a mere label housing the collective teachings of Jesus.
If there is a Gospel of the Kingdom, what is it?
Understanding the Gospel of the Kingdom begins by understanding the REASON Jesus died.
Did He die to save us from our sins? Yes. Did He die so we would go to heaven? Yes. But even these do not explain the reason God sent Christ.
The Bible is actually a LOVE STORY about a King and His citizens. God placed man on earth to rule over His earthly domain. But something happened. Through treachery man lost control of the Kingdom. The Bible is about a Heavenly King and what He did to recapture the Kingdom and restore man to it.
The PURPOSE of the cross was to restore man TO something not just save him FROM something.
The reason Jesus died was to take back the Kingdom Adam lost to Satan in the garden. God was restoring man to a position of STEWARDSHIP through the Lordship of our King Jesus Christ.
This is the gospel of the Kingdom. This is the gospel that Jesus preached. So through Jesus we see that the cross is not so much about Heaven as it is about God’s Kingdom on EARTH.
What needs to be understood is the PROCESS God chooses to restore the Kingdom. This process is reflected in the nature of the King.
Christ reveals Himself in two ways:
Christ Reveals Himself as Suffering Servant
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Isaiah 53:3
It is through the suffering of Christ that spiritual birth is possible. When man REPENTS of his sin and BELIEVES in the atoning WORK of Christ, he receives a new nature and is born into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christ restores the Kingdom INTERNALLY through us first.
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is WITHIN you."Luke 17:20-21
What does the internal kingdom look like, as we walk it out on earth? What can you expect?
1. You can expect to suffer. That’s because the internal kingdom reflects the nature of the King.
Suffering is not an exciting prospect. But suffering is necessary if you are going to walk out the life of Christ. Consider the sufferings of Christ.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:23-24
It is not easy to live the Kingdom internally. When people “hurl their insults” at you, what will you do? Will you return insult for insult or will you return insult with kindness? This is a painful process. Suffering is what happens when good and evil collide— in our own lives and in dealing with other people.
But this is what sanctification is about. It’s about appropriating who we are in heaven (a justified spirit) with who we are on earth (a fallen soul). It’s about Christ living His life through us and purifying us (see my article, The Process of Sanctification: Bringing Holiness To Your Life). Suffering for good is what the Bible says we are called to do:
If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were CALLED, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:20-21
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
But some people will worry about their rights— about enabling abuse. This is what the Bible says about that:
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19-21
2. You can expect peace and joy.
When we learn to submit ourselves to the will of God through suffering we will experience great peace and joy.
Peace and joy is what happens when you OVERCOME. When you learn to deal with life, rather than life dealing with you. The Apostle Paul speaks about this in the following scripture:
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13
In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
Some people strive to be happy, but happiness depends on circumstances. With joy it doesn’t. Joy exists in spite of circumstances. Joy comes from an inner confidence that emerges as you learn to trust God— you know He is looking out for you. Peace is it’s natural result.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
3. You can expect fruit.
Fruit is the end result of the internal kingdom. Fruit takes time. As God washes sin out of your life, as He is expressed in you— fruit will appear. A changed relationship. Improved finances. Inner confidence.
Fruit appears in season:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he MEDITATES day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit IN SEASON and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Christ Reveals Himself as a Conquering King
At the end of the age Christ will reveal Himself as a Conquering King. He will establish a Kingdom on earth for all to see. The Kingdom will be EXTERNAL.
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:15
We will rule with Him. He will reveal us to the world.
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:19
This will happen in the twinkling of an eye as our bodies are CHANGED incorruptible at the last trumpet.
Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be CHANGED, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:50-52
This is the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached. It should also be the gospel that we preach.
We need to seek the Kingdom.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
Our message is two fold. We preach the Kingdom— INTERNAL. We ask God to reveal His nature in us. Through this nature we change the world.
We preach the Kingdom— EXTERNAL. One day Jesus is coming again and the sons of God will be revealed.
Maranatha! Jesus come soon.
Logging you in...
anthonybuzzard · 635 weeks ago
If it is wrong, does that make you a false prophet?
You retranslated the Hebrew of Dan 9:27 but do you have skills to do this?
You say it is a covenant already made with many.
But I would have thought you owe Hebraists some explanation of the detail of your new translation of the Hebrew.
Just saying!
Gregg · 635 weeks ago
Your comment does not seems to reflect the contents of this article "What is he Gospel Jesus Preached?" Perhaps you were commenting on my article " Where are We in the End Time Timetable?" See the link: http://greggfetter.blogspot.com/2012/04/where-are...
Either way I am not aware that the Hebrew contradicts what I am saying. I do not know Hebrew however. Do you? If so, please explain why I am wrong.
Also, through my articles I explain WHY we can know when Christ will return. I give the reasons for this in Can We Know When Christ Will Return.. http://greggfetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/can-we-kn...
People are misinformed when they believe we become "false prophets" in efforts to understand when Christ will return. The Lord told us to watch and wait! I am merely a Christian seeking to understand God's word. When I am wrong that does not make me a false prophet. I have freely admitted my infallibility in my writings. This blog is a discussion of what I feel the Lord has shown me. I hope I have given you something to think about.
God Bless,
Gregg
Passing Through · 623 weeks ago
Anyway, I just skimmed your post on Jesus' gospel, and it sounds OK to me. I wouldn't draw a very sharp distinction between the instances of good news that the Bible mentions, though. The whole picture is good news. The Gospel, as a whole, starts in Genesis and continues right through Revelation. I think the different places in Scripture where "the gospel" is specifically mentioned refer to the same subject as described from different vantage points. It seems to me that when John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul preached, each highlighted different aspects of the same, wonderful story.
Gregg · 623 weeks ago
Most people would emphasize the good news of heaven vs. the fact that Christ came to take back the earthly kingdom that Satan had taken from Adam. As a result some Christians sit around waiting for heaven unaware of their PURPOSE on earth. This is really Christ's focus... our earthly mission. It's the Gospel that He preached. He preached the KINGDOM of GOD. He takes it internally first. He restores the HEARTS of men through rebirth, then He uses us to advance His earthly Kingdom until He comes to sit on an earthly throne during the Millennial reign at the end of this age.
God Bless friend!
Joyson · 562 weeks ago
after your clarification, I would like to explain how does the millennial reign going to be and when?
Gregg 57p · 562 weeks ago
Thanks for your response and question. In Revelation 20:2-7 we see that Christ intends to come again and set up His earthly kingdom. He reigns for 1000 years, that's why it's referred to as His Millennial Reign. Christ does this at the END of the Great Tribulation which is the last 3 1/2 years this age. Those born of Christ reign with Him on earth for the 1000 years. Then Satan, who has been bound, is loosed to tempt those remaining on earth who had not received a NEW NATURE prior to Christ second coming. They are lead astray by Satan through their fallen nature they acquired when they were born. This called the Adamic nature or the OLD NATURE of sin and death. That's why Christ came the first time, to die and raise with a NEW NATURE He offers to the world through FAITH in Him. You can go the this article, What Happens When the Antichrist Comes to Jerusalem, http://greggfetter.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-happ...
and scroll down to find my chart on the events of the Great Tribulation. At the end of this chart you will see a reference to Yahwah's Rest. This is the beginning of the 1000 year reign of Christ. Yahweh's Rest means God's Kingdom on earth. I hope this helps. God bless.
Susan Hughes · 609 weeks ago
Mark 1:14-15 - GOD speaks here REPENT as He does through others throughout His word. Repent means to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin. Repentance comes from the HEART. Where does our salvation (good news) come from ? The HEART. I can see the gospel message clearly from JOHN and then from JESUS Gregg and thank you for proclaiming in TRUTH what you yourself have received from GOD. God Bless.
Susan Avril Hughes · 609 weeks ago
Gregg · 609 weeks ago
Very well said. Jesus first came as a "suffering servant" to pay for the sins of mankind. As you pointed out, man must REPENT of his sins in order to benefit from the sacrifice of Christ. The Kingdom message was God's Internal Kingdom IN YOU through faith in Him. Thank you so much for your input.
God bless,
Gregg
My recent post Operating in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Lawrence · 594 weeks ago
Gregg · 594 weeks ago
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate your time in reading this blog.
God bless.
Gregg
anthony bernal · 594 weeks ago
Enjoy the journey of faith.
Gregg · 592 weeks ago
Jeff · 589 weeks ago
Gregg · 589 weeks ago
When we by faith believe in what Christ did, that is, when we look to Christ's action of offering himself as a replacement for our sin, then we become a child of God. Our spirits are saved. The Bible calls this JUSTIFICATION. We will go to heaven when we die. Nothing can take this away from us.
Of course what God's starts he wants to finish. He wants to save us from the EFFECTS of our sin too. We call this holiness. God cares that we become outwardly more and more like Him inwardly. So He sanctifies us. He washes us, as we let Him, from our sin (1 John 1:9). Read my article, How To Deal With Sin http://greggfetter.blogspot.no/2013/02/how-to-dea...
and you will see the Biblical way of allowing God to sanctify us. The Bible calls this SANCTIFICATION. It's a process and has to do with the cleansing of our mind, will and emotions. The effects of sanctification are not eternal security, as that has been secured by your FAITH in God's ACTION, as we discussed above, but sanctification has to do with REWARD. Our position in God's kingdom as far a rank, is determined by our level of sanctification.
So you see, it's as you said. Our BIRTH in His kingdom is based solely on our ability to believe in His action on the cross. But our growth in His kingdom and our reward is tied in with HOW we deal with our sins after salvation.
Again read my article How To Deal With Sin. It's important to understand how to deal with sin so that our efforts to be effective in His kingdom don't become a WORKS thing.
God bless my friend.
Uncle Doctor · 558 weeks ago
That said, He is alive with us in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My recent post The Power-Source of #Jacob
Gregg 57p · 557 weeks ago
God bless,
Gregg
Somto · 552 weeks ago
Rick · 550 weeks ago
Rick
Gregg 57p · 550 weeks ago
Thank you. You are absolutely right. As I look back over what i have written concerning salvation in Christ I have failed to discuss the importance of repentance. It has always been there in my mind because I know God can't change us if we don't see our sin and the need for the atoning work of Christ. Your post is very confirming because even as i read your post I have been in the process of writing an article entitled "The Importance of Repentance in the Process of Salvation". This article will be included with the other articles in the Salvation Series. While I think it is important to show people that they can't "fix" themselves without God's help, I also realize that I have failed to explain how important repentance is in the process of salvation and what people need to do to repent. This is a major problem in the emergent church that just asks people to come to God without any kind of repentance. Thank you so much for your thoughts and keeping me on my toes.
God bless,
Gregg
Enyinna NKEM-ABONTAm · 404 weeks ago
You seem to want to avoid controversy at all cost.
I read you agreeing with Jeff that merely believing in Jesus will earn us eternal life and that repentance isn't necessary for this. Then suddenly you changed position after reading Rick's comment and now want to write an article on the importance of repentance in the salvation process. Gregg, just what do you believe in?
Gregg 57p · 404 weeks ago
Of course repentance is necessary, it's a natural part of believing in Christ. After all he died for our sins. But believing comes first. I explain this in my article: The Importance of Repentance in the Process of Salvation http://greggfetter.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-impor...
Why repent if you aren't BELIEVING in Jesus, they go hand in hand. But "believing" is always the first step. As I explained to Rick in the above comment, I realized I hadn't made that clear, so even as he was writing me I had been in the process of writing the above article. If you haven't read the above article, please do so. I make it clear that salvation is a process where repentance is a natural result of believing in Christ. Hope that helps. God bless.
Gregg
Kathi 2p · 391 weeks ago
Gregg 57p · 391 weeks ago
Thanks for your comments. As far as I know this image is free to use. I found it on Google Images and I wasn't aware of any restrictions.
God bless!
Gregg
Kathi 2p · 391 weeks ago
Blessings,
Kathi