Thy Kingdom Come

Read Luke 4:16-21

I have a friend, who like many, had a little church background as a child.  Then he grew up, and he met some Christians.  He tried church again.  The message rang true, and sometimes the preacher seemed to be talking right to him (funny how often that happens).  He was trying to make sense of it all.  Finally, after talking about it, we prayed together, reviewing the gospel, and he left with new confidence that he had peace with God. 

The first proof that the kingdom is here now is the preaching of the gospel, simple as that.  The word gospel means “good news,” and it’s the story of Christ for all who believe.  When Jesus quotes from Isaiah’s prophecy at synagogue that day, what is the first item on Isaiah’s list?  The preaching of the gospel to the poor:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor."

Luke 4:18

You may know that John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin and end-times “front man”) was put in prison during Jesus’ ministry.  This baptizer wasn’t planning on jail, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" 

Jesus’ answer points to the preaching of the gospel: 

Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."

Matthew 11:4-6

The fact the gospel is preached is proof that the kingdom of God is present. 

The preaching of the gospel is no less a proof than the miracles that the kingdom of heaven has come. 

Herman Ribberbos

So what’s the gospel?  Paul sums it up:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve...

1 Corinthians 15:3-5

A sinless Christ died for our sins as scripture predicted.  Once buried, he was physically raised from the dead.  His death brings forgiveness for all sins, and his life brings new (and ultimately eternal) life for all who repent and believe:

"The time has come," [John] said.  "The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 1:15

You see, believing the gospel and becoming a Christian are often the product not of one decision but of many little decisions.  One decision might be that Christianity as “religion” might not be all evil, all the time after all.  Or, “Here’s a Christian that I don't think is a complete idiot.” The gospel message will often unfold in people’s lives bit by bit. 

If the story of Christ’s death on the cross to forgive your sins rings true, as if something inside is confirming it to you, your heart is responding to the gospel.  To “believe” is to take it to heart.  And that will lead to “repentance:” a radical, from-the-heart reorientation, a 180 degree turnaround: “I was going away from God.  Now I will go toward God.”   

It will change your life.  Some changes may come quickly, but like the Velveteen Rabbit’s becoming real, it doesn’t happen all at once.  And we don’t do it on our own.  We’re meant to be in community. 

Jesus preached the gospel, and now it falls to the church to follow in his steps.  It’s his famous “last command.” 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Would you be able to explain the gospel to someone else?  It’s not rocket science, and there’s no greater privilege.  There’s enough information above to do it. 

Is there someone close enough to you to share what Jesus means to you? 

But actions speak louder than words, and that brings us to the other proof of the presence of the Kingdom.