IN%"tdm7695@geopsun.tamu.edu" 7-OCT-1990 22:58:20.05 (10/18/90)
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM Its Reality and Manifestation The gospel which the New Testament has revealed to us is the gospel of the kingdom. The gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), the gospel of peace Romans 10:15), and the gospel of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13) are well known terms, but many have never realized that the gospel is also the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23; 24:14). Most have very little concept about the kingdom, often thinking of it interchangeably with their concept of heaven. Much worse, some have taken the kingdom truth of the Bible and misapplied it greatly, resulting in confusion and mixture. More advanced Christians surely go beyond this, but may still relegate the kingdom only to the future when Christ will come the second time. While this latter concept is certainly not wrong, it is also true that the kingdom can be experienced right now in its reality. It is not merely something we are waiting for in the future; it is also a reality that we can experience right now. THE PRESENT REALITY OF THE KINGDOM The basic truth of the present reality of the kingdom is confirmed by many verses in the New Testament. Matthew 3:2 tells us that our repentance is for the kingdom. Furthermore, we are regenerated into the kingdom at our new birth (John 3:5) and simultaneously were translated into the kingdom of the Son (Colossians 1:13). The Apostle John testified in Revelation 1:9 that he was presently living in the kingdom, and the Apostle Paul equated the kingdom to those living in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). This verse, Romans 14:17, further indicates that the proper church life today is the kingdom in reality. The kingdom of God mentioned in this verse obviously refers to the Body life revealed in the whole chapter. Therefore, the proper church, full of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, is today's kingdom. The church today being the kingdom in its reality is also supported by Matthew 16:18-19. These verses reveal that when the church was built, the kingdom was established. The word "church" in verse 18 is replaced by the word "kingdom" in verse 19, clearly showing their relationship. How wonderful it is to realize that while the manifestation of the kingdom in full does wait for the Lord's second coming (Revelation 11:15), the reality of the kingdom should be for our present experience now! As Christians we are privileged to know not only Christ saving us, but also His living and reigning in us (Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:17). The kingdom which will spread over the whole earth at His return can now be inwardly experienced by all those who have the life of Christ. By this experience of Christ as the kingly One spreading His life into every part of our being, we are living in the reality of the kingdom today. The renewal of our mind, the transformation of our emotions, and the molding of our will are all accomplished as His indwelling life possesses us (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:13). This saturating life in us gives us daily growth and causes Christ to be formed in us (Galatians 4:19), bringing us to true Christian maturity. This life that fills us also overflows out of us, feeding others and causing us to participate in real Christian work (John 15:4-5; Colossians 1:29; 1 Corinthians 15:10). This kingdom reality thus floods us with enjoyment and discipline now, and prepares us to reign with Him at His return. Being under His kingdom rule in this age will qualify us to represent Him in the next age. Therefore, our life and work in this age, after we have become Christians, determines our relationship to the kingdom in the coming age. If the life of Christ matures in us now, and our work is of Him today, the manifestation of the kingdom will be a reward to us in the coming age (Matthew 16:27; 25:21, 23; Revelation 22:12). Otherwise, we will miss the coming kingdom, forfeit our right to rule and reign with Christ a thousand years, and suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). This, the missing of the kingdom, does not mean that we will perish. We will not lose our salvation, but we will lose the reward. Salvation is eternal; once we receive it, we will never lose it (John 10:28-29). But we may still suffer the loss of the kingdom reward, though we ourselves will still be saved (1 Corinthians 3:8, 14-15). MATURITY NECESSARY TO GAIN THE PRIZE The kingdom reward is the basic concept upon which the writings of the New Testament are founded. This is also the motivation that caused the Apostle Paul to run the race and strive for the mastery. This fighting was surely not for salvation since that is a gift. Rather it was for a crown, and negligence on his part would result in his being rejected (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, lit.). He would not be rejected from salvation, but from receiving the kingdom as a reward. The kingdom reward was the prize that Paul was pressing toward in Philippians 3:14. Counting himself not to have yet gained it, he was reaching forth to attain it (Philippians 3:12-13). For this reason, Paul was also taking heed how he labored to build up the church. Only work that can be approved in the day of Christ will bring a reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). It is in accord with this concept that the seven epistles in Revelation 2 and 3 are concluded with a promise of the reward to be the wedding feast of the Lamb (Matthew 25:10; Revelation 19:7, lit.). This coming feast, a special and enlarged enjoyment of Christ for a thousand years for all overcoming believers, is held out by the Father as a great incentive to all His children, encouraging them to gain the necessary maturity that will qualify them for the reward. To be made ready in this age results in the kingdom being a reward to us, whereas slothfulness on our part in this age requires that a dispensational punishment be experienced in the next age (Matthew 25:14-30, 24:45-51; 25:1-13; Luke 12:41-48), ultimately preparing all God's people to express Him fully in the New Jerusalem for eternity. The reward of the kingdom is an incentive, and the loss of the kingdom is a warning. THE KINGDOM AS A REWARD With this understanding, all the warnings in the New Testament of punishment and loss relating to believers can be understood and properly applied. Without this understanding, we are prone to fall into the very objective view which applies the verses regarding punishment and loss only to unbelievers, or else to believers in this age only. Or we will fall into the very subjective view which says such verses mean that a Christian can lose his salvation. Both of these views have missed the mark, failing to distinguish between the coming kingdom age of a thousand years and the New Jerusalem of eternity. Furthermore, they have not seen the reward of the kingdom nor the loss of it. Salvation is eternal, being by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8, Titus 3:5). This has been eternally secured for us by Christ, having nothing to do with our works. It is also true, however, that every Christian will give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12), be judged for the things done in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10), and be rewarded according to his own labor (1 Corinthians 3:8). This judgment, occurring at Christ's return, decides our gaining or losing of the kingdom as an inheritance (Matthew 5:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10). This does not refer to the judgment of the unbelievers which will occur at the great white throne after the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:11-15). A GREAT INCENTIVE From this short presentation, we can see the place of the millennial kingdom in the overall view of God's eternal purpose. God is bringing many sons into glory (Hebrews 2:10), preparing them for His full expression in the New Jerusalem for eternity (Revelation 21 and 22). But only fully matured and glorified sons can express Him in such completeness. No imperfection will exist there. Therefore, our wise father holds out the coming millenial kingdom as a reward, giving His children the needed incentive to develop and mature in this age. Our wise father also gives us the needed warning of discipline for those who may neglect their salvation and development in this age. The preparation of every child of God is certain, either in this age or the next one. The consummation is also certain: the full expression of God through all of His sons in the New Jerusalem for eternity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Compiled by Don Looper from messages given by Witness Lee. Published by the Living Stream Ministry, P.O. Box 2121, Anaheim, CA 92804 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Thomas Moriarty | Internet: * * 808 San Saba Dr., | tdm7695@geopsun.tamu.edu * * College Station, Texas USA | tdm7695@calvin.tamu.edu * * 77845 | Bitnet: * * | tdm7695@tamgeop.bitnet * * Home Telephone Number: | t1m7695@tamvenus.bitnet * * (409) 693-5829 | * ------------------------------------------------------------------------