The Old Testament ends on a note of expectation —the return of Elijah the prophet who would soften the hearts of the people to obey the Law of Moses in conformity with Israel’s calling as God’s holy nation (Mal. 4:4-6). However, four hundred long years pass before Israel hears any word from God. During this time, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans all ruled over Israel in Palestine. The apocryphal books were written and the apocalyptic prophets preached. But no authentic prophet arose to bring a good word from God.
Finally, the deafening silence was shattered by the strong voice of John the Baptist — the promised forerunner of Messiah who was also the new Elijah (Matt. 3:3; 11:14; Mark 1:2-3; 9:13; Luke 3:4-6). John the [Southern?] Baptist made this startling, but exciting announcement: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2)!
The only message
Jesus was an itinerant preacher with only one message. A message He repeated over and over and over again; The Message of the Kingdom of God. Let me put it this way. The Kingdom of God is the only message Jesus ever preached, John the Baptist preached, the disciples preached.
He never preached deliverance. He simply delivered. When the religious leaders question the authority by which he rebuked evil spirit, his answer was, ‘But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.’ Matthew 12:28. He never preached healing. He just healed. In Luke 9:2, “…he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” He did not preach the prosperity gospel. This was His prosperity gospel “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things will be added.
He did not come to start a religion. In fact, His harshest words were directed toward the religious leaders. He rebuked them for turning His Father’s house into a den of thieves and for being roadblocks to the Kingdom of God. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Matthew 23:13
I think you get my point. The Kingdom of God was Jesus' singular and the only message preached.
The misunderstood book
The Bible is not a religious book. There’s no typo in that sentence. The Bible is NOT a religious book. The Bible is divided in two sections. The Old and The New Testament; also referred to as the Old and the New Covenants. Testament and Covenant are legal terms. The Bible is a contract; a legal document like the constitution.
According to the dictionary, a constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. When you look at the Bible, think of it not as a religious book but as A Constitution.
Jesus’ kingdom message was simply to reiterate the fundamental principles or laws by which the Kingdom of Heaven is governed. The laws of the Kingdom.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:17-20 NIV
The Jesus came to reintroduce us to the fundamental principles by which the Kingdom of Heaven is governed.
Finally, the deafening silence was shattered by the strong voice of John the Baptist — the promised forerunner of Messiah who was also the new Elijah (Matt. 3:3; 11:14; Mark 1:2-3; 9:13; Luke 3:4-6). John the [Southern?] Baptist made this startling, but exciting announcement: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2)!
The only message
Jesus was an itinerant preacher with only one message. A message He repeated over and over and over again; The Message of the Kingdom of God. Let me put it this way. The Kingdom of God is the only message Jesus ever preached, John the Baptist preached, the disciples preached.
He never preached deliverance. He simply delivered. When the religious leaders question the authority by which he rebuked evil spirit, his answer was, ‘But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.’ Matthew 12:28. He never preached healing. He just healed. In Luke 9:2, “…he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” He did not preach the prosperity gospel. This was His prosperity gospel “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things will be added.
He did not come to start a religion. In fact, His harshest words were directed toward the religious leaders. He rebuked them for turning His Father’s house into a den of thieves and for being roadblocks to the Kingdom of God. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Matthew 23:13
I think you get my point. The Kingdom of God was Jesus' singular and the only message preached.
The misunderstood book
The Bible is not a religious book. There’s no typo in that sentence. The Bible is NOT a religious book. The Bible is divided in two sections. The Old and The New Testament; also referred to as the Old and the New Covenants. Testament and Covenant are legal terms. The Bible is a contract; a legal document like the constitution.
According to the dictionary, a constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. When you look at the Bible, think of it not as a religious book but as A Constitution.
Jesus’ kingdom message was simply to reiterate the fundamental principles or laws by which the Kingdom of Heaven is governed. The laws of the Kingdom.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:17-20 NIV
The Jesus came to reintroduce us to the fundamental principles by which the Kingdom of Heaven is governed.
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