If our Destination/Promised Land is not Heaven, what is it? What are we saved from? What does being saved even mean if it does not mean I’m going to heaven? If the destination is not heaven, then why did Jesus come to earth?
You’ve heard it, just like I have Sunday after Sunday, “Jesus is coming soon, make sure you are ready” and “Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so we can go to heaven and miss hell.” That is the gospel to most of us, making sure we are saved and taking as many with us as possible.
What if I told you that Jesus’s message was a little different from that? Well, I’m not going to tell you that, because you might stone me, write me off as a heretic, or just quit reading. I’ll let Jesus tell you what He came to earth to do.
Mark 1:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news (“gospel” in KJV)!”
Matthew 4:23 New International Version (NIV)
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news (“gospel” in KJV) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Luke 4:43 New International Version (NIV)
43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news (“gospel” in KJV) of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Jesus came to proclaim the good news (gospel) of the Kingdom. What is the good news (gospel) of the kingdom? Christianity has shortened it to just preaching the gospel. But if we leave the kingdom part off, we may be missing the whole point.
Jesus prayed “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Could it be that the gospel of the kingdom has more to do with heaven coming to earth than us going to heaven?
Before you say the Kingdom of God or Heaven is something that happens at some future time, lets look at what else Jesus had to say about the Kingdom.
Luke 17:20-21 New International Version (NIV)
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[a]
Matthew 12:28 New International Version (NIV)
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
In fact, He says this:
Mark 1:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news (Gospel)!”
All this time, I thought the Gospel was that Jesus came to save me from sin and take me to heaven one day. The highlight of my life would be the end, when I would go to be with Him forever.
But Jesus said the actual Gospel is that the time has come for the Kingdom of God to come near. The Kingdom of God/Heaven has come to us instead of us waiting to go there. I’m not saying that there is not a future fulfillment of the Kingdom, but the Kingdom is here now.
Jesus told Martha:
John 11:25-26 The Message (MSG)
25-26 “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”
There He goes again! Jesus said, “You don’t have to wait for the End.” The Gospel is that the Kingdom has come now. Do you believe this Gospel?
If we believe it, what do we do about it? In the same chapter that Jesus prays “Thy Kingdom come” He tells the disciples this:
Matthew 6:33 New International Version (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We must seek the Kingdom and there is only one way to enter it or even see it.
John 3:3-5 New International Version (NIV)
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
As you can see, Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God to us now, not just to get us prepared for a future Kingdom. The good news (gospel) is that the Kingdom is here right now.
In future posts we will discuss the Kingdom and what Jesus and the early disciples said about the Kingdom. Between now and then “Seek the Kingdom” and be “Born again” so you can enter it.
Bill
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