Sunday: Characteristics of the Kingdom of God: Part 1
The Gospels are replete with references to the kingdom of God, all cumulatively testifying that a new order has been inaugurated in and through Jesus.
What does Luke 11:2 say about the kingdom of God? Whose kingdom is it, and why is that so important?
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
To say that this kingdom is God’s is not just saying the obvious but is rather affirming that the kingdom of God is neither a philosophic notion nor an ethical edifice. It is not a social gospel proclaiming bread and water for the hungry or equality and justice for the politically oppressed. It transcends all human goodness and moral action and finds its locus in the sovereign activity of God in the incarnate Son, who came preaching the good news of the kingdom (Luke 4:42-44, Matt. 4:23-25).
What do Luke 1:32-33 teach about who inaugurated the kingdom of God and what its final result will be?
The passage is of utmost importance for two reasons: first, the Messiah anticipated in the Old Testament is none other than Jesus,the Son of the Highest
; second, Of his kingdom there will be no end.
This means that, through His incarnation, death and resurrection, Jesus vanquished Satan’s challenge to God’s sovereignty and established for eternity God’s kingdom. The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!
(Rev. 11:15, NKJV). In the clash between Christ and Satan, Satan claimed victory after the fall of Adam and Eve. But the mission of Jesus proved the falsity of Satan’s claims; He defeated Satan at every turn, and with His death and resurrection Christ has assured the entire cosmos that the kingdom of God has arrived.
How can we live in a way that reflects the reality of the kingdom of God? Most important, how can we reflect that reality in our own lives? What should be different about how we, as citizens of God’s kingdom, live now?
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Christ does not now control the kingdoms of this world (John 18:36). As long as there are men and women who refuse willing allegiance to the Son of God they by default render allegiance to the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and sustain his claim to the kingdoms of this world (Matthew 4:8, 9).
By rejecting the loving appeal of the Redeemer and hoping to free themselves from the obligations of God’s commandments the unrighteous end up in the kingdom of force and are manipulated by Satan to do his will (Romans 6:16). They think they are free and exercising their own will but the arch deceiver tricks and uses them as puppets (2 Peter 2:19). They end up serving a lesser god in a weaker kingdom.
Towards the end of time the religious establishment will think to bring the kingdoms of this world under singular control, supposedly in fulfillment of Revelation 11:15. Yet the fact that they pursue it by force will reveal the true character of the mission. This is the working of a counterfeit movement (Revelation 13:12).
The fulfillment of the prophecy that the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Revelation 11:15) only takes place when all the subjects willingly yield total submission and absolute allegiance to the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:14-16). Plan to be included.
I would like to suggest that Luke 1:32,33 do not address the question "who inaugurated the kingdom of God?" This is Gabriel speaking to a Jewish woman who, along with the whole nation, were looking for the promised Heir of David to reestablish his (earthly) kingdom and kick out the Romans. This message from Gabriel "appears" to endorse this view. However, David's throne(kingdom) was earthly and should have never happened. When wanting a king, Israel rejected the Kingdom of God(as God told Samuel) and from Solomon onward this line of monarchs turned away again and again until finally the captivity of Babylon.
Before finishing the above thought, the question of "who inaugurated the kingdom of God?" is answered in Gen 1:1 (the 2nd part is answered well in many places including Rev 11:15).
What Gabriel is telling Mary (and everyone else) was that the kingdom of David would become a part of the Kingdom of God with all other kingdoms on earth, which was inaugurated when He created the heavens and the earth. Read again Rev 11:15 to see this. No more human to stand in the place of the Divine over His creatures. We will all serve God as our Sovereign Ruler.
This brings us to the bottom of the page and the question: "How can we live in a way that reflects the reality of the kingdom of God?" Ps 119:11 is the proper reply isn't it? Or Prov 3:5,6....etc.
As people waiting fo God's kindom, we have to be serious when doing things. We dont have to allow the devil to take part in our doings. We have to keep all the commandments of God. sometimes we think that a comandment is a burden so let me dwel much on faith. No!! a comandment is not a burden & if we have faith in Jesus then the comandment has to be kept! as children waiting for God's kingdom.
In the beginning God created humans in the image of God and everything was very good. Then Adam & Eve decided that they wanted to know good & evil. Ever since then God has been revealing his character through various means, one of them is His commandments, to draw us back to Him, with the ultimate goal of returning us to the original plan of only good. As Jesus said Matt 5:48 "Be holy as my Father is holy."
Jesus said: you must be born again. Paul tells us: if you are Christ's you are a new creation.
The more we spend time with Jesus the more we will become like Him and through His power working in us we will have a character that delights to do His will revealed in His commandments.
Jesus christ is reAl And he saves me