The Kingdom
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is now. Repent and believe the good news!"
--Mark 1:14-15
Here is the first message of Jesus that Mark records.
It is about the good news! That's what the gospel is! It is news that brings joy!
REPENT
REPENT
Part of the good news involves repentance.
"Repent" means to "reverse course," or turn away from something.
It does not mean to veer away, or alter slightly.
It means to "reverse" - change direction!
In the Bible "repenting" means we are turning away from something God does not like and doing something He does like.
BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS
BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS
Gospel is not everyday, ordinary, better-than-average news.
It means history-making, life-changing, news.
At the time of Jesus, gospel was not a religious word.
Archaeologists have found an ancient Roman inscription from that time that starts: "The beginning of the gospel of Caesar Augustus" which records the story of the birth and coronation of the Roman emperor.
A gospel, to men of Mark's time, noted an event that was would change history.
From Timothy Keller:
Right there you can see the difference between Christianity and all other religions, including no religion.
The essence of other religions is advice; Christianity is essentially news. Other religions say,
"This is what you have to do in order to connect to God forever; this is how you have to live in order to earn your way to God."
But the gospel says, This is what has been done in history. This is how Jesus lived and died to earn the way to God for you."
Christianity is different. It's joyful news!
The gospel is that God connects to you, not on the basis of what you've done or haven't done, but on the basis of what Jesus has done, in history, for you.
And that make it absolutely different from every other religion or philosophy.
-- From King's Cross, Chapter 2
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
In the first two chapters of Genesis we discover that we were created to live in a world where all was perfect - because God was King.
Then in chapter 3 we read how man chose to go his own way - chose the path of self-centeredness,
choosing to orbit around himself and his own desires, instead of around God, who could fulfill all man's desires Himself.
Self-absorption - that's what mankind chose.
"What is best for me? What's in it for me? How can I get to the top of things? How can I get everyone to
notice me and serve me?"
We took God off His throne and crowned ourselves in His place.
We took God off His throne and crowned ourselves in His place.
So we have wars, family disintegration, child abuse, murder and broken down relationships.
Pain and suffering all around us.
We are all waiting for Someone to come and rescue us - to save from our own folly - to save us from ourselves.
We are waiting for the rightful King to come back and reclaim His throne!
We are waiting for the rightful King to come back and reclaim His throne!
There's a sort of sublime truth in our old fairytales.
A prince charming is coming to rescue us. A king is coming to save us. He will slay the dragon. He will kill the wicked witch. The evil king will be defeated. We will be free. We will live happily ever after.
The good news, the gospel, is that Jesus is the true King. He will make everything bright and new, shining with joy, and we will live happily every after!
Someday God's Kingdom will circle the earth. All will be renewed.
As Jewel, the majestic Unicorn in Chronicles of Narnia, said, "I've come home at last! This is my real country. This is the land I've been looking for all my life!"
That's because the rightful King will have resumed His throne.
THE KINGDOM - IS NOW - and in the Future - and Forever!
God began renewing His Kingship when His Son came to earth. For two thousand years His Kingdom has been making advances, claiming a strong foothold on this blighted planet.
Someday Christ will come back - He will ascend His throne. Mankind will step down.
After all, Jesus can be King all by Himself.
That's because the rightful King will have resumed His throne.
THE KINGDOM - IS NOW - and in the Future - and Forever!
God began renewing His Kingship when His Son came to earth. For two thousand years His Kingdom has been making advances, claiming a strong foothold on this blighted planet.
Someday Christ will come back - He will ascend His throne. Mankind will step down.
After all, Jesus can be King all by Himself.
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
-- Philippians 2:9-11
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