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| Born Again to see Kingdom of God |
What is the “gospel of Jesus
Christ”? Is this a different, second gospel? No! But most modern preachers
teach that the gospel of Jesus Christ is about Jesus Christ. They claim that He
is the kingdom of God—that the gospel of the kingdom refers exclusively to Him.
But this is not what the Bible says! The gospel of Christ is His gospel—His
message about the kingdom of God!
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| Kingdom of God is eternal |
In John 12:49-50, Christ said,
“For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His
commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the
Father said unto Me, so I speak.”
In John 14:24, Jesus said, “The
word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” Christ
brought the Father’s message. This should now be clear! Recall that He stated,
“The law and the prophets were (preached) until John: since that time the
kingdom of God is preached” (Luke 16:16).
Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek
you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness…” If you are to seek
something as your first goal and focus in life, you must know exactly what it
is!
This chapter contains what many
call “The Lord’s Prayer” (vs. 9-13). Christ instructs Christians to pray “after
this manner,” and then continues by adding the phrase, “Thy kingdom come.”
Knowing what you are praying for will make your prayers far more meaningful!
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| Jesus is the King of the Kingdom |
What is the kingdom of God?
Again, the word kingdom simply means “government.” There are four necessary
components of any kingdom: (1) Land, property or territory—however large or
small. In other words, one must have a specific and definite set of boundaries
establishing the size of the kingdom, (2) a ruler, king, monarch or governor
leading the government, (3) people or subjects living within the territory
governed, and (4) a system of laws and rules and a basic structure of
government.
But how does this apply to God’s
kingdom? Is this to be a literal, physical place on earth, with people and
laws, presided over by a ruler? Most do not understand even these most basic
elements of the kingdom of God. Some believe that this kingdom is in the hearts
of professing Christians. Some believe that it is on earth that it is wherever
you find a particular church; with others believing that it is yet to come, but
not understanding how or when this will occur.
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| What is your goal for God's Kingdom ? |
Paul wrote that Jesus, after His
resurrection, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all
things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether
principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. He
himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the
head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from
among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was
pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile
all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through
him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Col. 1:15-20), and “that He
might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). When connected, these
two verses show that Christ is the firstborn from the dead, and that many
others will follow later. But when—and into what—will these others be born?
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| Kingdom of God is Powerful |
In John 3:3, Christ said to
Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God.” In verse 6, He continues, “That which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Believe
this plain verse. One must become spirit to see the kingdom of God!
Paul also wrote, “flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 15:50). The following two verses
there explain that the resurrection will occur at the Seventh (“last”) Trumpet,
when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
The resurrection of the dead will
occur when Christ returns. There must be no misunderstanding this great event.
People who were once fleshly human beings will be changed into spirit—will be
born again—and enter into the kingdom of God.
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| Kingdom of God is from us |
John 4:24 states that “God is a
Spirit.” Under the Father, Christ will lead His kingdom, to be composed of
resurrected spirit beings. At His Return, Christ, as a member of the Family of
God, will have many younger “brothers and sisters,” who will have qualified to
rule with Him in His kingdom. There is a plant kingdom, an animal kingdom,
human kingdoms and an angelic kingdom. There is also the kingdom of God.
Christ stated, “I and My Father
are one.” Christ revealed what the Father is like, and He did this through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is also the power of God. The Holy Spirit
is the life (and very mind) of God. Jesus Christ lived by the Spirit of the
Father dwelling within Him. Just as the Father dwelled within Christ through
the Holy Spirit and gave Him life, Christ lives within His followers through
the Spirit and gives them life—eternal life.
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| Children of the KING Jesus in Kingdom |
Jesus Christ is our example (John
13:15; I Pet. 2:21), and that we are to copy His life in our own. The way He
lived, His sufferings and His overcoming the world are all things that we must
be aware of and partake of. Let’s consider His birth, death and Resurrection as
examples from which to learn the role of the Holy Spirit in God’s Plan for
mankind. Christ was begotten by the Father through the power of the Holy
Spirit. Unlike human beings, He had no physical father. What we can glean from
this event, however, is that the Holy Spirit is the means by which the Father
begets His sons. Just as Christ was begotten by the Father, Christians also are
begotten by Him. The only difference is that Christians are begotten outside
the womb. We do not possess the Holy Spirit until after baptism (Acts 2:38).
Once we are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, we become begotten sons of
God—not yet born. But the time will come when we will be raised from the dead
(BORN AGAIN) by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us—just as Christ
was.
— with Jawahar Peter and 48 others.
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