The Kingdom Of God
Jesus was none other than God in human form, and the Bible gives a number of aspects of God’s eternal purpose in sending His Son into the world including:
To preach the kingdom of God
"...for this purpose I have been sent." Luke 4:43 Mark 1:38
He did this from the beginning to the completion of His earthly ministry. Mark 1:14 Acts 1:3
He taught, equipped and sent out His disciples to preach the kingdom of God. Luke 9:2
After His resurrection the apostles did the same thing. Acts 8:12
See also Acts 14:21,22 Acts 20:25 Acts 28:23 Acts 28:31
The gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ is clearly the same as the good news concerning the kingdom of God. One of the tasks of disciples today is to make known the same good news.
Present and Future
There is both a present and future aspect of the kingdom of God.
The future aspect is seen in such passages as Matt 7:21-23
Also Matt 6:10 Luke 19:11 2 Peter 1:11 Eph 5:5
Many passages have both a present and future aspect.
There are also passages which involve the present aspect:
- For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14:17
See also 1 Cor 4:20 - at hand. Matt 10:7 Mark 1:15
- has come upon you. Matt 12:28
- has come near you. Luke 10:11
- is greatest in. Matt 18:4
- is within you. Luke 17:21
In His preaching Jesus described the nature of the kingdom, its principles, the character (Matt 5:1-12) and behaviour of those who are members (Matt 25:34-40), the way of entering it, (John 3:15-16) and the folly of ignoring His teachings. (Luke 6:46-49 Matt 7:21-27).
The N.T. epistles explain the relationship between behaviour and salvation by grace through faith Eph 2:8-10.
The following passages show that believers enter the kingdom of God in this life:
Col 1:13. Here believers have been "... translated into the kingdom of the Son of His love."
This kingdom is both the kingdom of Christ and God.
In the Kingdom
Eph 5:5 Mark 4:11 - In these passages the disciples were already in the kingdom in contrast to those outside. (c.f.Luke 8:10)
"You are not far from the kingdom of God." Mark 12:34
See also Luke 18:24,25 Luke 18:16,17 Mark 10:14,15 Matt 23:13
…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
Those who do not enter the kingdom of God in this life, will not do so in the life to come.
We enter the kingdom of God by repentance and faith Mark 1:15 Acts 8:12 John 3:15,16.