From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:13 ESV
From the Spirit filled life study Bible (electronic ed., Mt 4:17). The verb is at hand means “has come,” “has arrived,” or “is here,” and suggests the inauguration of the reign of God, which still awaits its consummation.
The term “gospel’ means announcement. The announcement of a new King. A new King creates a new Kingdom. This message was promised through the prophets, preparation declared by John the Baptist, then by Jesus and to be continued by us.
We live in the tension between now and not yet. Jesus came to reveal this Kingdom teaching and preaching a message that challenged not just the status quo of religion but the reality of expectations and practices. The difficulty, at the time of Jesus, was that the Jews were expecting a natural King. One who would free the nation of Israel from its current political state.
His declaration from John 18, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ emphasis’ the spiritual realities of His Kingdom. The New Testament teaches a kingdom within us. Highlights from Romans teach us freedom, in this Kingdom, is found in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. the message of the Kingdom and the ways of the Kingdom.
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount opens up a whole new perspective on Israel’s understanding of the law and the prophets. He begins teaching the ways of the Kingdom and then goes about demonstrating Kingdom thought and practice.
Under the Lordship and Authority of a new King, his subjects gain access to the abundant life He has come to provide. Luke 17:21 acknowledges the Kingdom of God is within us necessitating the need for all to be born again. You must believe, Romans 10:9-10.
Jesus’ death and resurrection, his body and his blood, satisfied the legal requirements for the redemption of mankind and provided deliverance from the Kingdom of darkness. The confession of Lord, seeking His will, assures us of an entrance into this eternal Kingdom prepared for all who will believe.
Bowing our knee to this new King holds recognition of having lived within the old. Colossians identifies the old as this Kingdom of darkness. Accepting Jesus Christ take us out of this dark kingdom ruled by evil and fear and into His Kingdom of Light where darkness has no power to overcome - Col. 1:13; John 1: 5.
The Apostle Paul wrote, it is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17. Peter wrote in his second epistle, 1:3-11 a list of characteristics we were to be diligent to acquire and practice promising entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As we live in this tension of now and not yet, we pray for His Kingdom to come, His will to be done, with our cry, Come quickly Lord Jesus.
To be continued ~ ……