A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Gospel? (3)

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

A new era
The focus of the Good News that Jesus proclaimed is the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of heaven (these terms are virtually interchangeable). In the Gospel of the Kingdom, Jesus announced something altogether new in the history of men and nations. We may identify six facets to the “newness” which comes with the Kingdom of God. The first of these is the inauguration of a new era in human history.

In Acts 2.14-39 Peter referred to this new era in terms of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, as foretold by the prophet Joel. This new era entails an opening up of revelation, as the Word and will of God become more broadly known (vv. 17, 18). The entire cosmos is affected in startling and perhaps alarming ways (vv. 19, 20), and the knowledge of salvation goes out far and wide, to be embraced by all who put their trust in the Lord (v. 21; cf. vv. 38, 39).

This new era of the Spirit, increased revelation, and the far-reaching message of salvation was foretold in the Old Testament, as we have seen.  Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, has been exalted as Savior and Lord, and the new era He inaugurated has now, with the coming of the Spirit, begun to advance in earnest (cf. Dan. 2.44, 45). 

A new sovereign
Second, the coming of the Kingdom of God means that a new Sovereign is enthroned, Whose claims and purposes must be reckoned with by all men. The people of Thessalonica immediately recognized that Paul and his associates “practiced” another King, and that His name was Jesus. They also understood that this allegiance put the Christians at odds with the dominant worldview of the day because they “opposed” the doctrine of Caesar by proclaiming Jesus as Lord and practicing loving obedience to Him.

Jesus the God/Man is Savior and Lord. King of kings and Lord of lords. Lord of all!

A new economy
In the third place, the coming of the Kingdom of God means a new economy has begun to unfold through the course of history. By “economy” we simply mean “administration”—a new way of doing things. Whereas prior to the coming of Christ and His Kingdom, men had only their own wisdom, wits, and strength on which to rely, now a whole new way of living in the world is opened before us, a way of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17, 18).

In the divine economy, the Spirit of God works with the Word of God to make disciples, build the Church, and further the reign of Christ. An ethic of love and restoration serves as the platform for embodying and proclaiming the truth of God and Christ. Salvation comes to those who believe, bringing them into the community of the saints and dramatically affecting every aspect of their lives. 

A new agenda
Fourth, the coming of the Kingdom of God indicates that a new agenda is in effect. The King has announced this new agenda as the principal means to support and advance the new economy. Central to the new agenda of the Kingdom era is the work of making disciples and building the Church, the Body of Christ (Matt. 28.18-20; 16.13-19; Eph. 4.11-16). This is a work of God’s Spirit as He engages the members of the believing community in worship and in mutual acts of service and love to build unity and maturity in the congregation.

Through such efforts individual churches grow strong as expressions of the Body of Christ. And, as churches within local communities worship and work together, they demonstrate the unity they have in Christ and realize an even richer and fuller manifestation of His Body (Jn. 17.21; Eph. 4.3). 

A new priority
Because of this new era, new Sovereign, new economy, and new agenda, the Kingdom of God also brings with it a new priority: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6.33). Believers seek the Kingdom of God as they exercise diligent stewardship of all the Lord’s gifts; wield the power of the Spirit for loving witness; pursue holiness and the fruit and gifts of the Spirit; pray earnestly for the coming of the Kingdom; serve others in love; work to restore the reconciled world; and sow the true seed of the Kingdom in all the “as-you-are-goings” of their lives.

Kingdom-seeking is the defining priority for every aspect of life for those who have embraced, not the gospel of near Christianity, but the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

A new hope
Finally, the coming of the Kingdom ushers in an era of new hope. Paul says that being justified by faith we have entered a new place, where we stand in hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5.1, 2). The glory of God is the Presence of God, experienced as a “weighty” and overwhelming engagement with inexpressible joy and true spiritual pleasure. It is this Presence of God, promised by our Lord and King, that Kingdom-dwellers earnestly seek; and, while they enter that Presence with fear, they experience it as joyous transforming power and glory.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is not, in the first instance, about you and me going to heaven when we die. It is about the Kingdom of God, first and foremost—about a new reality that has broken into human experience with irresistible, transforming power, making all things new and bringing the knowledge of the glory of God to light in the world.

This is the Gospel of the Kingdom. This is Good News indeed!

Search the Scriptures
1. What is the Kingdom of God? Why is it appropriate to say that the Kingdom of God has come, is coming, and is yet to come?

2. How should we pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6.10)? How do praying for and seeking the Kingdom go together?

3. What difference does it make if you are inviting a lost sinner to receive the Gospel of the Kingdom as opposed to the gospel of salvation?

Next steps—Preparation: How can you prepare each day for seeking the Kingdom of God?

Additional Resources
If you have found this study helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Additional Resources
A Christian is one who has responded to the Gospel. But what is the Gospel? To brush-up on your understanding of the Gospel and improve your witness, order a copy of our book, The Gospel of the Kingdom, by clicking here. Order two copies and invite a friend to read it with you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.