Gospel of the Kingdom

Study written by 3Crosses Church

Week 9 3Crosses Church Week 9 3Crosses Church

5. Share the Gospel + Life Group Discussion Questions

Week 9 • Day 5

Week 9 • Day 5

Share the Gospel Video:

 

Week 9 Life Group Discussion Questions

Paul’s Kingdom Tour - NOW: The kingdom of God begins with God’s rule - the victory of Jesus on the cross and the forgiveness of sins available in him alone! By faith in Jesus, we receive the kingdom when our sins are cleansed and the Holy Spirit dwells in us - making us the temple place of God! From that moment forward, we become God’s kingdom people who learn to love God once more by walking with him in obedience and love others in the way we interact with His kingdom family. This is how the kingdom of God comes to earth as it is in heaven!

Paul’s Kingdom Tour - NOT YET: Paul’s challenge to us exists in the tension that God’s kingdom can be made a reality here on earth “NOW” while still waiting for the “NOT YET” final judgment of sin and the permanent establishment of God’s kingdom. The “NOW” message offers a life of intimacy with the Creator of the Universe, true and meaningful life change through Jesus’ conquering of sin, and tremendous kingdom purpose on this earth through the Holy spirit. The “NOT YET” message offers hope for an eternal existence without sin or suffering!

Question: How does the life of Saul → Paul encourage you? In what ways can you live with the kingdom in mind here on earth NOW? In what ways can you live with the kingdom in mind that has NOT YET been fully realized? How do you reconcile those two concepts?

Hebrews and the High Priest: If the Old Testament explains the Old Covenant way we are brought back into the presence of God, Hebrews explains the New Covenant way paved by Jesus! Jesus, who is God in the flesh, sacrifices his eternally spotless body and blood so that our sins may be permanently covered and that we would have access to God to experience His loving kingdom rule in our lives! 

Question: What is the relationship that you see between the Old Testament and Hebrews? Based on what you have seen from these two books, what would you say to someone with the common objection about why Jesus HAD to die? 

The General Epistles: Jesus is calling us into his own lifestyle of love and obedience to his authoritative rule as God’s kingdom place as we love His people. Since we live in a fallen world, we should expect to experience suffering, but we are continuing to learn how to choose obedience to God’s kingdom rule above what is temporary on this earth.

Question: What are some of the challenges you are experiencing right now and how do these verses give you hope for the future? What is God calling you to do that requires your obedience, even if it means suffering?

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4. A New Kingdom Posture Towards Life

Week 9 • Day 4

Week 9 • Day 4

As I started to prepare this lesson on the general epistles (James / 1st and 2nd Peter / 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John / Jude), I did not think I would detail out many scriptures. I collected several references but wondered if everyone would gain better clarity if they read and highlighted the scriptures which spoke to them individually, in their own Bibles. But as I was reading these epistles back-to-back I started to recognize a very clear and central message. The beauty of this message is evident in the repetition of the concept, over and over again. 

As a result of the gospel of the kingdom, the general epistles clarify what it means to live the ‘kingdom life’ of (1) loving God with all of our hearts and (2) loving others even in the midst of terrible suffering. 

It felt almost like the Holy Spirit was highlighting the text for me and burning it into my soul. I would like to invite you now into that same experience. Will you read these verses and write a brief reflection before we jump into today’s lesson? What is the Holy Spirit telling you?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. - James 1:19-22

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. - James 2:17-19, 26

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. - James 4:7-10 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. - 1 Peter 1:6-9, 22-23

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:21-25

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.  For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. - 1 Peter 4:12-19

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. - 2 Peter 1:3-7

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. - 2 Peter 3:10-16

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. - 1 John 2:15-17 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. - 1 John 4:7-12, 19-21

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 5:1-5

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. - 2 John 1:6

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. - 3 John 1:5-8 

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. - Jude 1:17-23

Here is what the Spirit has shared with me.

As we have seen, there is a tension between our status as saved kingdom people “NOW” in Jesus Christ and our existence in a world that is marked by the effects of the serpent kingdom that has “NOT YET” been fully redeemed. How are we called to live in the world and in our own flesh that will be hostile to the kingdom of God?

As God’s kingdom ambassadors, there is a posture we are called to take and guiding principles describing why we take that posture. It was modeled for us by King Jesus himself. It’s incredibly easy to see in the scripture and incredibly easy to recite. Yet, it is incredibly difficult to live. Let’s explore this together by reminding ourselves of the “red letter” words of Jesus and digging a little deeper into the scriptures listed above!

KINGDOM POSTURE: OBEDIENCE

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” - John 14:23–24

Right away I noticed the need to be obedient.  We were created with free will, so obedience is a choice. Thus, the first step of this humble kingdom posture has always been to listen, obey, and trust God’s rule about what is “good” and “bad” through what He says in the scriptures. We are faced with these kinds of choices every step of the way; the choice to consider suffering joy (James 1:2) and with that knowledge obey what the scripture says even when it hurts (James 1:22). We are challenged to humble ourselves (James 4:10) and accept that we will suffer (1 Peter 1:6). This should not be a surprise considering our fallen world that has been affected by the serpent kingdom and his minions who will do anything to keep us from the victory of Jesus (1 Peter 4:12). Therefore, it is not enough to merely state that we love Jesus but completely disregard him as Lord. Instead, if we truly love Him, our love ought to flow towards a spontaneous and radical obedience to the commands of God’s rule (2 John 1:6). This posture of obedience to the Holy Spirit while anticipating suffering and still choosing to represent God’s kingdom love to the nations is one that we are most certainly not inclined to do. Rather, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience no matter what comes our way. 

KINGDOM POSTURE: FOLLOW ME 

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

And after saying this he said to him, “Follow Me” - John 21:15–17, 19

It is also very clear that Jesus modeled the behavior of complete obedience for us. Throughout his ministry, Jesus chose to obey even though it led him to a brutal death on the cross. All the while, Jesus committed no sin, told no lies, did not retaliate to insults, and made no threats to those who inflicted the worst kind of suffering upon him (1 Peter 2:21-25). Thank the Lord that Jesus did fully place His trust in His Father - who would one day judge fairly - otherwise Jesus may not have followed through with God’s grand plan that he could not see. Yet because Jesus did follow through all the way to the cross, Jesus is able to provide everything we need to live for YHWH in this life if we come to place our faith and trust in him (2 Peter 1:3). Like Peter, since we have been “born again”, we as Christians are called to a kingdom posture of following Jesus because the living and enduring word of God has been written on our hearts via the Holy Spirit living inside of us as God’s kingdom place (1 Peter 1:23).

KINGDOM POSTURE: LOVE ONE ANOTHER

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34–35

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:43–45

Finally, it is clear that we ourselves are able to model ‘kingdom love’ no matter what suffering this world brings us. Everyday on our journey toward becoming a servant of all, we are called to look to Christ and the Holy Spirit to fuel us for these kinds of servant-hearted actions. (Jude 21) In this process, we can’t rely on the appetites of the world; for everything of the world (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life) comes NOT from the Father, but from the world (1 John 2:16).  Everything in this world will pass away, but only those who do the will of God will live forever (1 John 2:17). Based on biblical descriptions – the times of judgment on those who reject and oppose God will not be pretty or fun (2 Peter 3:10-11). Focusing on God’s love for us, reminding ourselves He is the source of love, and remembering loving each other allows His love to be made complete (1 John 4:7-12, 19-21). These things are the true food for our souls. His love allows us to remain faithful to our Christian brothers and sisters in our greater mission to spread God’s glory to the nations (3 John 1:5-8), to show mercy to those who remain clouded by doubt, and to even be fearless showing mercy and love to our enemies. In so doing, we model the ‘kingdom love’ of Jesus as God’s kingdom people even while we suffer in every kind of situation.

THE FLESH VS. THE SPIRIT

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. - John 14:15–17.

These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. - John 14:25–26.

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. - John 15:26.

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. - John 16:8–11.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. - Jn 16:13–14.

Why is this kingdom posture still so hard to live by?

I have a friend and we were having a conversation about being house blind. You know – you have a pile of mail on the table, and it starts to grow. You aren’t really using that table, so the pile keeps growing. Eventually you eat at a different table, and you don’t notice the mail anymore. You start piling up catalogs on the current table you are eating at. Finally, company comes over, and you realize – when you can’t serve them dinner at either table, that you have all this mail and all these catalogs. You’ve actually become so used to them; you’ve forgotten they were piling up. House blind. Depending on your comfort level, you might panic and clean the tables before the company comes, or you clean 1 table, or you have company eat with you on the sofa in front of the tv. 

I wonder, have we become house blind to comfort?  Even that thought sounds ridiculous. Yet, as Christians, we are supposed to expect discomfort. We are taught to endure suffering and trials and consider them joy, while we are modeling Christ’s love to the marginalized in the world; and not to worry about fitting into this current world. The bible advises that in the last days it will be more important than ever to lean into the Holy Spirit, as there will be those who are ungodly scoffing at our way of life and trying to divide us. As we have lived in a nation with generally more than enough food; and jobs; and cars; and technology – have we layered comfort after comfort onto our lives? Have we become so comfortable, we only understand discomfort if it is egregious to us personally – a terminal illness, a major wrong against us, a decision that doesn’t go our way? 

I am not advocating a complete turnaround and abandonment of all the things that bring us comfort in our lives, but what if we started peeling back some of those layers, to get closer to the suffering mentioned in the bible. The suffering as a result of living more like Christ. Walking in obedience to His commands – the greatest of which are to love God more than anything (including our comfort) and to love our enemies as ourselves – no matter what it might cost us! Are we doing this as a church, or are we clouded by the comfort we experience? Lord, I pray that whoever reads these words might go into the world boldly following your Spirit, no matter what it may cost them.

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. -  2 Timothy 1:7

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33.

Regardless of the circumstances and what it may cost us, this is the kingdom posture we are called to take in this fallen world as we await the return of Jesus. But the general epistles also remind us that there are tremendous blessings to be had when we set our thoughts on the “Day of the Lord” that is coming; where sin and suffering will be no more and God’s rule will be made complete! In our final week, we will explore the book of Revelation. Get ready because it is always thrilling to learn more about the hope we have in the fully realized kingdom to come!

Share the Gospel: Jesus is calling us into his own lifestyle of love and obedience to his authoritative rule as God’s kingdom place as we love His people. Since we live in a fallen world, we should expect to experience suffering, but we are continuing to learn how to choose obedience to God’s kingdom rule above what is temporary on this earth.

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3. Our Greater High Priest

Week 9 • Day 3

Week 9 • Day 3

If Paul’s letters explain the kingdom implications of what Jesus has done for us, the book of Hebrews explains how Jesus’ work on the cross was actually able to accomplish what God had in mind!

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. - Hebrews 1:1-4

“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” - Hebrews 2:9-10

Since the beginning, God has been making a way for His image-bearers to be a part of what He is doing. God also knows that we have always been prone to bend the knee to the serpent, to trust ourselves first, and to act on our own fears instead of trusting His rule of “good” and “evil”. As humans, we have the tendency to pursue what seems best for us in the short term. 

In response, God had made a covenant with the likes of Abraham, Moses, and David promising them that if they continued to follow God’s rule, they could experience a close relationship with Him and share in the gospel of the kingdom. As we saw way back in Leviticus, these rules contained an entire set of priestly rituals that were designed to symbolize purity, the cleansing of sins, and a commitment to love God and love others. These Levitical laws involved sacrificing animals, which were extremely precious and valuable, they required consistent offerings so that one could be symbolically cleansed from their sins, and they required a priest who knew all the logistics to help them thank God, ask something of God, or be cleansed by God. This was the Old Covenant, the set of rules that the ancient Israelites sharing in God’s kingdom adhered to while they looked forward to the coming of someone who would be the ultimate, once-and-for-all champion over the serpent. 

Jesus is that champion! In the book of Hebrews, the anonymous author explains how Jesus’ life and death on earth fulfilled every requirement for the serpent to be completely defeated. On top of this, the author describes how his resurrection and ascension into heaven paved the permanent way for us to share in God’s kingdom!

The opening chapter of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is God. The signs, miracles, and testimonies of people around him proved that Jesus possessed the powerful rule of God that could not be stopped. He was the greater Moses that we had been looking for since Deuteronomy, he was the greater Joshua who led people into their victory into the promised land of sabbath rest, and he was the High priest from the mysterious line of Melchizedek (meaning “King of Righteousness” in Hebrew) in order to inaugurate an even greater covenant! 

For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,  but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. -  Hebrews 3:3–6

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.  So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. -  Hebrews 4:8–11

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,  but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:22–28.

If Jesus is God, and by definition in perfect alignment with God’s kingdom rule, we also know this means he was sinless. He came to earth and lived a completely perfect life. Therefore, when he sacrificed his life, he took on the role that prized and unblemished animals used to play in the Old Covenant. This time, the eternally spotless body and blood of Jesus had the power to wipe away sin permanently. In this New Covenant, we do not need to live in mourning because of our failures, in a ping-pong game of sin and sacrifice, or in fear of death and separation from God. Jesus’ perfect and divinely valuable sacrifice perfectly fulfilled the promises made in the old covenant and permanently paves our pathway to God! 

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” - Hebrews 9:12-14

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all….For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”  then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”  Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. - Hebrews 10:10, 14-18

Jesus fulfilled all the obligations of the Old Testament rituals and fulfilled them in abundance.  Instead of using the blood of animals, he laid down his own powerful rule to use his own lifeblood. Instead of the holy place inside the earthly temple built by human hands, he went directly to the throneroom of God to present himself before the very presence of God in heaven. Instead of requiring a priesthood to understand the minute details of how to connect people with God, Jesus himself intercedes on our behalf in perpetuity giving us direct access to YHWH. In doing this, Jesus ushered in a greater covenant promise and a new way for us to be a part of God’s kingdom.  

If you were an Israelite, it would be easy to ask what has God been doing for 2000 years or so before sending Jesus? The book of Hebrews shows us the arc of humanity’s relationship with God by looking at the history of Israel. God has been foreshadowing the gospel of the kingdom from the very beginning and giving His people the language to fully understand the depths of His love. EVERYTHING was pointing to Jesus! In fact, God has always been in communication with us, speaking to His people specifically in their context and in their time, and informing them of the gospel of the kingdom!

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” - Hebrews 1:1-2 

Jesus is the ultimate mediator between God and humanity. He is fully God, divine and eternal, and present both at the creation and in heaven. And yet Jesus came to earth as fully human, enduring all the humiliations and defeats that we experience daily. Hebrews frequently reminds us that he experienced our struggles, temptations, and knows what is feels like to be betrayed, used, and tempted to take the easy way out: 

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. - Hebrews 2:17–18

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:14–16

He knows how hard it is to remain focused on God’s kingdom in the flesh, and he offers his hands of mercy and deliverance through His Holy Spirit. It is such a relief to know that we serve a God who understands what we go through, who can comfort us in our pain and bolster us in our courage, and who continues to empower us to live redeemed lives under God’s rule with God’s people who have become God’s kingdom place.

“What has not been assumed by Jesus has not been redeemed…He took the worst upon himself to make us a gift of the best.” - Gregory of Nanzien [Remarks about the FULL human incarnation of Jesus]

Jesus is victorious over sin and death and is the only way to enter the eternal kingdom of God. Yet He loves us so much that He brought His kingdom to earth in order to enter into relationship with us, give our lives new purpose, and help us as we struggle with the effects of sin.  

What does this mean for our lives moving forward, then? 

Hebrews tells us that “by faith” (Hebrews 11) in Jesus’ rule as our high priest and his new covenant promises, we too can be saved! Then, by the power of the Holy Spirit (place) we ought to “fix our thoughts on Jesus” (Heb. 3:1) and “hold unswervingly” to our commitment to God’s kingdom (Heb. 4:14, 10:23). Finally, as God’s people, we are called to encourage each other every day, remembering to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 3:13, 10:24) as we walk through life together.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God [rule] with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly [place] to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on [people] toward love and good deeds.” - Hebrews 10:19-24

The Old Testament and the old covenant aren’t just difficult things to understand from a different culture, they show us that God has always, since the very beginning, been making a way for us to be a part of His kingdom, and they point to the amazing, specific victory that Jesus won for us. Everything in the Old Testament that seems strange or confusing to our culture today paints a picture of the tension that exists between our own priorities and God’s priorities, and of the lengths to which God will go (and the amount that He will forgive) to bring us back under His good and loving rule in His Kingdom place as His beloved kingdom family of people. Here, we experience God’s immense love for us as He rules us, guides us, and shapes our futures for His kingdom purposes.

Share the Gospel: If the Old Testament explains the Old Covenant way we are brought back into the presence of God, Hebrews explains the New Covenant way paved by Jesus! Jesus, who is God in the flesh, sacrifices his eternally spotless body and blood so that our sins may be permanently covered and that we would have access to God to experience His loving kingdom rule in our lives! 

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2. Paul’s Kingdom Tour - NOT YET!

Week 9 • Day 2

Week 9 • Day 2

Yesterday, we launched our kingdom tour alongside Paul as he cast a vision for God’s rule in God’s place over God’s people to a series of local churches. Paul’s vision of this ideal kingdom community seems nice, but the contextual issues amidst each church community highlights a major question Paul’s letters attempt to address. The question is simple: How do we actually achieve this “pie-in-the-sky utopia” particularly when we account for our fallen world and our fallen flesh that still suffers from the effects of the serpent’s kingdom?

Exactly like the example of Jesus, Paul encourages God’s people to embrace suffering that will inevitably come our way since our world and our flesh remains marked by the lingering effects of the serpent. Paul predicts that those in opposition to the gospel of the kingdom will inevitably remain hostile to the faith and possibly grow in their disdain toward this new Jesus movement called the church. In light of this reality, Paul challenges followers like Timothy to endure in a letter written right before Paul faces his own death.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. - 2 Timothy 1:8-10

Regardless of what faced God’s people, the gospel of the kingdom is too good to be contained and too important to not share! That is why Paul exhorts all disciples to spread the message that Jesus’ rule has crushed the serpent, that by faith we have been set free from sin and death, our hearts have become God’s dwelling place, and God’s people can now live their lives (1) loving God in obedience and (2) loving others by ministering the message of salvation found in Jesus alone! Whatever the fallen world and the fallen flesh throws our way, our sights must remain set on sharing the gospel of the kingdom found in the scriptures because it is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 3:12–4:5.

Even though the gospel of the kingdom addresses the source of the problem (the serpent) and explains how the kingdom breaks through on earth today (the church), we face the reality that all things have “NOT YET” been fully cleansed from the serpent who remains a “venom-less” foe now that sin and death have been conquered. This is why creation and humans alike continue to groan as we await the complete restoration of all things. In light of this, recall that the gospel of the kingdom concludes when Jesus comes back a second time to fully restore all things and dispose of the serpent once and for all. The prophets have referred to this final phase of the gospel of the kingdom as “the coming day of the Lord” in which judgment will be distributed by God against all the remaining faithless enemies under the serpent kingdom. These topics mentioned in the major and minor prophets alike greatly concerned the local church of Thessalonica - our next stop on Paul’s kingdom tour! 

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.  To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,  so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 1:9-12 

God’s kingdom people have always been filled with a hope that is foreign to the world. The church looks forward to a brighter day in which God rules by judging the serpent and his kingdom. At the same time, followers of Jesus eagerly anticipate the day in which the Spirit of YHWH that brought Jesus back to life - the same Spirit that has now made His residential place in our hearts - will resurrect His people from death to eternal life. God’s kingdom people have always been able to hope for these promises by faith and say things like “to live is Christ and to die is gain,” (Phil. 1:21) as they look forward to a new resurrected body that has not been defiled by the serpent and will bow to no one but YHWH!

 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” - 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 

What a glorious future hope we have in the gospel of the kingdom! In light of Jesus and the power of his resurrection, death will actually be gain for those who have faith in Jesus! Remember, though, that Paul suggests that this shouldn’t motivate us to escape this life. Instead, Paul also says that to live is Christ! As we hope for the “NOT YET” future restoration of all things, we live in this broken world “NOW” as Jesus’ kingdom representatives who use our restored delegated rule to reconcile all things back to God. How do we do this? We go into the world sharing the message about Jesus’ rule that was reestablished by crushing the serpent when he died on the cross for our sins and defeated death 3 days later. We then live as God’s renewed temple place since we have been cleansed of all sin, since His law has been written on our hearts, and since the Holy Spirit empowers us to follow Jesus. As a result, God’s people come together as a church to (1) love God by walking with him in obedience and (2) love others by living in harmony with one another. The gospel message of Jesus and the resulting kingdom of God goes out to the nations of the world in order to extend His blessings and His glory!

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. - 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 

If our delegated rule in God’s kingdom is anything like it was in the garden, we should expect to see humanity on the road back to peace, harmony, and shalom with God and with one another through this “ministry of reconciliation”. Paul’s vision of the church is a kingdom community that is driven by a lifestyle that involves walking in truth, obedience, and a loving relationship with God as we trust in His wisdom of “good” and “evil”. Here is what Paul says to two of his own disciples about how the church ought to stand out in our fallen world: 

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. - 1 Timothy 3:14-15

 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. - Titus 2:11-14 

Finally, Paul demonstrates how powerful the kingdom can be in this fallen world when we love others in the same way Jesus loved us! Sure, the gospel of the kingdom has “NOT YET” been fully realized, but at the same time, our lives empowered by the Spirit of God shows us that the gospel of the kingdom is a reality that can be lived out “NOW”! Following God’s rule brings harmony even to the most destructive of relationships involving image-bearing people. The book of Philemon is Paul’s example of the kingdom breaking through when the relationship between a 1st century runaway slave (Onesimus) and his master (Philemon) are reconciled.

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.  I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.  For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,  no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.  I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.  Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ” - Philemon 10-18

My guess is that if you are a Christian, you have always understood the importance of your own personal salvation from the serpent and your own justification! Praise God that Jesus did crush the serpent, that Jesus is our substitute, that by faith in Jesus your sins are forgiven, and that he has defeated death. In fact, if you have been a Christian for a while now, you might even recognize your need for ongoing sanctification. Praise God that Jesus rose from the grave and sent us the Holy Spirit to progressively deal with our sinful nature. Near the end of this series, I wonder if you are now beginning to see that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the source of a much larger gospel of the kingdom! Yes, the good news is all about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and sending us the Holy Spirit to work out our salvation. However, let us not let the good news stop there! 

The gospel of the kingdom has always been headed toward king YHWH’s powerful rule over His people who have become His kingdom place! This kingdom community is defined by its purpose as we (1) love God in relationship and obedience and (2) love others well as servants of all.

We started our kingdom tour with a passage from Ephesians. Now we will end our tour by revisiting the church that Paul spent the most time with! When speaking about the nature of the church, Paul suggests that it is “the eternal purpose” of God that “He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord”. In essence, Paul is suggesting that this kingdom community called the church has been “plan A” all along and is the desired result of Christ’s work on the cross. That is why Paul can claim that the church was established so that the manifold wisdom of God might be known to all! Why? Paul explains that by the power of the Holy Spirit (place), God’s people work together to (1) unite under Christ’s rule and (2) build each other up in the Kingdom!

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. - Ephesians 3:8–12.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:11–16.

Now that you have seen how the gospel of the kingdom cashes out on this kingdom tour, how do you think Paul would encourage you if he were writing you a letter? My hunch is that if you call yourself a Christian, you have placed your faith in Jesus’ powerful rule who has crushed the serpent by defanging him of sin and death ALL on your behalf. Our prayer is that the gospel of the kingdom not only heightens the depth of your satisfaction in Jesus’ forgiveness, but it also encourages you to zealously continue forward in life fully dependent upon the powerful rule of the ascended King of Kings. Are you letting Jesus reign on the throne of your life today? Are you allowing him to intervene and dictate what is “good” and “bad” in your life as you move forward in His kingdom? In a similar way, my guess is that many Christians have already trusted that Jesus has paid the ransom for you and sent the Holy Spirit to you in order to adopt you into His kingdom family of people. Our prayer is that the gospel of the kingdom not only elevates your gratitude for the sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross, but it also exhorts you toward becoming a more integral part of your local kingdom family of people called the church. Are you deeply connected to and invested in a local body of believers? If not, I hope you are realizing that the church community was God’s plan all along! So what are some things you can do to become an active contributor to the local church family? Finally, I’m sure most Christians realize that we have become God’s kingdom place when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. Our prayer is that the gospel of the kingdom not only challenges you to engage in prayer and other disciplines to communicate with the Holy Spirit on a personal level, but it also motivates you to live out your kingdom purpose in life alongside others in the kingdom who are also filled with the Holy Spirit. What is God calling you to do to (1) strengthen your relationship and obedience with Him? How can you use your unique spiritual gifts to (2) become the servant of all in the body? What can you do to take God’s kingdom place and spread His glory to the nations?

If you have been challenged in this series, the gospel of the kingdom includes the idea that in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been given a heart of repentance to start living this kingdom way “NOW”. Please don’t wait another day! The message of Jesus is too good, too important, and has eternal ramifications! At the same time, until Jesus returns, we will all continue to wrestle with the spiritual forces of our fallen world that want to hold the kingdom at bay because the kingdom is also “NOT YET” fully realized until the defanged and venom-less serpent and his demon offspring are put away once and for all.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. - Ephesians 6:10–18

Until then, have you committed to following God’s kingdom rule as a part of His kingdom family of people on a kingdom mission to spread God’s place to the ends of the earth?

Share the Gospel: The kingdom of God begins with God’s rule - the victory of Jesus on the cross and the forgiveness of sins available in him alone! By faith in Jesus, we receive the kingdom when our sins are cleansed and the Holy Spirit dwells in us - making us the temple place of God! From that moment forward, we become God’s kingdom people who learn to love God once more by walking with him in obedience and love others in the way we interact with His kingdom family. This is how the kingdom of God comes to earth as it is in heaven!

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1. Paul’s Kingdom Tour - NOW!

Week 9 • Day 1

Week 9 • Day 1

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. - Ephesians 1:16-22

Last week, we saw that the last half of Acts documents Paul’s journeys to reach the rest of the Mediterranean world with the gospel of the kingdom! Over the next two days, we would like to take you on a “kingdom tour” alongside Paul as he travels from region to region and writes a variety of letters to God’s kingdom people meeting together in the local meeting of Jesus followers called the church. These selections will capture the essence of Paul’s conversations with these local churches with a particular focus on how Jesus has made the way to establish God’s rule over God’s place as it expands through God’s people of faith.

We pray that on this journey your heart may be enlightened to the hope of salvation found through the forgiveness of sins made possible by the powerful rule of King Jesus who crushed the serpent on our behalf, the riches of becoming a member of God’s kingdom family of people, and the victorious life-giving power of being filled with the Holy Spirit as we become God’s temple place here on earth!

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. - Romans 14:17 

Let’s begin our kingdom tour in Colossae! For Paul, it makes complete sense for the entire story to start with Jesus. If he was in fact the long awaited serpent-crusher, then everything revolves around him! In opposition to a variety of other religious claims which included philosophy, empty deceit, human traditions, and the worship of other spiritual beings, Paul points the Colossians to the reality that Jesus claimed and proved to be God in the flesh when he rose from the dead. This Jesus is the one who makes “peace by the blood of his cross.”

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - Colossians 1:15-20

Jesus, as the “image of the invisible God”, is the only one in history who could overcome the schemes of the serpent. Therefore, true life - whether it be spiritual vitality or earthly fulfillment - can be exclusively found through placing our faith and trust in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to crush the serpent on our behalf. For those who trust in this New Covenant promise, Jesus’ powerful rule is able to forgive our sins and send the Holy Spirit to make YHWH’s kingdom place in our hearts forevermore. Thus, followers of Jesus become God’s redeemed kingdom people as we form new communities across the world “NOW”. In Colossae, we learn that this gospel of the kingdom results in a new type of garden-like community who would (1) love God by walking in a deep, mysterious, and unified relationship “with Christ in God” and (2) love others by dying to the temptations of the flesh and living in harmonious shalom with one another! This kingdom of people that has been forgiven by Jesus and united by the Holy Spirit would be the “body”  that spreads God’s glory as it blesses the nations by following the rule of the Father!

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:3–17

In theory, this kingdom idea seems nice, but there are very real obstacles. Although the serpent has been crushed and lost its venom of sin and death, the lingering effects of the serpent’s kingdom continue to create hostility in our world. In order to wrestle with our remaining serpent-like sinful human condition, let’s now follow Paul’s letter to the Roman church. In the 1st century, the church in Rome that had been established by a band of Jews was now severely divided when the founding Jewish members were exiled out of Rome by Emperor Claudius leaving the remaining Gentiles to lead the church. When the Jews were allowed to return 5 years later, the community inevitably had to settle its own internal disputes between the two factions. Watch how Paul speaks directly into to this messy situation by leveling the playing field based on the fallen sinful nature of humanity!

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. - Romans 1:18-32

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. - Romans 3:19-20, 23-25

Paul had recognized that God’s image-bearers who remained in the fallen flesh had grown in their pride and elevated their hearts over their brothers and sisters, just as God had warned regarding the kings of Israel years ago. In response, Paul points out everyone’s corrupt sinful nature in order to humble the entire church and remind the Romans that following Jesus meant denying the throne of our own flesh and placing God on His rightful throne in our lives by following the Spirit! 

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? - Romans 7:21-24 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. -  Romans 8:1–4.

The entire gospel of the kingdom begins with the reestablished rule of the Davidic Messiah over the serpent who had been defanged of sin and death. Romans affirms that for anyone who believes in the sacrificial work of Jesus, there is now “no more condemnation” as our sins have been eternally forgiven and we have now become God’s place through the power of the Holy Spirit in this life and the next. The result is a new type of kingdom people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit “NOW” to (1) love God through sacrifice and discernment and to (2) love others, even amidst this divisive situation between Jew and Gentile! Once again, the faith of this kingdom community would be the vessel that spread God’s blessing to the nations. 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. -  Romans 12:1–2

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:9–21

Yet what happens when the situation is so dire that it is hard to live this kind of kingdom lifestyle? In situations where the “spirit is willing” but the “flesh is weak”, it is so crucial to hold onto key phrases, songs, creeds, or sayings that remind us of the gospel of the kingdom. Near the end of his kingdom travels, Paul found himself locked in prison several times. On one occasion, Paul encouraged the church at Philippi to hold onto this beautiful song which may have encouraged Paul while he was in prison. 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 

The King of this heavenly kingdom is incredibly humble! Jesus willingly let go of his powerful rule as God in order to become human and pay the penalty that was due for ALL sins on the cross. Later in the letter, Paul goes on to remind the Philippians that by faith in this New Covenant sacrifice and promise, we can share in the righteousness of Jesus as our sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit dwells in us forever! The song also reminds us that as a result of Jesus’ actions, God took his “suffering servant” and exalted him as the victorious ruler of all things. Today, this early christian hymn is a reminder for all of those who now possess the Spirit of God (place) that they are kingdom people being empowered by the same Spirit that empowered Jesus to (1) love God and (2) love others. Therefore as Christians, we can use our renewed delegated rule to overcome the schemes of the serpent kingdom, conquering our pride in this life (just as Jesus did) and experiencing resurrection in the next (just as Jesus did)! 

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:7–11

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Philippians 4:8

As a result of the gospel of the kingdom, disciples of Jesus are entirely free to live righteously through the power of the Holy Spirit “NOW”. However, one challenge the early church faced was reconciling what this new freedom meant for the 613 + Jewish laws that the religious leaders strictly enforced on the community of Israel. Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminds this local church that the righteousness of people like Abraham was and has always been based on faith in the covenant promises of God made at the time. Now, in light of the promises of Jesus and the New Covenant work on the cross, Paul’s true and simple gospel invitation is that anyone can come to Him by faith in his substitutionary sacrifice - an act that the law had always been foreshadowing (see Leviticus)!

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:19-20

Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. - Galatians 3:6–9

Now that Jesus has crushed the serpent and reestablished his rule, the New Covenant promise was that the people of faith would have their sins washed away and the law of God would forever be written on their hearts via the Spirit of God! Instead of being coerced to do something by an enforced law, the Holy Spirit lives in us (place) to fuel and empower His people to (1) love God by walking in obedience to His ways and (2) love others via the “fruit of the Spirit” in our lives. This type of kingdom lifestyle speaks volumes to the surrounding community and can have a tremendous impact and blessing to all of the nations!

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  - Galatians 5:1, 13

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. - Galatians 5:16–26

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:9–10

Are you seeing the pattern here? Yes, the gospel of the kingdom starts and is entirely dependent upon Jesus crushing the serpent on the cross and defanging it of sin and death! However, don’t miss that the gospel of the kingdom continues on through God’s people who have become God’s place and have developed a craving to follow God’s good kingdom rule! The faithless nations who continue to suffer under the serpent kingdom, will undoubtedly be blessed by this new and alternative kingdom community that wields a message of freedom and victory over the serpent by faith! Yet as we have seen, there can be so many serpent-like factors that remain a part of our fallen world that keep us from this kingdom of God. Consider the book of 1st Corinthians set in the city of Corinth which is rather comparable to the Bay Area. In this port city and central hub for culture, wisdom, and religious thought, Paul goes out of his way to remind the church that the beautiful wisdom of God is found in the cross (hopefully you can see that by now). However, in the eyes of the world, the message of an impoverished Jewish servant who died a horrific death and claimed to rise from the dead is outright foolishness. That is why when the Corinthian followers of Jesus had fallen prey to the “wisdom of the world”, Paul reminds the church of their true spiritual identity!

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

The wisdom of the cross is that Jesus has established the rule of YHWH by crushing the power of sin and death wielded by the serpent! By faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, our sins are eternally forgiven so that God’s place becomes our hearts. As 1 Corinthians reminds us, our bodies literally become the living temple of God! As a result, we become God’s people who are “NOW” empowered to (1) love God by obeying Him and spread His message and (2) love others by utilizing the gifts of the Spirit we have been given to serve in the family of God!

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. - 1 Corinthians 9:19–23.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body… Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-20, 27.

The kingdom of God begins with God’s powerful rule - the victory of Jesus on the cross and the forgiveness of sins available through him alone! It is only by faith in Jesus that we receive the gracious blessings of the kingdom when our sins are cleansed and the Holy Spirit dwells in us - making us the temple place of God “NOW”! From that moment forward, we become God’s kingdom people who learn to (1) love God once more by walking with him in obedience and (2) love others in the way we interact with His kingdom family. This radical love becomes the signal that the kingdom of God has come to earth as it is in heaven and can continue to break through “NOW” in this fallen world!

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:1–8.

Share the Gospel: The kingdom of God begins with God’s rule - the victory of Jesus on the cross and the forgiveness of sins available in him alone! By faith in Jesus, we receive the kingdom when our sins are cleansed and the Holy Spirit dwells in us - making us the temple place of God! From that moment forward, we become God’s kingdom people who learn to love God once more by walking with him in obedience and love others in the way we interact with His kingdom family. This is how the kingdom of God comes to earth as it is in heaven!

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