The New Testament Church Part 10: (Kingdom message and proclamation)
Introduction
Near the end of the book of Matthew we find Jesus giving his disciples a detailed picture of the future and of the end of the age. He says that ‘this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14). There's no reason why this couldn't be accomplished within the next few decades.
The Kingdom now
The Gospel of the Kingdom was the centrepiece of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In the beginning of Matthew we read that he ‘went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people’ (Matthew 4:23).
In the person and work of Jesus, the Kingdom of God, his rule and reign, was perfectly manifest. His healings and exorcisms were clear demonstrations of God’s rule overcoming demonic power. Jesus said in Matthew 12:28, that ‘if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.’
In Matt 10:7-8 Jesus tells his disciples:
As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
This activity was also a mark of the New Testament Church. Is it a mark of the Church to which we belong? Do we strive for these things? Do we consider them important? Are we teaching our young people today how to heal the sick and drive out demons?
The Great Commission
The evangelistic work of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom is the Church’s primary ministry to the world. It is often referred to as the Great Commission. Jesus tasked his disciples to 'go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit' (Matthew 28:18).
Paul, as a missionary to the Gentiles, proclaimed the message of the Kingdom. In Acts 28:31 we read that he ‘boldly and without hindrance . . . preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.’ The Church communicates the universal truths that all people have sinned (Romans 3:23), that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8).
As men preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, so God drew the unsaved to himself. In John’s gospel we read that 'no one can come to me (Jesus) unless the Father who sent me draws him…' (John 6:44). Similarly Peter says that it is God who 'called you out of darkness into his wonderful light' (1 Peter 2:9). There is only one way to God and this is through his son Jesus Christ.
Whilst God has chosen in his wisdom to use the Church to be the mouthpiece of his Gospel message, he also at times uses angels, dreams and visitations etc. When the Church doesn't rise to its responsibility Paul is right to ask 'how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?' (Romans 10:14).
The Kingdom future
Whilst the Kingdom of God has come, we still await its full consummation. In theological language this is called an 'inaugurated eschatology.' We read in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament, that the Kingdom of God will be realised in all its fullness when Jesus returns to judge the earth’s inhabitants and to establish his sovereign rule.
The book of Revelation gives us a detailed picture of Jesus’ place within the unfolding realisation of God’s Kingdom and for a more detailed account of what that means you should look through our articles on eschatology.
A message of hope
The Kingdom message and proclamation is one of hope and comfort for both the present and the future. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus we proclaim a message of forgiveness and entry into God’s Kingdom and also the return of Jesus and the overthrow of wickedness, injustice, sorrow, pain and death.
Our desire as a ministry is to see individual lives, families and communities transformed as people respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. To see people saved and set free from empty ways of living and baptised into lives of radical discipleship. Peter reveals the heart of God when he says that 'He (God) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance' (2 Peter 2:9).
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Mutually beneficial characteristics
It's important to bear in mind the overlap and relationship that exists between the different characteristics of the New Testament Church:
General introduction to series . . .
Part 1 in this series discusses Eschatological focus . . .
Part 2 in this series discusses Prophetic mandate . . .
Part 3 in this series discusses Meeting in houses and community living . . .
Part 4 in this series discusses Leadership . . .
Part 5 in this series discusses Discipleship . . .
Part 6 in this series discusses Spiritual gifts . . .
Part 7 in this series discusses Pioneers or settlers . . .
Part 8 in this series discusses Identity precedes function . . .
Part 9 in this series discusses Relational unity . . .
Part 10 in this series discusses Kingdom message and proclamation . . .
Part 11 in this series discusses The persecuted Church . . .
Near the end of the book of Matthew we find Jesus giving his disciples a detailed picture of the future and of the end of the age. He says that ‘this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14). There's no reason why this couldn't be accomplished within the next few decades. . . .