The Kingdom IS The Gospel

Nov. 9

Read: Mark 1:1-14

The Kingdom IS The Gospel

“Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (v.14)

What if we found out that our “gospel” was different than Jesus’? What would we do then?Have we, over time, slowly made the “good news” of God mostly about us; and in turn lost sight of the true grandeur and scope of what God is doing?

The very first words of Jesus in the book of Mark are him declaring the “gospel”. It plainly says that Jesus “came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God”. (v.14) It is important to note that Jesus’ gospel is GOD’s gospel. He and the Father are in tune - they are ONE - and share the same mission and “gospel”. What Jesus declares is NOT “I died on the cross for your sins”. Jesus doesn’t say, “believe in me, and ask me into your heart, and then you get to go to heaven.” Jesus’ gospel is pretty straight forward: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” For God… for Jesus… THE KINGDOM OF GOD is The Gospel.

TO BE CLEAR: Jesus DID pay our sin debt on the cross… we ARE justified by the death of Christ. But have we ever stopped to ask why? Is there a bigger plan at play? Jesus DOES set up his dwelling place in us, and if we die before Jesus returns our souls will be with the Lord in paradise / heaven until the resurrection. (cf. John 14:23, Eph. 2:22) These are true ideas, but are only a portion of the bigger picture. They happen to be the benefits that come to us directly… so one might say we have become “selfish” by only focusing on OUR benefits… and losing sight of the larger work God is doing!

YOU and I… the people of God… God’s children… we have been redeemed and called into HIS KINGDOM. Our redemption was and is driven by God’s love for sure… but also to bring us into the WORK of the HIS KINGDOM. It is the in-breaking of God’s kingdom that is the true “good news”. This is why it is so crucial to understand the Kingdom. We have been made a part of something bigger!

Write out today (or whenever you have time) what the “Kingdom of God” means to you. What do you see about it in the scriptures? This is what God is bringing about through his people! This is the work God is doing through you … his people. It is “good news” for US… and “good news” for the world. We will continue tomorrow to look at the KOG (Kingdom of God). Love you guys. - JDP