The Work of Shepherds (6)

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4.17

Christianity and Liberalism
J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937)
“The gospel which Jesus proclaimed in Galilee consisted in the proclamation of a coming Kingdom. But clearly Jesus regarded the coming of the Kingdom as an event, or as a series of events. No doubt He also regarded the Kingdom as a present reality in the souls of men; no doubt He represented the Kingdom in one sense as already present. We shall not really succeed in getting along without this aspect of the matter in our interpretation of Jesus’ words.”

The gospel preached in some quarters of the Christian Church comes a bit short of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God – the arrival in history of a new realm, a new era, and a new economy, ruled by a new King and administered by a new power, Who dwells within those who believe in Him. The gospel many proclaim today is directed at a kingdom of man, more specifically, of individual men and women and their wants, needs, or fears. It is a gospel of human wellbeing, rather than divine victory and glory – a gospel of “near” rather than “mere” Christianity. But a gospel of “near Christianity” is not the Gospel of the Kingdom, and anything short of the Gospel of the Kingdom is not the Gospel Jesus preached, but another gospel altogether. They are not true shepherds who fail in urging the Kingdom on those entrusted to their care.

What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? How consistent is your church in declaring this whole Gospel to the people you are called to serve?

The Gospel of the Kingdom
What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? How can we know when we’re preaching what Jesus and the apostles preached? Our booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom, outlines the Biblical scope of the preaching Jesus expects from His shepherds. You can order your copy from our bookstore by clicking here, or, if you prefer, we’ll send you a free copy in PDF, which you can upload to your e-reader. Just write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and John Nunnikhoven will send you a copy.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations from J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism(Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1923, 1974).