The Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God

It will be a paradise.  No longer will the rich own everything and the poor masses be left destitute.

21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. (Isaiah 65:21-22)

It will be a time of peace, even among the animals.

6And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. (Isaiah 11:6)

It will be a time of plenty.  The earth will give its harvest in abundance.

The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil. (Joel 2:24)

1The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus. (Isaiah 35:1)

The dead will be resurrected and there will be a judgment.

There shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. (Acts 24:15)

39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I [Jesus] shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. (John 6:39)

13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:13)

Most importantly, it will be a time when the truth of God and his purposes will be known by all.  Mankind will be united in the true worship of God our Heavenly Father.

The earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh [the name of God the Father] as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)

When can we expect God’s Kingdom to begin its rule?  We can’t say for sure.  The many bible prophecies concerning that event suggest the time is near.  However, Jesus plainly stated that even he didn’t know the time, only his Father, God Almighty did (Acts 1:7).  Therefore we should continue to pray that God will soon establish his kingdom rule over this earth, and live our lives in expectation of that time.

What about sinful, imperfect human nature?  How does God address this problem?

Jesus Christ and the Problem of Sin

The Origin of Sin

The bible teaches that our original parents, the first humans created by God, Adam and Eve, were misled by an evil angel known as Satan the devil (Genesis 3:1-19).  God had put them in a beautiful garden, and given them dominion over all the animals.  There was only one restriction.  He commanded them not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge, and assured them that if they did eat of it they would die.  They had two choices: obey God and live forever in paradise, or disobey God and forfeit their eternal life.  The issue was God’s sovereignty, his right to rule.

Satan, an evil angel who opposes God, misled Eve.  He claimed that what God had said was untrue and that if she ate of the Tree of Knowledge, her eyes would be opened and she would be like God knowing good and bad.  Of course these were all lies, but Eve foolishly chose to listen to Satan rather than God.  Then she convinced Adam to follow her in disobedience—giving him some of the forbidden fruit to eat.

Because they listened to Satan and disobeyed God’s explicit command, sin was introduced to humankind.  Sin simply means a failure to obey God’s commands.  This sinful tendency was passed on to all of Adam and Eve’s offspring—the entire human race.  God then evicted Adam and Eve from paradise, and removed his spirit from them.  They grew old and died, just as God had said.  Ever since this rebellion, it is impossible for humans to live a sinless life and have direct communion with God based on their own merit.

Compounding the problem, Satan is still alive and well, and continues to mislead humankind.

9The great dragon was hurled down–that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Revelation 12:9)

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)

So God had a dilemma.  His first created humans had rebelled against him, and had produced what would eventually be billions of disobedient, sinful offspring and a world misled by Satan.  Yet God, despite our stupidity and rebelliousness, continued to love us and wanted to redeem us from our foolish course.  There is nothing we can offer God to redeem ourselves, since we are imperfect and own nothing that God did not already give us. So God would have to give something to satisfy his own principles of justice.

The Problem of Sin Solved

What could God give, that would be so precious and of such high value that all of sinful mankind could potentially be redeemed?  The answer is his only-begotten son Jesus.  There is nothing more valuable or precious than someone’s firstborn.  Jesus existed in the heavens with God for eons prior to his coming to earth (Proverbs 8:22-31).  He would have to be miraculously transformed into a human, and be born of a woman in order to provide a perfect human sacrifice.  The perfect life of Jesus would be a ransom (rescuing) sacrifice for the perfect life Adam that was lost in Eden.

5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

   8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

   20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

   21"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21)

God declares that this sacrifice is sufficient to redeem all humankind, and then provides the sacrifice.  God’s scale of justice is then satisfied completely.

21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-23)

God would give his only son as a sacrifice for our sins in order to satisfy his universal laws of justice.  Any person that believes in this sacrifice and repents of his sins will be forgiven and be considered righteous in God’s eyes.  In this sacred offering, we see the deep love of God for his creation.

16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Jesus willingly accepted this assignment, and came to the earth two thousand years ago to teach people about God’s kingdom, and to give his life as a sacrifice.  After three and a half years of ministry, he was falsely accused by the religious leaders, who then pressured the Roman government into executing him.  He willingly suffered abuse and torture, and finally crucifixion: he was nailed to a wooden cross and left to die.

But [God] demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Yet Jesus did not remain dead.  Three days later, he was resurrected by God, his Father.  He appeared to more than five hundred disciples, teaching them and strengthening them for the preaching work ahead.  He commanded his disciples to…

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Shortly after this, his disciples witnessed his ascension back to heaven (Acts 1:9-11).  However, he promised to return.  It is with great anticipation that his disciples look forward to this event, for when Jesus returns, it will be to gather his disciples to himself, consummate God’s kingdom over this earth, and resurrect the dead.

30At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

28Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His [Jesus’] voice, 29and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28-30)

Who is Jesus Christ?

Since Jesus Christ is king of God’s kingdom, we might ask, what kind of person is he?

He is compassionate.

33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."  35Jesus wept. (John 11:33-35)

He loves children.

13Then some children were brought to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:13-14)

He can cure the sick and heal any ailment.

And large crowds came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at his feet; and he healed them. (Matthew 15:30)

He can raise the dead to life.

39Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" 41So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42"I knew that you always hear me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that you sent me." 43When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."

   44The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." (John 11:39-44)

He has authority over the forces of nature.

26He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. (Matthew 8:26)

He can miraculously feed large crowds.

19Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, he blessed the food, and breaking the loaves he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. (Matthew 14:19-20)

He has been given all authority by God the Father.  Satan has no power over him.

18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)

31"Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (John 12:31)

30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me. (John 14:30)

Jesus is the perfect representation of his Father Yahweh, God Almighty, and does his father’s will.

15He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)

16Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. (John 7:16)

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, your will be done." (Matthew 26:42)

We know that Jesus has intense love for mankind, because he laid down his very life for us even though we are undeserving of this grace.  What a contrast to man’s governments, which often abuse their own citizens and make wars with other countries.  God’s government under our righteous king and savior, Jesus Christ, will be a benevolent government, which truly loves and cares for its subjects.  The many miracles Jesus performed are just a taste of what he will do when God’s kingdom rules over the earth.

What We Need to Do

Jesus Christ is very much alive.  He has been raised from the dead by God, his Father, and now sits on a throne at the Father’s side.  He has a keen interest in us as individuals.  If we believe that the governments of this world cannot create a just, peaceful society, and if we recognize that we are sinful and imperfect, we need to come to Jesus Christ and ask to be his disciple.  Through Jesus Christ, we can worship Yahweh, our Heavenly Father, creator of all things.

23But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be his worshipers. (John 4:23)

44No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)

Repentance and Baptism

We need to repent of our sins, and ask God to forgive us in Jesus’ name.  Then, we must be baptized (immersed) in water to symbolize our dedication to Christ publicly.  Note the Apostle Peter’s advice to the Jews of the first century.

36"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified."   

 37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"  

   38Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." (Acts 2:37-39)

When we are baptized in water, in the presence of God and fellow believers, we make a solemn commitment to follow Christ wherever he leads.  We declare our old life in the flesh dead, and promise to obey the teachings of Jesus and live as a spiritual person for the rest of our lives.

The Holy Spirit

Notice that if you repent and are baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, “you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  This was the very Holy Spirit Jesus promised would be given to them some time after his death and resurrection.

 4Gathering them together, he [Jesus] commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," he said, "you heard of from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  (Acts 1:4-5)

The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God, which is given to disciples of Jesus.  This Holy Spirit operates on the minds and hearts of true believers, teaching them the truths of God’s Word and enlightening the believer about God’s purposes and will.

27As for you, the anointing [by Holy Spirit] which you received from him [God] abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in him. (1 John 2:27)

The Holy Spirit unites the believer to Jesus Christ.  A spiritual connection is made between the believer’s heart and mind and their Lord.  The scriptures liken this arrangement to a physical body.  Jesus Christ is the head of this body, and the individual believers make up the body itself.  True Christians, then, function in unity under their leader and head, Jesus Christ.

12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

5I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

It is important for the new believer to progress in the truth of God’s word, the bible, asking for Holy Spirit to help in the understanding and application of this truth.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11:13)

We should desire to be a good witness for Jesus Christ and try hard to progressively become more Christ-like in our personalities and daily living.  The Holy Spirit assists us in this.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

Christian Fellowship

Since Christians are united to Christ in one spiritual body, it is very important to find other Christians to meet with.  This does not have to be a formal church, but can be a simple, informal meeting in your home with others of like faith.

20"For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:20)

A word of caution, however, is in order.  Not all people calling themselves Christians live truly Christian lives.   Jesus indicated this in his parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13).  We should be discerning but not judgmental.  The following principles may help in finding other sincere Christians to fellowship with.

True Christians:

• Are motivated by principled, Christian love.  They are sincerely interested in helping their neighbors and their brothers and sisters in Christ.  They wish for all people to come to know God as they have.

• Consider the bible to be the final authority on all doctrine, not church traditions, church leaders, or theological systems devised by men.

• Recognize only one ultimate leader of the congregation, Jesus Christ, and one God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus.  Men can assume leadership positions in a church, but they are servants of Christ only.  Any man or church which attempts to replace Christ’s unique position as head of the congregation should be rejected.

• Are firm on the separation of church and state.  They remain neutral in the conflicts of this world.  They know that only God’s Kingdom will solve this world’s problems and look forward to its establishment with great anticipation.

• Are humble servants of Jesus Christ.  They are not interested in glory for themselves, but give all the glory to their Heavenly Father.

• Never attempt to coerce someone into believing something.  They recognize that belief must be voluntary, guided by the individual’s conscience.

If you are looking for Christian believers to fellowship with, pray to God in Jesus’ name that you will find some.  The guidelines above may help you, but the best help is God himself.  You could also try starting a small group in your own home.  Simply find one or two other people that are interested in studying the bible.  Invite them to your home for a meal.  Pray together for forgiveness, for wisdom, for daily needs, for direction from God, for each other, and for those you know that need help.  Read and discuss the bible together, and apply the things you learn to your own lives.  Share these truths with others, and invite them to join your home group.  Sing spiritual songs, and offer thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father, Yahweh, in the name of Jesus.

The Christian Communion Meal

On the night of Jesus’ arrest, he was sharing the Passover meal with his disciples.  The Passover was an annual celebration whereby Jews remembered their deliverance from Egypt under Moses, and involved the slaughter and eating of a lamb by each family in Israel.  On that night Jesus instituted a new celebration which replaced the Passover—the memorial of his death, and commanded Christians to keep it.  Jesus would fulfill the Passover celebration by becoming the Passover lamb that would save not just Jews who believed, but all mankind who put faith in him.

14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

   17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

   19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

   20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:14-20)

Christians continue to keep this celebration in memory of Jesus’ sacrificial death.  They gather regularly to share bread and wine in memory of their Lord.  Some observe it annually, others celebrate more often.  The bible is not specific on the frequency.  The important thing is for all Christians to celebrate it regularly, meditating on the meaning of the bread (his body) and the wine (his sacrificial blood of the new covenant), while we patiently await his return in glory to establish God’s kingdom over the earth.

Summary

Six thousand years of history have proven that mankind is unable to govern himself effectively.  Only God’s kingdom can bring about a just, peaceful world.  God intends to do this, and promises to replace earth’s governments with a kingdom headed by his son Jesus Christ.

However, the problem of sin remains.  Humans inherit sin and imperfection from their parents and so are not able to commune with God directly.  A mediator is needed, and this mediator is provided by God himself in the person of his son, Jesus Christ, who died as a sacrifice for our sins, but who was resurrected and now sits at the right hand of God in heaven.  He will return in the future to establish God’s kingdom over the earth, to resurrect the dead, and to bring about an era of peace, justice, freedom, righteousness and true worship that has never been seen on this earth since the beginning.

If we believe these promises in the bible, then let us become a disciple of Jesus Christ and tell others of this good news.  Let us repent of our sins, and be baptized in water as a symbol of our dedication.  Let us seek other sincere Christians to fellowship with.  Let us celebrate the memorial of our Lord’s death regularly.  And let us continue to pray as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us:

9You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.  10Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven.  11Give us our food for today. 12Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others.  13Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.  (Matthew 6:9-13)

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