WHO, WHEN AND WHY WAS THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN CHANGED TO ANOTHER GOSPEL?
“The kingdom of GOD was one of Jesus’ most talked about topics, but it’s hardly a well-grasped concept for believers today. If you ask a group of people to define it, you would probably get a variety of answers. “ (TNDL_
The Greek term for the kingdom is used 162 times in the New Testament, with most of them referring to the Kingdom of God. Yet, how often do we as believers discuss God’s kingdom and keep it on the forefront of our hearts? I believe one of the reasons we don’t talk about God’s kingdom as much as we should is because we don’t fully understand this mysterious concept. “Both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament the term “kingdom” is understood as dynamic in nature and refers primarily to the rule or reign of a king. It is seldom used in a static sense to refer to a territory. As a result, in the vast majority of instances, it would be better to translate the expression “kingdom of God” as the “rule of God.” (Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary)
The Kingdom of God Is Not a Physical Place… So What Is It?
Many people think of the kingdom of God as heaven or as the church. However, the kingdom of God is not an actual physical place. A working definition of God’s kingdom from a biblical perspective can be seen as God’s universal reign as Creator and Christ’s exhaustive work as Redeemer. Since God is eternal, His kingdom is eternal. The Kingdom of God transcends time and space.
Below are 10 concepts about the kingdom that are important for a believer to understand:
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1. God Reigns over All Things.
1. God Reigns over All Things.
Since God is the Creator of everything, He reigns over all things. His role as Creator God establishes His authority over the earth and all of His creation:
Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;”
Psalm 103:19: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”
Colossians 1:16–17: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.”
Out of love, God created man and gave him dominion and responsibility over the earth. This was an opportunity for man to participate in God’s kingdom.
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2. Sin Challenged God’s Authority over His Kingdom.
2. Sin Challenged God’s Authority over His Kingdom.
Scripture speaks of Satan’s rebellion against God, which consequentially led to the institution of the fallen angel’s establishment of a counterfeit kingdom on earth:
Revelation 12:4: “Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.”
2 Corinthians 4:4: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
In Genesis 2, Satan convinced the first humans to trust in themselves, rather than in God’s wisdom, leading them to break fellowship with their Sovereign Creator. Instead of operating out of respect of God’s sovereignty, man desired to trust in half-truths and personal desire. The consequence of their sin was they had to leave the garden, a symbol of perfect provision by their Sustainer.
