The Kingdom and The Gospel

The Gospel & The Kingdom

In our previous articles on the Kingdom, we have briefly touched on the relationship between the gospel and The Kingdom of God. In this article, we will dive much deeper into this relationship. The importance of these doctrines would be nearly impossible to overstate.

While many other topics, doctrines, and themes are important and essential, we can say on the authority of Scripture that these doctrines are of first and foremost importance. This is, by definition, a salvation issue.

First Things First

Jesus taught His followers to seek The Kingdom first.

Matthew 6:31–34 (NASB)
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

The world eagerly pursues worldly things like what to eat, drink, and wear. Followers of Christ are taught to prioritize a higher, heavenly purpose. As we seek first The Kingdom of God and His righteousness, we can have faith that our loving heavenly Father will provide for all our material needs along the way.

It is important to note that needs are different than wants. Our Father distinguishes between what His children truly need and what we simply want for our own pleasure and comfort. Remember, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

James taught that if we lack what we need, it is because we have failed to ask our gracious Father. If we do not receive what we ask for it is because our motives are wrong — focused on worldly things and its comforts (not necessarily because we lack faith as some may suggest).

James 4:2b–4 (NASB)
You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Like Jesus, the Apostle Paul emphasized the priority of the gospel message. He taught that it was the most important truth to cling to.

1 Corinthians 15:1–5 (NASB)
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

There are many important observations to make about this brief passage. We must understand the weighty implications that Paul has written here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is one of those things we must accept as true to call ourselves Christians. It is a genuine distinctive of the faith.

“The” Gospel

The word “the” is a small word that can carry great significance. In grammatical terms, the word “the” is called: the definite article. An example of an indefinite article, by contrast, is the word “a” or “an.” The article serves as a marker of specificity and definiteness.

We use both the definite and indefinite articles naturally every day. We understand the difference between the broad, indefinite statement, “A tree has a trunk and branches” and the much more specific, definite statement, “I had a tire swing on the tree in my backyard growing up.”

In Scripture, we see a consistent use of the definite article with the noun “gospel.” The Greek word for “gospel” (GK: euangelion) appears in the New Testament seventy-six times. Nearly 95% of these occurrences use the definite article. Only four are translated with the indefinite article in the NASB.

The Gospel Vs A Gospel — “The” Vs. “A”

Are you holding to THE GOSPEL or to another gospel?

Let’s look closely at these four indefinite examples in the NASB. The first three all appear in the same passage in Galatians 1. They are underlined for easy identification.

Galatians 1:6–9 (NASB)
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

The Apostle Paul is comparing the gospel (singular and definite) with anything else that differs and distorts the very specific content they received. Take special note of what Paul says in verse 6: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel.” To turn away from the gospel for a different gospel is to turn away from God!

Paul uses the strongest possible language in verses 8 and 9. He says anyone preaching a different gospel is to be accursed. The NET and NIV translate the weight of this statement accurately:

Galatians 1:8–9 (NET)
But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell! As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!
Galatians 1:8–9 (NIV)
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

The gospel is a very specific message. The content matters. This specific truth is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16). Faith in the content of the gospel message is how we receive the grace of God and are redeemed from the curse of God for our own sin. The gospel tells us how we can pass out of condemnation and death, into peace with God and everlasting life.

Distorting the gospel message in any way carries great significance; to both the one proclaiming the distorted message and also to those who hear it. In Galatians 1:6–9, Paul declares eternal condemnation upon anyone (even if it were an angel from Heaven) who would dare to preach a different, distorted gospel. Paul also marvels at the foolishness of anyone who would turn away from God to believe a distorted gospel. That is, anything different than what they originally received when Paul first visited and preached to them the first time.

The fourth and final example of the indefinite article with “gospel” occurs in 2 Corinthians. Paul was rebuking them because they were foolishly tolerating those who preach a different version of Jesus and a different gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (NASB)
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

Paul expresses a fear that their tolerance of these different versions of Christ and the gospel will lead them astray. We must be aware that one of the greatest stumbling blocks in our own day to people coming to genuine, saving faith in Christ is not that they’ve never heard of Jesus but rather that there are so many different versions which all claim to be valid. They’re not. Jesus is who He is, not who we imagine Him to be. Don’t worship a golden calf Jesus.

The true message of the gospel is the message of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. As such, it is worthy of our most serious and devoted attention. It’s not our message to change. Christians are called to be stewards of the gospel and heralds of this message which carries God’s power unto salvation for all who believe. We are not called to be editors of the gospel who empty the cross of its power by preaching a diluted, watered-down, or incomplete gospel of our own design.

“If you hold fast”

The conditional statement, “if,” is important to understand. We should not just quickly pass over it.

Faith in the gospel is able to save us if we hold fast to it. Remember the parable of the Sower. Two of the categories in that parable described those who began the course but did not complete it by enduring until the end.

There is much debate between the Calvinist and Arminian theological camps about the doctrine titled “Perseverance of the Saints.” A variation is the more popularly discussed “once saved, always saved” doctrine. We will not delve into this issue in any depth in this article. However, we can state that regardless of the position taken on the P in TULIP, all theologians must wrestle with and recognize that some who initially profess faith in Christ fall away at a later time.

While the explanation of how this is possible may differ — whether they were a false convert and never truly saved in the first place or whether they were saved and then lost their salvation — the fact remains that both camps agree that the promise of salvation is for those who endure until the end. Calvinists trust that God’s grace will make falling away impossible. Arminians tend to spend more energy encouraging the saints to remain in the faith. In doing so, both are agreeing with Paul’s statement that Christians are saved by faith in the gospel if they hold fast to it and endure until the end.

Paul summarized to Timothy in a trustworthy statement. (You can remind yourself and others of all five of Paul’s trustworthy statements with our framed poster.)

2 Timothy 2:11–13 (NASB)
It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

God is faithful. He will do as He promises. That includes denying those who deny Him. Paul is teaching something similar to what Christ Himself taught:

Matthew 10:32–33 (NASB)
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Denying the Lord goes beyond our words. The teaching of the New Testament emphasizes people denying Christ with their deeds. The same Greek word is used twice in Jesus’s statement in Matthew 10:33 and by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:12–13. This word is arneomai. The same word is used to show how people can deny the faith, the power of the gospel, and their Lord with their unrighteous deeds.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
2 Timothy 3:2–5 (NASB)
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Titus 1:16 (NASB)
They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

The power of the gospel is evident in the transformation of sinners into saints. However, false teachers have been around since the beginning. They attempt to get people to believe false ideas about grace and encourage people to live their lives in denial of Christ by continuing in sin. Don’t be fooled by false teachers who turn the grace of God into a license to sin.

Jude 1:3–4 (NASB)
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Peter tells us the impure and greedy motives of these false teachers who turn the grace of God into a license to sin, assumedly in order that they might maximize their own following and their own personal wealth. Believing these false gospels results in condemnation — both for the false teachers and those who believe their distorted and empty message.

2 Peter 2:1–3 (NASB)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

False teaching on the gospel also results in the way of the truth being slandered. It brings reproach upon the way of the truth from outsiders who observe the unrighteous lives and worldly focus of congregations and individuals holding fast to this false gospel.

Beware of perverting and distorting THE gospel message.

Continuing to live in bondage to sin (whether we have chosen to do so, or because a false teacher has given us license to do so) when Christ has offered us freedom is not the victorious kingdom-lifestyle that Jesus promised. Instead, it is an insult to the Holy Spirit and a trampling of the precious blood of Christ underfoot.

Hebrews 10:29 (NASB)
How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

The true teaching of grace is that God appeared, in Christ, to bring salvation, and then He instructed us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires for the rest of our lives. Paul states:

Titus 2:11–14 (NASB)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Instead of denying Christ, we deny ourselves. This is the true kingdom-lifestyle as we eagerly await the return of our King!

“Unless you believed in vain”

One of the most severe and common errors in modern Christian teaching is believing that people are saved “by faith.” This statement is almost true.

We need to understand what the Bible really teaches so we won’t be deceived and led astray. Paul teaches explicitly in 1 Corinthians 15 that the object of our faith is much more important than simply having faith. Misplaced faith is not saving faith.

The Bible plainly and directly teaches that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Jesus is the Savior, not “faith.” Faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed. Paul teaches explicitly in 1 Corinthians 15 that the object of our faith is what’s important, not faith itself.

This distinction is necessary to understand. It is why Paul is so adamant about the danger and consequences of placing faith in a different gospel or a different version of Jesus. Faith in those things cannot, and will not, save you.

The grace of God is available freely and lavishly in Christ. In order to receive the gift of salvation, we must turn to Christ and believe upon Him in truth. This is not the same as believing in an incorrect version of or simply any idea of Jesus. Consider Jesus’s conversation with Peter:

Matthew 16:13–18 (NASB)
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

(For more discussion on Peter, the Rock, check out our article linked here.)

Since the beginning, different ideas about who Christ is have existed. However, it is the proper identification of Christ that matters. Many cults and heretical groups have incorrect beliefs about Jesus. These false views do not result in salvation. In order to be saved, people must repent of their incorrect beliefs and believe the true testimony of God concerning His Son.

1 John 5:10–12 (NASB)
The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

To reiterate: people are not saved by having faith. They are saved by having faith in Christ; believing upon Jesus in truth, according to the very testimony of God the Father about His Son.

If I call anything else “Jesus,” that thing (and my faith in it) has no power to save. The Israelites called the golden calf by the name of the Lord and attributed to their idol the works of the living God (see Exodus 32:1–8 and Nehemiah 9:18). In effect, the Israelites redefined the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. People still attempt to do this today. Many different versions of Jesus exist in the minds of people. But Jesus is not a “product” to be sold or someone who can be fashioned in any way that our “consumers” desire. Instead, Christ is the risen and exalted Lord of all. He is who He is.

Paul urged in 1 Corinthians 10 (citing the golden calf narrative) for followers of Christ to learn from the mistakes of Israel’s past and flee from idolatry. Don’t worship a golden calf Jesus.

Idols don’t save. The living God can and does save when people believe His gospel. If we are not trusting in a God who is able to save by His grace, our “faith” is an empty and worthless thing in the end. It may make us feel better for a time. Eventually, it will be revealed as nothing more than wishful thinking. This is exactly what Paul is explaining here in 1 Corinthians 15:2.

1 Corinthians 15:2 (NASB)
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

The truth of the gospel is able to save all who believe it. Those who believe must hold fast to this truth until the end. We don’t want to be like the seed sown upon the rocky soil or among the thorns.

The last clause of this phrase is easily misunderstood: “unless you believed in vain.” The word translated vain here is the Greek word eike. It’s the only place this word is used in 1 Corinthians 15. The NASB translates a different Greek word, kenos, with the same English word “vain” four times in 1 Corinthians 15 in verses 10, 14 (twice), and 58. The sentiment is similar, which is why the same English word is used both places. However, there is a nuance that is important for us to see.

In 1 Corinthians 15:2, Paul is setting the stage for the importance of the historical resurrection of Christ. If the gospel isn’t true, or if Christ did not rise, then their faith is vain. That is, it is empty or without justification. Remember, faith doesn’t save us — Jesus does. If Jesus failed, you can believe all you want, but it will be without effect if Christ is not risen.

If Christ did not fulfill the Scriptures and rise from the dead, Paul says:

1 Corinthians 15:13–14 (NASB)
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

Paul is teaching that if the object of our faith (the gospel of Jesus Christ) is empty, then the fruit of that faith will likewise be empty. James teaches something similar when he contrasts a living faith with a dead faith that is incapable of saving (James 2:14–16).

Paul is stern about the dangers of misplaced faith. Faith in any other gospel other than THE gospel ends only in condemnation. Likewise, trusting in a dead Savior would also be fruitless. It would be worthy of nothing but great pity.

1 Corinthians 15:16–19 (NASB)
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Praise God that Christ is risen from the dead! Our faith in Christ is well-placed and He does freely offer salvation to all who will turn to Him in humble faith. This is good news indeed! In fact, it is THE (definite article) Good News of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God! Genuine saving faith in a living Savior is not vain. It is powerful and will produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

A Received Faith — “According to the Scriptures”

Paul was explicit that the gospel he preached was not something he made up. Instead, it was a message that he received directly from Jesus. Paul was not one of the original Apostles and did not learn the gospel from them (Galatians 1:11–17). He did have opportunity to lay the gospel he received before the Apostles in Jerusalem after more than a decade of preaching. James, Peter, and John agreed that this was the true gospel message of Christ (Galatians 2:1–10).

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul uses a repeated phrase to outline the essential content of the gospel he received. This formulaic construction uses the Greek word hoti, translated “that” in English.

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 (NASB)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

The essential content of the gospel Paul received and delivered is:

That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
That He was buried;
That He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and;
That He appeared to witnesses alive from the dead.

Each of these phrases can (and often should!) be expanded upon greatly. It is important to notice the repeated phrase “according to the Scriptures.” At the time of Paul’s writing this phrase in 1 Corinthians, the “New Testament” as we understand it did not exist. Paul was currently writing one of the twenty-seven books in our New Testament. Most scholars would agree, only Galatians, James, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians were written before 1 Corinthians. That’s less than 15% of the books we now call “The New Testament” in our Bibles!

Therefore, what Paul is referring to is what we refer to as the Old Testament. Paul simply called these writings the Scriptures. Of course, the New Testament tells us much about Jesus and the gospel! However, we must never forget that the Old Testament is the foundation of the gospel. It is a powerful source of proclaiming the gospel message of Christ and His kingdom.

Jesus taught plainly:

John 5:39–40, 46–47 (NASB)
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. … For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The gospel Paul received from the risen Christ follows the same basic format that Christ gave to the other Apostles after His resurrection and prior to His ascension to Heaven.

You Are Witnesses

“You are witnesses of these things.”

— Jesus (Luke 24:48)

Jesus spoke the words recorded in Luke 24:48 on the day He was raised from the dead. If removed from their context, we would have a lot of room for speculation as to what we, as Christians today, are to be witnesses of. Fortunately, we have the New Testament writings. We can know with certainty what we are to be witnesses of.

Witnesses of what things?

Ideas of “bearing witness” and “giving testimony” usually suggest telling what you have seen. What you have experienced. With this in mind, many people view Christian testimony as an expression of their own personal experiences with the Lord. This is widely held to be self-evident. However, what Jesus is teaching goes beyond this subjective testimony of our own experiences.

In the Bible, we read that Jesus told His disciples they would be witnesses of the things they saw and experienced. Modern believers often think that we have different testimonies because we have seen and experienced different things. Different things than the first Christians. Different things than other Christians living today.

This idea is common. It is also incomplete. Christian testimony may (and often should) include this subjective form of testimony. But it is also much more than this. Christian testimony moves beyond the subjective to the objective. We must learn the true meaning of Christian witness and testimony because it is different than what most Christians think.

Subjective Vs. Objective Witness

Jesus tells His followers exactly what they are going to be witnesses of within the context of Luke 24. On the day Jesus rose from the dead, He joined two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. They were discussing the current events revolving around the crucifixion of Jesus and the empty tomb. They were not clear on what exactly had taken place.

Jesus responded to them,

Luke 24:25–26 (NASB)
“O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Jesus opened the Scriptures to them. He explained the things Moses and all the prophets foretold about the Christ. They broke bread together. Then Jesus vanished from their sight.

They immediately got up and travelled approximately seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples. When they arrived, they found the eleven Apostles gathered together. Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter, too.

While they were discussing their experiences, Jesus appeared in their midst. He ate with them. Then He addressed them all together.

Luke 24:44–49 (NASB)
“These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

You are witnesses of these things.

What things?

That the Christ would suffer;
That the Christ would rise from the dead;
That the Christ would enter into His glory, and;
That repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in the name of the Christ to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.

Jesus had very specific, objective things for them to bear witness to. All of these things were foretold in the Scriptures. The things written about Christ in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had been fulfilled. Followers of Christ are to testify of these things in all the earth. Proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus.

You are witnesses of these things.

Take note that nowhere in the passage does Jesus say, “Go. Tell the world how happy I’ve made you. Hopefully, people will want Me to make them happy, too.”

Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to bear witness to a subjective, self-centered form of testimony. Quite the contrary. Jesus instructed His followers to bear witness to an objective, Christ-centered testimony.

That does not mean that part of our Christian witness should not include how our lives have been transformed, or that we’ve found the peace that passes all understanding, joy unspeakable, and everlasting hope. What it does mean is that the first thing we are to bear witness to is the gospel.

There is a big difference between these priorities and approaches. Not subjective, self-centered things. Witnesses of objective, Christ-centered things.

Since Jesus knew that bearing witness to His suffering, death, resurrection, entering into His glory, and the need for proclaiming repentance for the forgiveness of sins in all the earth was a LOT to ask of His disciples, He also insisted that they wait for His gift of the Holy Spirit to come. The Holy Spirit would give them power to faithfully bear testimony to these things in all the world.

The Witness of Paul

The Apostle Paul described the gospel he proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 15. He bore witness to Jesus fulfilling the Scriptures. Paul followed the pattern Jesus described in Luke 24.

Paul proclaimed repentance and forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus to the remotest parts of the earth. He dedicated his life to delivering the testimony that he received—the testimony of Jesus. Paul testified of Christ fulfilling the Scriptures. He bore witness to Jesus’s suffering. Dying. Rising again. All according to the Scriptures.

Later in the same chapter (1 Corinthians 15), Paul describes Jesus entering His glory and sitting at the right hand of the Father until the Father puts all things in subjection under Jesus’s feet.

Paul testified to the things Christ said. Paul also explained the implications.

Acts 17:30–31 (NASB)
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

The gospel of Christ is a gospel of the coming Kingdom of the Messiah. This same Jesus who has already come, will come again in glory to gather His people to Himself from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people. He will also bring furious wrath upon those who persist in rebellion against Him and who refuse to believe the gospel.

A Unifying Testimony — THE Testimony

This objective, Christ-centered testimony is unifying. Christians do not have a testimony. We hold to the testimony of Christ.

Look at how this truth is described in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 12:11 (NASB)
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Sometimes, the last part of this is lopped off. We sing about the blood of the Lamb. We sing about overcoming by our testimony. Are we just as excited to sing about not loving our lives even when faced with death?

No one has to die for subjective, self-centered testimony. Objective, Christ-centered testimony is qualitatively different. By contrast, the world and the adversary have always been, and continue to be, warring against the testimony of Christ.

Revelation 12:17 (NASB)
So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The dragon wars against those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Not a testimony. The testimony.

You are witnesses of these things.

As noted above, our personal, subjective experiences of our lives in Christ should, and will, influence how we talk about Jesus. What we’ve seen, experienced, and walked through can play an important role in our declaring the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

But these subjective, self-centered things are not the testimony of Jesus. This personal form of testimony is different from the things Jesus commanded His followers—from the beginning until the end—to testify to. It is crucial to remember that the costs and benefits of living a life in Christ can only come to others AFTER they have heard the gospel and believed.

Romans 10:14–15 (NASB)
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Luke 24 tells us that Jesus opened their minds to the Scriptures. Jesus taught them everything the Scriptures taught about Him. From Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

While we don’t have Jesus’s teaching notes or outline from these encounters, we do have the completed New Testament. The New Testament contains inspired teaching and records how the Apostles proclaimed Christ and bore witness to Him from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

We transcend human testimony when we appeal to the Scriptures. It is true that Moses, David, Isaiah and so on, bore witness. Yet, these men declared God’s testimony. The Apostle Peter said:

2 Peter 1:20–21 (NASB)
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

God’s Testimony

The New Testament refers to God’s testimony concerning His Son:

John 3:31–33
1 Corinthians 2:12

2 Timothy 1:8
Hebrews 1:1–2

1 John 5:9–12
Revelation 1:1–2, 9

These passages declare something easily missed by those who have substituted subjective, personal, self-centered testimony in place of objective, God-centered testimony. God Himself has borne testimony regarding the Christ. God has done this through creation, the Scriptures, and most fully through Jesus Himself.

Why would we rely on the lesser personal testimony of men when we have access to the greater testimony of the living God? We should follow the example of the Apostle Paul who passed on what he had first received (1 Corinthians 15:1–5). As followers of Christ, we have a great and awesome responsibility to proclaim the testimony of our Lord in the world. This is what Paul was doing when “he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening” (Acts 28:23b, NASB).

Don’t Force It

It is important to note that it is not our task to forcefully shoehorn Christ into every passage we read in the Old Testament. Many opinions and approaches could be presented about which passages should and should not be included in our testimony about Christ. As we read through the New Testament, we are blessed to see many citations of Old Testament Scriptures. In this article, the New Testament will direct our attention to passages that proclaim Christ from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms according to the tradition and teaching of the Apostles. We’ve covered many of them already in the earlier articles in this series on The Kingdom.

The testimony of Christ is something we can (and should) grow in both our knowledge and practice of over a lifetime of continued study and application. By His grace and for His glory.

The gospel message of Christ and His kingdom is so amazing because it is both simple and deep. It is so simple that even young children can understand that Christ died, was buried, and rose again to offer salvation to all sinners who turn to Him and believe. Yet the same gospel message is so deep that theologians can dwell on it for a lifetime without ever reaching the end of it.

We must open up the Old Testament Scriptures. We must look to what has been declared about the Christ in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. And we must rely upon the Holy Spirit to empower our witness and to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment as we lovingly, boldly, clearly, and compassionately bear witness to these things in obedience to our Lord and Savior.

For the glory of His great name.

What Did Jesus Do to Usher in His Kingdom?

Often when people think about what Jesus did, they are thinking about His miracles or other activities during His life. However, in this article we will focus specifically on what Jesus did regarding ushering in His Kingdom.

Luke 4:17–21 (NASB)
And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1–2. Jesus came in the name of the Lord to announce the release of captives from a spiritual dictator (the devil) and to announce that The Kingdom of God is at hand! He was proclaiming a release from the curse for humanity’s rebellion against God in the beginning of creation. This is good news indeed!

Mark 1:38–39 (NASB)
He *said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

Jesus came to preach the gospel of The Kingdom. He also demonstrated His kingdom-power by casting out demons.

Acts 10:38–43 (NASB)
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus went about in the anointing of God with the Holy Spirit and power, doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. We see spiritual warfare between the kingdom of darkness and The Kingdom of God. Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures and sent His followers to bear testimony to this in the world.

1 John 3:7–8 (NASB)
Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

The Son of God came for the purpose of destroying the works of the devil. So, how was this victory accomplished? By fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law, recorded in the Old Testament.

Romans 8:1–4 (NASB)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Galatians 2:19–21 (NASB)
For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.

This substitutionary act by Christ has both a negative and positive effect. That doesn’t mean a bad and a good aspect, but rather something it takes away and something it adds. Both the negative and positive aspects are good. Both are necessary for our salvation.

The negative aspect is that Christ took the sin of the world upon Himself and even became sin on the cross. This satisfied the justice of a holy and righteous God who cannot overlook or ignore sin. Instead, sin was fully punished as Christ bore the wrath of God upon the cross. In so doing, Christ died for our sins and took them away from us.

The positive aspect is just as necessary. Christ adds to His people His perfect righteousness, which is required to enter The Kingdom of God. If only our sins were taken away, we would not have the merit necessary to dwell in God’s holy presence. So, the positive addition of being clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness is also required for our salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf [negative], so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [positive].
Matthew 5:20, 48 (NASB)
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. … Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

This glorious mystery was revealed to us. It shows how, in Christ, God can be both just and the justifier of the one who puts their faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26). This solves a dilemma that has existed since God revealed His character to Moses as a God who both forgives sin, iniquity, and transgression, while also being a God who will by no means let sin go unpunished (Exodus 34:6–7).

Christ perfectly fulfilled the redemptive purpose of God, prophesied in passages such as Isaiah 52:13—53:12, by making use of a caveat in the Law found in Deuteronomy 21:22–23. The Apostle Paul quotes the relevant section of this Law when explaining how Christ was able to lawfully take the curse upon Himself to free us from it by faith.

Galatians 3:10–14 (NASB)
For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Christ’s Victory

The gospel message tells us how Christ attained this victory. It was through His death, burial, and resurrection in fulfillment of the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that the rulers and authorities who came against Christ accomplished their own undoing.

1 Corinthians 2:6–8 (NASB)
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

This victory, purchased in blood and demonstrated with power by His resurrection from the dead, accomplished the purposes of forgiving the sins of those who believe and transferring them into The Kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:13–14 (NASB)
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In achieving this victory, God disarmed the rulers and authorities of this world through Christ.

Colossians 2:15 (NASB)
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

This victory is not only spiritual. Christ accomplished victory over death—both biological and spiritual.

Hebrews 2:14–15 (NASB)
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

While we ought to marvel at this victory accomplished by Christ, the truth gets even more amazing. Not only has Christ attained this victory, but this victory is also given to His people!

1 Corinthians 15:56–57 (NASB)
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In accordance with God’s eternal purpose in Christ, we have been released from our sins and given an eternal inheritance in The Kingdom of God, so that we can make His glory known in all the earth.

2 Corinthians 2:14–17 (NASB)
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

Jesus explained the kingdom-purpose of Paul’s ministry in proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 26:16–18 (NASB)
But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I [Jesus] have appeared to you [Paul], to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Paul proclaimed the gospel of Christ and The Kingdom of God faithfully. Paul made it clear that God’s purpose was to continue to defeat the kingdom of darkness through His people, the church.

Romans 16:20 (NASB)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The church — the body of Christ — is a continuation of Christ’s ministry on earth, after His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation to the right hand of the Father. The work of the church will continue until Christ returns to begin His millennial reign on earth. Then, the church will reign with Him.

Preaching Christ as Lord

Most people think of the gospel as a purely religious topic. It’s understandable. It is also incorrect. Hopefully, as we view the close connection between the gospel and The Kingdom of God, we can readily see the political nature of this message in addition to its more well-known religious connotation.

Paul states it succinctly:

2 Corinthians 4:5 (NASB)
For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

Preaching Christ Jesus as Lord is both a religious and political statement, especially when understood in its original context. We must understand this context.

Romans 10:9 (NASB)
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

In our modern context, this statement by Paul may be a trivial thing. In our day, it is fairly easy to say the words “Jesus is Lord.” In most cases, the consequences are minor (if there are any consequences at all).

The original recipients of this message were either Jews or Gentiles. The Jews already had a Lord: YHWH. To confess Jesus as Lord to a Jew was to open themselves to the charge of blasphemy. According to Jewish law, this deserved a penalty of death. Additionally, the people of Jesus’s day were under control of the Roman empire. To confess Jesus as Lord to a Roman citizen was to open themselves to the charge of treason, since the Romans had Caesar as their lord. Again, death.

The weight of this statement is often lost on modern American readers who have lived their entire lives in a democratic republic with freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Another factor that diminishes the political nature of the gospel and The Kingdom is that our society has greatly emphasized the title of Jesus as Savior, while simultaneously diminishing His title as Lord. While this is not true in every circle, you will very likely find more people who identify Jesus as their Savior rather than as their Lord.

Certainly, the title “Savior” is well represented in the Bible. We find this title thirteen times in the Old Testament and twenty-four in the New. In the New Testament, “Savior” explicitly refers to Jesus eighteen times. The remaining six are of God the Father. By contrast, “Lord” is applied to Jesus in the New Testament more than 150 times. In fact, one third of the Savior references (six out of eighteen that refer to Jesus) also include the title Lord; that is, they refer to “the Lord and Savior” Jesus Christ.

Lord and Savior Usage in NT — lord and savior

Does your emphasis on the titles you use for Jesus match the usage of these titles in the New Testament?

The New Testament certainly uses both terms for Christ. We must make careful note that the emphasis in Scripture is clearly weighted toward Lord. This title is used more than eight times as often as Savior.

It seems the church, and our world, would benefit from shifting to a more biblically balanced testimony regarding Christ. This emphasis in Scripture tends to indicate an exalted status of Christ, above and beyond anything and everything else in all of creation. However, much of our modern gospel proclamation lowers Christ and exalts humans. Most likely, this is because people tend to respond more favorably to man-centered preaching than they do to Christ-centered preaching.

Man-Centered or God-Centered Preaching? — An Example

Here is a common gospel call that you may hear proclaimed in the world: “Will you make Jesus Lord or your life and accept Him as your personal Savior?”

Most people think that this is a valid and biblical gospel call. But is it? Consider this biblical statement:

Acts 2:36 (NASB)
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The Bible tells us that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. This is something that we can know for certain. So, why would we offer rebellious humans the opportunity to make Jesus Lord when God has already made Jesus Lord? Do you see the problem? This makes it seem like His Lordship is up to us, which subtly puts us in control.

The biblical statement declares the weighty truth that Jesus is Lord. This is true whether or not anyone believes or accepts it. A modern example will help make the point a little clearer. You may have noticed that many people do not like the current president. You may have also noticed that many people did not like the previous president, either. While I’m not a prophet, I can say with relatively low fear of refutation that it is highly likely that many people will not like whoever the next president is, either.

With this being the case, I’m sure I’m not the only person who has heard someone remark: “Well, he’s not my president! I didn’t vote for him!” While this sentiment may be stated loudly and confidently, it is also patently absurd. Of course, he is their president. Their denial of reality doesn’t stop the president from flying in Air Force One, sitting in the Oval Office, or vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard.

The modern appeal “to make Jesus Lord” is subtly an acquiescence to the subjective and rebellious nature of human beings. It deviously gives the hearer the authority to place Christ over them or not. However, this is not the message of the Bible. Instead, the message of the Bible is that Jesus is Lord over all — whether we like it or not, believe it or not, acknowledge it or not. It is true, nonetheless.

And, with Christ, there is no term limit, no chance for a recall or impeachment, nor is there anywhere you can move to avoid His rule and reign. His kingdom rules over all the kingdoms of the earth!

The genuine biblical gospel message is more offensive to sinners because it tells them to repent of their rebellion against Christ and to confess (acknowledge/recognize) that He is Lord. Those who turn to Him and receive His gracious offer of the gift of redemption will be saved. Those who persist in their rebellion will still one day bow their knee and acknowledge the Lordship of Christ.

Philippians 2:9–11 (NASB)
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As we understand the gospel and The Kingdom, we see the political and religious nature of the gospel call. The gospel is not merely a call to have our sins forgiven and go to Heaven when we die. That’s part of it. However, the full gospel call includes a transfer of dominion—out from the kingdom of darkness and rule of Satan and into The Kingdom of Christ and under His rule as our Lord.

(For more discussion on this, don’t miss our articles on Self-Centered Theology and God-Centered Theology.)

Concluding Thoughts on The Gospel & The Kingdom

We don’t want to subtly change the message of Christ. We should strive to be faithful in bearing the testimony that God has given us concerning His Son. We should also be prepared to endure hostility from the world that is rebellious toward our Lord and His gospel. As we endure, in the grace of God, we are called to pray for those who persecute us, love those who hate us, and bless those who curse us. We are not called to change the message (even subtly) so that we won’t be persecuted, hated, and cursed.

Luke 6:26 (NASB)
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
John 15:18–21 (NASB)
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.”

We’ve only been able to skim the surface of this essential and foremost truth. As we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ we should strive to walk more and more in the power and leading of the Holy Spirit and mature in our ability to communicate these truths to others.

In our final article in this Kingdom series, we will turn our attention to some Kingdom perspectives for living in light of these truths. We have covered much ground (for all our articles in this series, click here). As we prepare to conclude our study, we will look forward to putting it all together so that we can, by the grace of God, live lives worthy of the calling that we have received. To the praise and glory of His great name.