The Kingdom of God

By Randy Harshbarger

In teaching, Jesus frequently used the term, the kingdom of God. Early in Matthew’s gospel both John the Baptist and Christ came, announcing the soon-to-be-established kingdom. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matt. 4:17). Jesus was teaching “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23). Faith and repentance were important aspects of Jesus’ announcements about the kingdom. “And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mk. 1:15).

Sometimes Jesus used the phrase, the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of God. Since the two terms are used inter­changeably, the right conclusion is that there is no significant difference in their meaning. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10). “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28). The kingdom is a heavenly kingdom. It originates in heaven, its character is heavenly, its laws are spiritual. The law of the kingdom on earth is to be where God’s Will is respected and obeyed.

Prophetically, kingdom has a rich history. The Jews had high Messianic expectations. They anticipated a coming kingdom. Many Old Testament passages teach this. “Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:3). There are too many prophecies to place in this article (read Isa. 52:7; Jer. 23:5; 33:17). A familiar “king­dom” prophecy is Dan. 2:44, “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Daniel and other Jews were in Babylonian captivity. Surely they desired to return home and once again function as God’s people (see Jer. 29). In the New Testament we find the Jews expecting an earthly kingdom and an earthly king who would overthrow the oppressive Roman government (Jno. 6:15). Did a passage such as Dan. 2:44 contribute to that kind of understanding? While the proper under­standing of Dan. 2:44 is a spiritual kingdom, it is also true that the Jews did secularize many Old Testament, Messianic expectations.

Old Testament prophecies about the kingdom are rooted in the rich relationship between God and His people – a theocracy. Israel be­longed to God; they functioned as His kingdom of priests. “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel” (Ex. 19:6). The language Jesus used in describing the kingdom was familiar to the Jews; His teaching was designed to draw people to His rule. So, why did the Jews reject Him? &

· (Via Search, Vol. 15, No. 2. Search is a monthly publication of the Church of Christ, 5956 State Hwy. Z. Vanduser, MO)

The Truth about Sin

By Paul Smith

Several years ago, the title of a book that was published asked the question, Whatever Became of Sin? Well, I must confess in a world where evil men and imposters proceed from bad to worse (2 Timothy 3:13) it does seem as if the word "sin" has disappeared from the human vocabulary. Even today, this seems to be finding its way into the church.

My responsibility as a Christian, and most certainly as an evangelist, is not to join the majority in a world of evil who would seek to cir­cumvent the issue or attempt to whiten up the blackness of sin My obligation and yours as a disciple of Christ is "do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light....” (Ephesians 5:11-13). Just what does sin do?

Sin hurts God. Too often when people sin they begin by mourning over the consequences of their sin, such as disgrace, poverty, dis­ease, and emotional discomfort, rather than shedding tears because they realize they've sinned against a holy God. When David had been confronted with his sin, he confessed to God, "Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight" (Psalms 51:4). David declared later (in verse 17), "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, You will not de­spise." David's heart was broken because he realized he had broken the very heart of God. Sin hurts God!

Sin hurts others. In my estimation it's selfishness to the core when people argue that their refusal to submit themselves to God only negatively affects them. What utter foolishness. Try reasoning this way with parents who shed tears at the funeral of their fourteen year old son whose life was taken due to the drunk driver who thought his drinking wouldn't hurt anyone but himself. Try convincing a bro­ken-hearted woman whose world is devastated by the adultery of her husband, and now she is forced to explain to her three children why daddy left her for another woman. Sin hurts others!

Sin is expensive. How much pain and heartache could be avoided if only people would recognize the high price of sin. Sin is so ex­pensive. Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you ever in­tended to pay. Sin is expensive!

Sin will be dealt with by God. Too many ignore sin and its wages (Romans 6:23) and think that somehow their sins will go unnoticed or be overlooked by God. Too many want to sow "wild oats," and then pray for crop failure. God's spiritual law of sowing and reaping doesn't work that way. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8). God will deal with sin and the sinner who refuses to repent. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Don't kid yourself, your sins will be brought into judgment; even those things that others don't know about. "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Sin will be dealt with by God!

Sin can be forgiven. What good news! Not that we have sinned, but that God in His grace will abundantly pardon any and all sins if we will truly confess them and forsake them. "For You Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lov­ing kindness to all who call upon You" (Psalms 86:5). Is there any message that brings hope like the good news that God forgives?

When all is said and done, the tragedy of sin is best seen in the price God was willing to pay for its removal. If sin is trivial, Christ's death is trivial. "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ...." (1 Peter 1:18-19). Only Jesus is the answer to our sin problem, and that's the truth about sin! &

·Cedar Park Church Bulletin, Cedar Park, Texas, via Gospel power, Anderson, Ala., Aug. 12, 2007