Preaching The Kingdom Of God

by Guy Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Category: General | Sept 1989

Jesus said, "I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God, for therefore was I sent" (Luke 4:43). The kingdom of God is not understood by many believers, so that much that the Lord desires His disciples to know is lost.

The gospel of God is wonderful indeed, and by its preaching world-wide for nearly two thousand years men, women and children have been turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Now we rejoice greatly in the spreading of the gospel of the glory of the blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11).

The good news of the kingdom of God, however, not only brings salvation to us, but it requires from us obedience to Christ. Not just to serve Him individually, but to serve also in fellowship with other disciples whom the Lord has brought together in churches of God.

When the apostles preached on the day of Pentecost many believed on the Lord and they were baptized in water, then they were added to the company of the Lord's disciples. They continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching, and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and prayers (Acts 2:41,42), and in the days that followed the Lord added to them those that were being saved (v.47). Prior to Pentecost the Lord had taught the disciples concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). That teaching included instruction as to how churches of God were to be established and maintained. The outworking of all this is the subject matter of the book of the Acts, to which we will now briefly allude.

Philip the evangelist went to the city of Samaria where He preached the kingdom of God. Those who believed were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:5-12).

When Peter went to Caesarea, to the house of Cornelius, all who heard and believed Peter's preaching received the Holy Spirit. Peter then commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10). He had preached the kingdom of God as Philip did in Samaria.

After the death of Stephen some disciples went to Antioch, and there they preached the Lord Jesus. Those who believed turned to the Lord and they were added to the Lord and as a result were added to the church of God in Antioch (Acts 11:2O~24).

Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch of Pisidia and to Iconium and Lystra, where Paul was stoned almost to death. The disciples feared persecution, but the Lord's servants exhorted them that through many tribulations they must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:20-22). It may cost us something to serve the Lord in the kingdom of God.

As the preaching of the kingdom of God continued and increased, some of the Jewish believers taught that except the Gentile believers were circumcised after the custom of Moses, they could not be saved (Acts 15:1-5). Paul and Barnabas strongly resisted this teaching so the apostles and elders met at Jerusalem to consider it. They came to one mind and sent decrees to all the churches. When the churches heard the decrees they were strengthened in the faith and the disciples increased in number daily (Acts 16:4,5). The churches of God are not fully autonomous. They are united in doctrine and practice. This is made possible by a united elderhood meeting together when it is necessary, as the apostles and elders did at Jerusalem.

When Paul came to Ephesus he went first to the synagogue, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8). Some were hardened and disobedient, but some accepted his teaching. These with others were together, and a church of God was planted in Ephesus. The church of God in Ephesus, with all the other churches of God, were "fitly framed together", growing "into a holy temple in the Lord ... for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:20-22). The churches of God in the aggregate form the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6; 10:21).

Later Paul met the elders from Ephesus for the last time. To them he said that he had preached the kingdom among them (Acts 20:25). He had not hesitated to speak to them the whole counsel of God. He knew that after his departure some of these elders would speak "perverse things to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). Only by the mercy of God and the word of His grace would they stand, through an elderhood united in heart in the truth.

A few years later, Paul was a prisoner in Rome. To all who came to him he spoke of the kingdom of God (Acts 28:30,31). Some believed and some disbelieved. As it was then - so it is now. Many born again believers are in fellowship in many denominations with different doctrines and practices. The news of the kingdom of God can bring together those who seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God.

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that herein serveth Christ is well pleasing to God, and approved of men (Rom. 14:17,18).

This is the character of the kingdom of God. Those who are in the kingdom of God must live righteous lives, for the Lord is righteous, and He loves righteousness (Ps. 11:7). From righteousness comes peace, and from peace comes joy.

Unity of heart and the joy of the Lord are essential in fruitful service for the Lord in the kingdom of God.

Guy Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Sept 1989
General