Show notes
Throughout the gospels, Jesus continually proclaims that the Kingdom of God has come. Sometimes he calls it the Kingdom of heaven or the good news of the Kingdom. In Matthew 4:23, for instance we read that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Yesterday we said that the gospel literally means “good news.” When Jesus proclaims the “good news of the kingdom,” he is clearly saying that the gospel is about a kingdom. His kingdom which has come to earth through Him.Since the fall of mankind in the garden, the earth had been under the sway of Satan and evil. Now, the God of the universe has appeared in the incarnation, the creator becoming a creature so that His creatures can know the creator and the evil one’s power destroyed through the creator's death and resurrection. This is the most amazing good news a fallen world could ever have. And with that good news comes a whole different kingdom. The kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven. The gospel changes everything. Those who have accepted the gift of salvation, who have been changed through the gospel are no longer members of the kingdom of this world but are members of God’s kingdom living in this world. In God’s kingdom, all people matter, there is no racism or injustice. It is a kingdom that lives by the ethics and righteousness of God. This is why we are told to pray, in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God wants His kingdom to come to earth. To our places of business, our neighborhoods, our schools and wherever we work and have influence. And how does it come? It comes through those of us who are members of his kingdom because we have been changed by the good news of the gospel. Too many Christians today think that the gospel is about one thing only: Gaining salvation so they have a ticket to heaven. That is only one small part of the gospel. The gospel encompasses God’s kingdom. God did not save you simply to get you to heaven. He saved you so that you would join Him in his transformational work in this world to bring the good news and the hope, joy, righteousness, ethics, practices of His kingdom to the places we live and work and the relationships we have. The gospel changes our commitments, relationships and lifestyles and calls us to join God in bringing real transformation to individuals, institutions and communities in the name of Jesus. There is literally no part of our lives, our communities, our institutions, or our relationships that should not be touched and transformed by the gospel. As those changed by the gospel we are now citizens of heaven and live by the righteousness of God and His Kingdom. Father, as I walk through my day today, help me remember that I represent you and your kingdom. Use me to bring your kingdom to earth, to the places that I live and work and relate. Help me to be your subversive influence in a world that is driven by its own kingdom priorities rather than yours. May your kingdom come and your will be done through me on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.