Luke mentions that prior to his
ascension to heaven; the crucified and resurrected Jesus spent forty days with
his Apostles “speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Stop and think about that for
a moment! He could have spoken about anything, but Jesus chose to speak about
one thing only—the kingdom. Thus, he ended his earthly ministry the same way he
began it—declaring the gospel of the kingdom!
He then
commissioned his follows to take the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts
1:8). And what message do you suppose they preached? On Pentecost, we find Peter declaring how God raised up and exalted Jesus “to sit on his throne”
(2:30–32), a kingly position of authority. We later follow Philip, to Samaria where he preaches “the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 8:12). At
Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul and his team are charged with teaching and
acting “contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying
there is another king—Jesus” (17:7). Two chapters later Paul moves into
Asia Minor and speaks boldly in the synagogues “concerning the things of the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8).
In his farewell address to the
Ephesian elders he reminds them how he had spent three full years in their city
testifying “to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), which he describes
one verse later as “preaching the
kingdom of God” (Acts 20:25, 31). From there he goes to Jerusalem where he
is arrested and awaits trial. The Scriptures reveal that “many came to him at
his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly
testified of the kingdom of God” (Acts 28:23). The Book of Acts closes with
these words: “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house and
received all who came to him, preaching
the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus
Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).
Thus, the Book of Acts closes in
the same way it opens. The kingdom of
God serves as bookends for the Book of Acts.
This is the NT pattern. Is this the
message you preach? Is this the message that is heralded from our pulpits? Why
not? Obviously, something is desperately wrong. A correction is needed.
Read “HEAVEN ON EARTH: Experiencing
the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now.” It is a transformational book. You’ll
never look at the gospel the same.
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