I am not going to deal directly with Easter this morning. But I will point out that the resurrection of Christ is essential to the understanding of this scripture. The resurrection of Christ is a pivotal part of just about everything that we believe as Christians. All of Jesus’ miracles pointed fingers toward that day when the Son of David will sit upon his father’s throne in Jerusalem. There is coming a day when a new aspect of the Kingdom of God will be fully established on earth. And the King of that Kingdom will be this same Jesus Christ – arisen from the dead. First He must give His life a ransom for many – that is – He must die. He will die, be buried, and then after 72 hours He will arise from the grave and from death. I believe that it is safe to say that without Christ’s resurrection, the sacrifice which He made would have been useless. By His resurrection, God verified that the sacrifice was acceptable. And Christ was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” As we see in Acts 1, He will eventually ascend into Heaven, but with the intention of returning. “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” And upon His return, various new aspects of the Kingdom of God will go into effect.
It is not so much the resurrection that I wish to address this morning – it is a related subject. It is a subject which I taught two years ago, but upon which I’d like to build just a bit. For the sake of the lesson, let’s lift this scripture out of its proper context and place it in a different one. Let’s say that the words of verses 37 and 38 were the last ever spoken by Christ. Or what if they were the last words of Matthew – the words of a dying man are usually significant. Are these words important? Absolutely. This is a call for evangelists, because the world is full of dying, shepherdless souls. The Lord Jesus would like an army of people willing to carry the gospel to the lost and dying. But I’d like you to step back and recognize the context. “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” What did our Lord imply was the tool necessary to harvest this precious wheat? What was Christ doing after He got people’s attentions with His miracles? He was preaching to them the gospel. By using the gospel these dying lambs are saved and brought into the Lord’s sheepfold. But notice that Jesus was preaching “the gospel of the kingdom.” It was not called the “eternal gospel,” “gospel of salvation” or the “gospel of God.” Are there more than one Biblical gospel for different people and different needs?
Lets point our attentions to the gospel which Matthew mentions – “the gospel of the kingdom.” It used to be, I thought that any reference to “kingdom” meant Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. The kingdom of the resurrected Christ; the kingdom beginning with the throne of David in Jerusalem. And I’d venture to guess that many Christians still think that way. Even though the Kingdom of God does include that thousand year reign of Christ on earth, the Bible very clearly shows that it is much, much more than that. The Kingdom of God is a huge subject taking up large portions of the New Testament. The “Kingdom of God” and the “Kingdom of Heaven” are found in 144 different references. I believe that this is called a “gross” – a dozen, dozen references. The word “ecclesia” or “church” or “assembly” doesn’t have that many Biblical references. Not only this, but the Kingdom of God is to be found in every book of the New Testament except Jude. It is scattered throughout the New Testament – far more than many other important doctrines. The Book of Matthew speaks of the Kingdom more than fifty times and only seven chapters have no mention of it at all. In his epistles to the churches – Paul speaks of the Kingdom of God more than ten times – and remember that most of those letters were directed to Gentile churches. The point is, we cannot see Christ in the Bible without running head-on into the Kingdom of Christ. And this scripture is a perfect example. And if we misunderstand the Kingdom of Christ, then we will misunderstand the Christ of the Kingdom. It is a very important Biblical subject which is almost thoroughly ignored by the average Christian.
As I believe that this scripture implies, the Gospel ministry is a ministry of the Kingdom of God.
If verse 35 is related to verses 37-38, then the gospel and the Kingdom cannot be separated very far. We read a few minutes ago from Acts 1. And I said a few minutes ago, let’s pretend that Matthew 9 contained the last words of Christ Jesus. There is a sense in which Acts 1 really does. And in that scripture we have a reference to our work of evangelism, and the ability to do it. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Keep that in mind as you listen to the first words of that chapter. “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Like many Christians, Jesus’ first disciples thought of the Millennium when they heard the word “Kingdom.” “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?’ The Lord replied, “Don’t you worry about that aspect of my Kingdom. All you need to consider is your preaching of the gospel.” “He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” And tying together each part of the context – the disciples were to preach the gospel of the kingdom.
Based upon what you remember about Christ Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, what did they discuss? Nicodemus was the humble Pharisee who came to Christ under the cover of darkness one night. Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” About what did the Lord talk with the man? About regeneration – the new birth – salvation from sin. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Many of you have much of John 3 memorized, but have you stopped lately to consider the words? “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Remember that this is a scripture used to teach the gospel of our salvation, and what is it that Jesus says? “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
What was it that Jesus was preaching back in Matthew 9 when “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom?” I guarantee He was preaching the same gospel that Paul was preaching in Ephesus, Philippi and Rome. As I pointed out two years ago from Acts 28 – Paul was preaching Christ the King – Christ the Saviour. In the last chapter of the Book of Acts, Paul was in bonds and unable to get out of his house without a guard. He couldn’t go into the synagogue to preach or out into the market place. He had no guarantee that he’d ever be able to preach the gospel to these people again. Do you think that he failed to tell them about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus? Do you think that he only told them things about the second coming and the establishment of the future kingdom? Acts 28:23 – “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.” Acts 28:30-31 – “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
Earlier, in Acts 19:8, where we have a description of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus – Paul “went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” Are we to believe that Paul didn’t preach the gospel to those lost Jews in Ephesus? In Acts 20, when Paul was on his way to Jerusalem and passing by Ephesus for what he believed was his last visit, he gave a summary of his ministry. “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”
What did Paul say was the ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus? It was to “testify of the gospel of the grace of God.” And in the next breath, how does he describe that gospel? He had gone everywhere “preaching the kingdom of God.” Either the message of the gospel is synonymous with the message of the Kingdom, or at the very least one is a part of the other. Further examples of this abound throughout the New Testament. One of them is in Acts 8 where we learn of Philip’s ministry in Samaria. Verse 12 says, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Are people supposed to be baptized just because they believe in the second coming of Christ? Are people supposed to be baptized as some sort of sign of their special participation in the coming Kingdom of Christ?
What is the Kingdom of God?
Here are what I consider to be some of characteristics of the Kingdom – The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are synonymous. And that Kingdom is a common New Testament theme. It is the message of virtually everyone of the New Testament writers and preachers. It is past, present and future. It is both spiritual, physical and mysterious And it is, at this time, a mixture of good and bad. In other words, there are both citizens and mere servants in this Kingdom. How does one become a true citizen of Christ’s Kingdom? By properly responding to the gospel of the Kingdom. The true citizens become citizens by way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. And they are characterized by the Kingdom principles as described in the Sermon on the Mount. In other words they love the Lord and the Word of the Lord. This kingdom is to be preached throughout the whole world, not just Israel. And it is an everlasting kingdom, BUT those who are not willing citizens, regenerated citizens, shall eventally be cast out.
Why did the Lord Jesus instruct the Apostles about that Kingdom during His last few days upon the earth? Because this kingdom is what the purpose of God is all about. I’m not talking only about the day when Jesus Christ returns to earth, overthrows Satan’s minions, and sits down on David’s throne in the New Jerusalem. I’m not talking about the re-gathering or the re-establishment of Israel. Although both of these things will one day be a part of this kingdom. The disciples asked the Saviour about these things in Matthew 4 and Luke 21, and the Lord gave them an abbreviated answer. Then in Acts 1:6 they asked if these aspects of the Kingdom were going to take place now. And the Lord answered by saying, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” In other words, don’t concern yourselves about this aspect of the Kingdom, there are other more important and pertinent parts of the promise than these at this point.
So about what is it that we should be concerned in regard to the Kingdom of God?
What we need to focus on is OUR relationship to the King of the Kingdom. Yes, when everything is said and done there will be mansions in Heaven and streets of gold. Yes, there will some day be a time when the lamb shall lay down in peace with the lion, and the child shall play above the nest of the asp. Yes, Satan will be bound and then locked away for a thousand years and finally cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. These and a hundred other things about the Kingdom are not only important, but they are wonderful, But infinitely more important is your personal relationship to the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is what this gospel of the Kingdom is all about.
There is a Kingdom, and Jesus Christ is the King. The rule in this kingdom is righteous; perfect and complete. There are moral laws which have been laid upon the subject of this Kingdom. And there will be judgment enacted upon the lawbreakers. To be more specific: ”The soul that sinneth, it shall die” – “The wages of sin is death.”
The kingdom that I am talking about is not temporary, and it is not relative. Christ is not the King only if we want Him to be King; He is King – period. If we choose not to bow before Him then we shall suffer the consequences of our rebellion.
And this is where the gospel – the good news – comes in. The good news is as much the gospel of the Kingdom as it is the gospel of salvation. We are ALL law-breakers by nature and the proof is abundantly clear in our personal history. In other words, we are all sinners and under the condemnation of the law of the King. There is a warrant for our arrest, and there is posse out looking for us. It will find us on the day of our death which could still take place this morning. But if we will repent of our rebellion and submit ourselves to the King of kings, He has promised to apply the pardon which He Himself has arranged.
It was about this aspect of the Kingdom which Jesus was preaching to the crowds in Galilee. It is this aspect of the kingdom for which the apostles would later be empowered and commissioned. It is to this aspect of the kingdom that the apostles and their children are supposed to be “witnesses in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” And it’s this aspect of the Kingdom that I want to lay before you this morning.
If you are not living in direct submission and faith to Christ the King … If you have not, and are not, continually kissing the Son because you love Him and want to Honour Him… If you have not bowed before the cross where He provided the pardon for transgressions against His Kingdom… Then these things are proof of your continued rebellion and your lost condition. You need a new heart; you need to be born again. As the Holy Spirit of power convicts your soul, bow before the Saviour / King. Kneel before the cross of Christ and pledge Him your heart, your soul and your life. Repent and put your trust in the King.