"The Things Concerning The Kingdom Of God."

by Horne, R. T. H. | Category: The Kingdom Of God | Jan 1957

In the series of articles to appear in this magazine this year, God willing, it is intended to have under consideration the subject of" The kingdom of God."

Our desire is to trace the presentation of the subject through the Scriptures from the time when the kingdom was seen in the children of Israel-a people for God in the wilderness-during the later history of that people up to the time when, as intimated by the Lord, the kingdom would be taken away from them and "given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matthew 21.43). Thence onwards throughout the present dispensation as the kingdom is seen in the "little flock" to whom the Lord disclosed it was to be given (Luke 12.32); to its culmination in eternity.

In this Opening article, which is intended merely as an introduction, we desire to remind our readers of the place this subject had in the teaching of the Lord and His apostles so that we may have before our minds a right estimation of the matter under review.

The Lord taught His disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth" (Matthew 6.10), and He said of Himself, "I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also : for therefore was I sent " (Luke 4.43). It is recorded also of Him" that He went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8.1), and further that the last days of His earthly ministry the forty days between His resurrection and ascension-were occupied in "speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God" (Acts 1.3).

The kingdom had been located in the nation of Israel whose was "the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises" (Romans 9.4), but, because of their disobedience and departure from the divine will, it was to be taken away from them and given to another nation, in keeping with the Lord's words in Matthew 21.48, quoted above.

It was to the disciples gathered round the Lord that He said, in Luke 12, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The disciples of the Lord were to become a holy nation as we see from 1 Peter 2.9, with all that would be involved in such a state.

In His memorable words to Pilate in John 18.36, the Lord declared, "My kingdom is not of this world ... now is My kingdom not from hence," this making it clear that neither in nature nor origin was that kingdom He was about to establish "of this world." While this kingdom may be His future kingdom, the same principle applies to that which would be set up after His resurrection.

It was a kingdom spiritual in character, and one into which only those who were born anew could enter (John 3.5).

That He might have such a people was the great purpose before "Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" when He gave Himself for us" (Titus 2.14).

May there be a worthy response in our hearts to the desire of the Lord for a people together, owning His authority and seeking to do His will, not only in their individual lives but also in a collective capacity.

From the question asked by the apostles, "Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? " (Acts 1.6), it would appear that they were still looking to Him as the One who "should redeem Israel." The wider vision of the purpose of God in this dispensation set forth in the words of Isaiah 49.6,

"It is too light a thing that Thou shouldest by My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob : ... I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the cod of the earth"

they had not yet seen.

The instructions given by the risen Lord "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24.47), and His commission to the disciples, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you " (Matthew 28.19, 20), reveal both the nature and extent of the work in the present day.

In the pursuit of this work the presence and power of the Holy Spirit were essential, therefore the disciples were instructed by the Lord, "Tarry ye in the city until ye be clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24.49).

The promise of the Lord Jesus, "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you," having been fulfilled, on the day of Pentecost there commenced the witness to the resurrection and exaltation of "Jesus whom ye crucified," and whom "God hath made ... both Lord and Christ," with the result that hearts were reached, repentance effected and disciples were baptized in subjection to the authority of the crucified, risen and ascended Lord.

These disciples, being added to the company already together in Jerusalem (Acts 1.15), formed the nucleus of the newly1constituted people of God, the little flock to whom the kingdom, taken away from Israel, was given.

We see then that at the commencement of the present dispensation, Peter and others in Jerusalem were engaged in the work of furthering the kingdom.

In Acts 8.12, we read of Philip in Samaria " preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ." Paul

tells us he "went about preaching the kingdom," and the Acts of the Apostles closes with the record of Paul in Rome "preaching the kingdom of God."

The little that has been written here (much more could be written) is, we hope, sufficient to show that in "the kingdom of God" we have a truth dear to the heart of the Lord Jesus, and one in the furtherance of which the apostles spent their lives.

May we as disciples follow the example set before us!

Later articles will deal with principles involved, and with services expected both Godward and manward of those to whom the kingdom has been given, and we hope interest and profit in the subject will be found by all who have the opportunity to peruse these pages month by month.

Horne, R. T. H. | Jan 1957
The Kingdom Of God