THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - - -
"Thy Kingdom Come" What is our understanding of that phrase that is prayed thousands of times a day by religious Christians? Has the Kingdom of God come or not? Do we even contemplate its meaning?

We hear the phrase "Gospel of the Kingdom" and pay little attention to it; but there is wisdom in the understanding of it.
The Gospel of the Kingdom is what Jesus taught and preached. There was a distinction between the teaching of Jesus to the Jews of his day and the nature of the message that was introduced after the Messiah was crucified and raised to heavenly glory. With the birth of the church age after the first pentecost in an upper room of the temple complex, the emphasis of a kingdom rule by Christ as an earthly king changed.

As a result the Kingdom Age was deferred to a future time. Jesus told the Roman governor at his trial that "Now my kingdom is not of this world," but he acknowledge to Pilot that he was indeed a King but a king was not of this present world. He was the king who came to die. The disciples knew that the Kingdom was promised and saught for.

On the triumphal entry into Jerusalem the final week of his earthly life, people were expecting and proclaiming him as Messiah, Son of David, which implied the ruler of the Kingdom of Israel, They strew palm fronds upon the path and waved them in the air, a welcome and accolade of a king and ruler. The disciples made many assumptions while ministering with Jesus as they went their way into the villages of Judeah. As Jesus directed, they ministered only to the lost sheep of the children of Israel. There was the assumption that the Good News of the Kingdom was only for the Jews of that day. They did not understand what Jesus was about when he spent his two days in Samaria, which was essentially a non Jewish region and brought certain numbers of believers into the Kingdom through the woman who he spoke to at the well of Samaria. This was a fore shadowing of the time called age of the gentiles when the Kingdom teaching would be taught and experienced as something that manifested inwardly and not outwardly.

Today I and many fundamentalist Bible teachers point to a dispensation frame; a future fulfillment of the Kingdom age which is also found prophetically throughout the bible. It is called the secont coming of the Messiah. It is at this time that the world will be chastised and cleansed for all the unrighteous deeds practiced by evil men and women. Judgment will fall upon those who are God-haters and Christ rejecters. Those who claim that Jesus is not the only way will have their unbelief rewarded. Israel will find their true Messiah and mourn for him when they acknowledge their error and blindness at his first visit. They crucified their king and cryed that his blood be upon themselves.

The fact that the Kingdom Age is not yet manifest is clearly shown by the growing darkness and wickedness that is increasing as was predicted by Jesus and his disciples, Peter, Jude, Paul, and John. The days grow darker as the time of judgment draws near. Spiritual apostasy is rampant and a generation of self indulgent, ungoldly haters is blaspheming God. (See 2 Tim. 3:1-3) the god of this world is preparing his own sons for a time to have their moment of triumph which will soon come to nothing.

"In this world we will have tribulation said Yeshua Jesus, but fear not, I have overcome the world." He has one soul at a time and he shall in the day of his final judgment, deal with the sin and rebellion problem for good!

UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE GOSPEL
Jesus (Jeshua) and the Good News Message

It seems that in the course of living a "religious" life, we tend to lose sight of some of the most basic essentials of Christianity. The essentials contain within them foundational truths and indispensable revelations. Among these essential truths is the fact that the Christian faith is built upon the gifts bestowed by one man, this one man who is the only begotten son of God..

Who is this man and what makes him special? Did he come to teach about love? Did he come to model a moral lifestyle? Did he come to found a religion replete with ritualistic protocols? Who do men say that I am?, Jesus asked his disciples. If we do not get the correct answer to that question, you can not avail yourself of the 'gift of God' which he brings.

There is a simple African hymn-tune that states:

Jesus name in Hebrew, Yeshua , means 'Jehovah is Salvation'. Angels were sent to announce the miraculous birth both to Mary and to Joseph, in the gospel accounts. The angel told them what his name was to be, You shall call His name Yeshua for he shall save his people - - (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31).

Prophecy foretold the Messiah's birth in detail. Prophecy is the testimony or witness of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 19:10.) It began in the earliest verses of the Book of Genesis and continues through the books of the law, the psalms, and the prophetic books of the first covenant, (old testament.) There is an unbroken line of scriptural promises and scriptural fulfillment attesting to the birth of Jesus. In addition Jesus Christ was portrayed metaphorically as a spiritual type throughout all of the Old Testament. In a sense the whole Bible is a composite picture which, when constructed shows the fullness of God in one Man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Prophetic words spoken and recorded hundred of years in advance, describe the time of birth, place of birth, manner of birth, the life, and death of Jesus Christ in perfect detail. 

His birth was to be at a certain place, at a certain time, under certain circumstances. At the birth of Jesus, God affirmed that Word of prophecy with precision. precisely and in perfect timing. Jesus' life continued on its prophetic course, as sure as hands on fine clock, from the time of Jesus matured and was presented to the public, to his being received as the messiah (by some) rejected, tried, and crucified. All of these events followed a precise time-line corresponding to the sure words of prophecy.

Since most of the prophecies found in the Old Testament point to the certainty of the birth of the Messiah, God's prophets were afforded no misses in their predictions. A prophet who missed only 10% of the time was declared a false prophet and subject to death by stoning. There are many interesting books and commentaries which biblical scholars have written which detail the hundred of specific prophetic scriptures and their fulfillment pertinent to the life of Jesus. These studies are available for any who wish to pursue them. Details of prophecy goes beyond the scope of this writing but the point is to note that Messiah was foretold by God.

Jesus and Salvation Derives From Jewish Heritage

The Jews were the ONLY people that God chose and fashioned to bring forth the Messiah. ("Salvation is of the Jews.") God chose a man, (Abraham) made a covenant with him with the singular purpose of having a people for His own special treasure.  These generations from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, persevered through generations of trials, unfaithfulness, captivity and deliverance to become a people to prepare God's man, His seed. Through the line of David he was to be Savior and soon King.

It was God's Wisdom and design to construct a Way, in such an improbable manner to be reckoned implausible in man's reasoning. Thus He could prove the superiority of His own wisdom. When God chose and man (Abraham,) he chose one "as good as dead", whose wife (Sarah) was far past the age of child-bearing and nurturing.

Similarly, when God chose a king for Israel, He chose David a shepherd boy. When God chose a woman to bear the Messiah He chose a virgin of low estate. When Jesus chose his disciples he chose unlearned fishermen or workmen. When He chose how to establish a kingdom he chose a king who would forego an earthly crown and die the death of sinful man upon a cross.

Faith is essentially a way of being persuaded by believing an inward witness of God's word, rather than by observation and reasoning. God chose to make reason and human smartness a pitfall to believing His word and His promises.

Jesus? The Messiah.
The Anointed One, The prophesied Son of David. This Messiah, is prophesied to return to sit upon the throne of an earthly kingdom. But that time is still to come. At the end of this age Bible believing Christians look for Jesus to return physically to put an end to all opposition and rebellion against God's purposes. This end time event is described prophetically as The Day of Vengeance (Day of Wrath) or the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is  described throughout prophetic scripture. It is then will unleash devastation and judgment against all unbelief, unrighteousness, and rebellion will be addressed and overcome by God himself. It will not be accomplished through negotiation or compromise; it will not be accomplished with reasoning, negotiation, nor with political bargaining, nor with treaty making. Rather, God will exercise supernatural power, all of the forces of heaven and earth against all the nations and peoples who stand in rebellion against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The Messiah of the Gospels will return in majestic glory revealed in the skies. He will not be that charismatic politician winning over the peoples of the earth. He will rule with the force and authority of the name of God Almighty. And one more very important attribute, lest you should be deceived; He is the one who carries the imprint of the nails in His hands! (Zechariah 13.6.)

Jesus was conceived by the Spirit of God. This makes him the only begotten son of God. He is the seed of the woman who is mentioned in Genesis 3:15. It is important to understand that the father's blood line of Jesus' parental inheritance is that of God himself who was and is sinless and undefiled. Yet within the human seed is the nature of humanity, weaknesses, want and human emotion.

The life that Jesus lived was a life lived within the limits of the human condition. Yet scripture states that He knew no sin, and though he was tempted in all areas just as we are. He remained undefiled and separate from the sin nature which is peculiar among all of the natural born human race. (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26)

He was a man, but certainly unlike humanity in a special way. The human race according to the bible, has an Adamic hereditary line or genealogy, descended from the line of Adam. Since Adam the human race is under a curse. The fall and the curse is portrayed in the first chapters of Genesis. At the moment, you may not believe in Adam or in any kind of curse, but for the time being, set that argument aside. God can work that issue out with you at a later time. It is necessary to believe that the Bible is not a fable or fiction. To argue against the Bible is to lose the blessing of believing in it, both in small questions and in larger questions.

Jesus submitted his will to God the Father

The Jesus of the Gospels demonstrated meekness, submission and servant-hood. He did not present himself in the form of God but as the "Son of Man!" Neither did Jeshua present himself as a worldly leader, nor a member of the religious establishment. Yet he came to his people, God's people, Israel as an old testament prophet an adherent to the Law of Moses.

Jesus did not demonstrate God-like powers at will in his infancy until he was baptized by John, though some apocryphal stories speak of this. Scripture indicates he did no miracles until his baptism in the Jordan river by the prophet who "made the way" for Jesus' ministry, John the Baptist. After his baptism at the age of 30 the Spirit of God came upon him and filled him with the necessary endowment of miracle-working power. Even with supernatural spiritual endowments there were times when Jesus himself was not able to heal or do mighty works, this was owing to the faith (belief) or unbelief of those he ministered to.

While Jesus did not flaunt God-hood it would be an error to say that he did not know of his DIVINE nature or of his divine calling. He spoke of being about his Father's business even as a child. Jesus was filled with grace and wisdom, both of which bespeak spiritual enablement given by God. Jesus was the Logos (the Word, the whole counsel of God) made flesh.

A movie which came out several years ago, The Last Temptation of Christ, portrayed Jesus as entirely human, flawed with the worst of human weaknesses, dark passions, indecision and unbelief. It depicted a Jesus with no divine or supernatural heritage, whose only vision was of some kind of vague personal sacrifice. Though this is clever or interesting fiction it portrays no understanding of the truth. It does not dignify the person of Jesus Christ as one possessing transcendent divinity or as having any potential for impacting humanity with eternal consequences.

Jesus Christ, The Word Made Flesh

The Son of God, is called the Word made Flesh, was born in human form but he also had pre-existence with God. This can not, however, be said of the rest of the human race though there are millions in religions who believe in the doctrine of previous lives. Jesus spoke of His own glory which he had with the Father before the world was in his prayer recorded in John, chapter seventeen. From this it can be stated with certainty that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, was also God. This becomes one awesome mysteries of the nature and person of God. I find it beyond my ability to comprehend but I expect that it will be revealed to my understanding at another time.

Because Christ was pre-existent some may conclude that we all pre-existed. The question is appealing in some ways, curious and interesting at least. It is argued as a reality by those who have received spurious, demonically inspired revelation. But let it be said by a person who once thoroughly believed in reincarnation, that I have set that belief aside in favor of the Bible's teaching. "It is appointed unto man to die once, and after that the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27).

Reincarnation or Resurrection?

The doctrine of resurrection which is taught in the Bible excludes the possibility of reincarnation. One life is promised, one body and eternal judgment for that one life at some time in eternity. The resurrection of Jesus' own physical body from the dead, will be replicated for every living human soul, both the good and the bad, righteous and unrighteous. Jesus was called, the first fruits of they that sleep 1Corinthians 15:20.)

The doctrine of the resurrection is given much attention in the New Testament especially in the epistles. Nevertheless, it is unreasonable to the rational mind, to assert that a body which is dead or has even returned to dust can be brought forth alive (bodily) out of the dust. But that is in fact the teaching of scripture from the prophet Daniel to Jesus, and restated by the apostle Paul in particular.

The glorified man Jesus, will be presented one day as he was already presented to the disciples in Gospel accounts, alive õ in the flesh, bearing the same nail scars and the same spear wound in the side. As he left in a physical body ascended into glory, he will also return in a physical body. As he departed from the Mount of Olives he will also return in glory to that same spot to begin his reign.

No Resurrection, No Gospel!

The doctrine of the resurrection is the validation and the cornerstone of the Gospel. Jesus had to rise again, having defeated death, alive with the keys to hell and the grave. The gospel which the apostle Paul presented stated this, If Jesus Christ is not risen from the grave, then all of our preaching, is for nothing and our faith is for nothing; furthermore our futures would hold only misery. (1 Corinthians 15:17-19 paraphrased)

We could not have a supernatural Gospel without a supernatural Christ. We could not receive supernatural spiritual gifts from believing in a Gospel presented by a mere man, even if he was a great man! If the gospel we followed was a gospel without a resurrection, the best we could do would be to try to live an honest and moral life using the limited powers of our own will and abilities. We could not have received total acceptance by God without Jesus Christ's sacrifice. He was and is the Lamb of God.

Who is Jesus Christ? The Lamb of God

A sacrifice is made, The price is paid.

I believe that if Christian traditionalism has shorted us on any one thing, it is the knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God and the legacy of Spiritual blessing that His sacrifice brings. These blessings have the power to impact the life and circumstances of every soul on earth. The sacrificial death of Jesus, God's only begotten, is the reason that Jesus came. It is the cornerstone of the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This message of God's free love gift, the good news, is not just an option to consider. The Lamb's gospel is established in the very heavens and every person on the earth will be held to account for it. For, the earth is the Lord's and everything that is in it. (Exodus 9:29 Psalm 24:1)

The sacrifice of the lamb of God is a better sacrifice than the Covenant of Mosaic law, where bulls and goats were killed and the blood of those offerings was applied to cover the sin of the nation. These offerings could not extricate the innate sin nature of people themselves, but were only a temporary fix, a covering over for the sin of the people. The Book of Hebrews goes into detail about the new covenant and the nature of the sacrifice which Jesus made on our behalf. It compares the Mosaic and New covenant and how the provisions of the new is a better covenant than the original.

The lamb of God was pre-figured in the sacrifice made by Abraham of his own son, Isaac, the son of God's promise. Abraham took Isaac to the mountain and as he prepared to put him to the knife, said to his son, God himself will provide the lamb. (Genesis 22:8). The lamb of God was also described prophetically with great clarity in the Book of Isaiah, chapters 52 and 53. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearer is silent, he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-9).

The description of the purification of the priests who brought offerings into the Holy of Holies is a depiction of Jesus Himself. It was His blood that would purify and sanctify the mercy seat that was sprinkled seven times upon heaven's altar.

Jesus' Undefiled Blood: Shed for Us

-- Was shed, when He sweat drops blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. Gripped with the terrible thought of separation from his Father, who would turn from him, abandoning him to death; Gripped with the horrible prospect of being made a "Curse" and separated from God by the sins of the world.

- -Was shed, when the servant of the high priest smote him upon the face.

- - Was shed, when the Roman soldiers ridiculed him, mocked him, stripped him, buffeted him and torn out His beard.

- - Was shed, When he was flogged with the flagellum, the deadly scourging with the whip. This flagellum with the nine strands and each tipped with a metal or glass object which cut and wounded. Forty strokes were a death sentence, Jesus received 39.

- - Was shed, when the crown of thorns was plaited upon Jesus' head.

- - Was shed, when Jesus hands and feet were penetrated by the spikes which would hold him suspended above the earth upon a Roman cross (the curse of hanging on a tree.)

- - Was shed, when the Roman officer pierced his side with a spear and blood and water flowed out upon the ground.

Blood Purchased the Provisions of the Gospel

Discussing the blood of the lamb may strike you as something primitive, strange  or disgusting but it is the fact that it is the living blood which makes a sacrifice spiritually effectual. From the writings of Moses we learn that the Life is in the blood. Blood is the life of the soul and holds potential for both blessing and for defilement. Innocent blood is said to cry out from the earth. The blood of victims of abortion and violence cry out continuously with a certain voice from the earth.

Jesus' blood was blood untainted by sin or the curse or death. It is 100 per cent imbued with the power of life. This blood had within it perfect eternal life; it still has, in the present, perfect eternal life. That blood that sprinkled the earth from the Mount of Olives, to Pilate's hall of judgment, to the via Dolorosa, to the hill called Golgotha, is still nurturing the whole earth. As Jesus was dying the death of crucifixion upon a cross, he declared the sentence which his blood would continue to enforce, Father forgive them, they do not know what they do. Jesus blood purchased the price for our sins, sins past, sins present, and sins future.

Father forgive them, Among the last words spoken by Jesus upon the cross is the legacy which any person whose soul is in want can appropriate as his or her own personal blessing and legacy, eternal life.

It is written in the law of Moses that we should make no graven image. Among all of the ten commandments this one may not lend itself readily to application although the first references seem to figure in the question of idolatry both natural and figuratively. I think, however, it has more application to our present knowledge or lack of knowledge about God. One of the characteristics of human nature is to draw inferences, to establish values and to form conclusions based upon things we see with the natural eye.

Throughout the nearly two thousand years of Christian tradition we become the victims of iconography, Icons which in some manner or another depict God or the Son of God. Any of us who have ever been to a major museum have seen depictions of Jesus Christ created during different historical eras. The characteristics of portrayal is to make a presumptuous statements about the personality, the humanity or the divinity of the subject that is being portrayed. Iconography has colored our interpretation of who Jesus is. Some of these images are very static with a very narrow portrayal. A sense of Jesus Christ's humanity was not apparent for centuries. When he was depicted by the first Christian artists there was not a trace of life or humanity. For the period from the 4th century until the 14th, he was no more than an stylized icon, lacking any features which would make him like us. Later, after the fifteenth century, he was portrayed as very human in works by Rembrandt, or Caravaggio, Rubens, and others. The point that I am making is in respect to images that form a narrowness and misunderstanding of who Jesus was. Religious traditions sometimes portray Jesus in such a narrow light that we can not associate him in all of his attributes, human and divine. For example images of Christ on the cross may take us away from the image of a gloriously resurrected Jesus.

Paul's phrase of "Knowing Jesus no more after the flesh" brings a Spiritual reality of who Jesus is in the present, enthroned in heavenly glory at the right hand of great power. This brings into account of Jesus now enthroned as the sovereign who continuously intervenes as the High Priest over his Spiritual Kingdom. The Kingdom of this world is yet to be fulfilled with the Sovereign seated on the throne of his earthly kingdom.

There are other many other attributes or prophetic descriptions of Jesus, as depicted by the the Hebrew names of Jehovah: Nissi, Tsidkenu, Rapha, Shama, Jireh, Sabbaoth, and numerous others, as well as: the 'Righteous Judge', the 'Captain of the Army of God', the 'Ancient of Days', and many other powerful and illuminating titles. One day, we will all fall before Christ, the Righteous Judge. But for now Jesus is still approachable as the gentle shepherd, full of compassion, forgiveness, restoration and blessing to those of us with a need. He is extending a hand of friendship to those who need a friend.

Jesus' friendly and compassionate personality is called a friend to sinners, one who went out of his way to meet and have fellowship with those that the religious community excluded (Matthew 9:10-13.) Jesus was known to have been in the middle of fun and frolic where there was feasting and drinking. He said of himself, that he was accused of being a glutton and a wine bibber, but in spite of this Jesus, declared that wisdom is known by her offspring. (Matthew 11:19 paraphrase).

You can find interesting encounters of Jesus with people in the Gospels. There are numerous accounts of men or women who were considered 'the wrong sort,' received mercy from the Lord's hand of compassion and acceptance:

Zaccheus the publican; (described in Luke 19:2-10)
The Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar; (John 4:5-30).
The woman taken in adultery; (John 8:4-11).
Mary, a former prostitute anointed Jesus feet at the house of Simon the leper with a costly perfume; (Luke 7:37-47).
Jesus who came to the grave side of Lazarus and wept; (John 11).
Jesus who consoled the man healed of blindness after the church council expelled him; (John 9).
At a certain future day when Jesus will be the host at a great feast and serve all of those attending. (Luke 12:37).
The demonized man of the Gaderenes.

The friendship factor as it pertains to the person of Jesus is something that must not be lost. There is a proverb that states, There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) This is the love and friendship of Jesus Christ.

There are so many hurting, there are man who are bruised, and there are man needing a friend. The love and power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus can supply this. It is a kind of supernatural miracle that someone who needs and asks believing can receive.

FEATURES of The GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
Jesus' went forth teaching the Message of the Gospel of the Kingdom
There are two Kingdom models which coincide and yet are different in expression and fulfillment.

The Kingdom of God is always connected to the "Kingdom of the Heavens." In the expression kingdom of the heavens, God expresses himself spiritually, supernaturally, upon the earth through Christ the Messiah in the two thousand years of church age. Jeshua, Jesus is the one approved by God to bring forth the kingdom of righteousness upon the earth. It is done in two stages. First the invisible kingdom (Paul's gospel to the gentiles) and finally, (soon) to the natural Israel, when the kingdom will be realized. (Matthew 25) The natural kingdom fulfillment has everything to do with Israel's restoration and recognition of He who was rejected in his original presentation to his people.

There are Two Kingdoms in Spiritual Conflict 
Jesus came Against Satan's Kingdom with Messianic Power

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)  "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Mat 11:5) "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"(2 Tim 1:10) "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:" ( 2 Tim 2:8)

Destroying Bondages and Removing the Curse
The curse of  Adam and the curse of the law and was/is evident in all sickness and evil that is manifest in the world.  Satan is reluctant to surrender control and authority and must be driven out by the conquering king. Those who have been born of God are given authority in His Name.

Just how long will Satan's "lease" be allowed to stand?  There are diffeing opinions on this.  The answer is hidden in the "mystery of iniquity".  Though some do not read the scriptures with the prophetic terms "end times" with the same understanding, most agree that the "end times" are here and now.  The Mount of Olive discourses that Jesus outlined the end-time events are recorded in Matthew  24, Luke 21 and Mark 13.  They answer the disciples questions pertaining to the destiny of the kingdom of Israel, signs describing the end of the age, and the second coming of the Lord. The literal end of the age outlines the final prophetic defeat of the Evil One in an all-out conflict in the end. The day of the Lord is the prophetic reference to that time of Judgment by God against those who resist and repress his Gospel and live in rebellion to Him.

Judging the True Gospel
The Gospel of the Kingdom combines the teaching of a Gospel of power, peace and earthly righteousness:  The Gospel is the Power of (from) God to those who will choose to believe it. I believe, has three important elements, all of which touch upon or are founded upon the rulership and authority of the "King and heir of all things," Jesus Christ. 1. To call many sons unto himself. The gospel to the gentiles extends God's grace to those outside of the covenant of Israel. This is the harmony and fellowship of the Spirit made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2. To empower the sons to be Kings and priests and fellow heirs. This gospel is a unique revelation given to Paul as one chosen by God as an apostle to usher in a dispensation of the age of grace to the gentiles, called the church age. Finally 3rd, to restore the Kingdom of God on earth after purging the evil at his second coming.

The King Who is this King of Glory?
This one man, Jesus of Nazareth, has been  ordained to be the Head of the Kingdom of God? It is He who has been given all authority within the Kingdom.  It is He who was appointed by God the Father, approved by Him in the resurrection of His body from the dead.

Redemption -- Being freed from the Consequences of Our Old Nature
Redemption goes much further than belief and ideology. Fallen man had to be changed supernaturally from the inside out.  A provision had to be made to deal with the sinful nature residing within every person in a fallen race. God's plan to is to make something new out of that man,  a new creation, recreated by the Spirit of God.  This new right-standing status is not achieved by philosophy, theology or religious disciples, rituals or beliefs but through the power of a New Life.
The issue of righteousness outside of  the law hangs upon this "New Creation".  He who was without sin was made sin for  us, so that we could become the righteousness of God. The teaching of the "power of the cross" and the "exchange at the cross" are the hinge upon which the miracle of the new birth and righteousness articulates.

The Hidden Gospel -- An Extension of Jesus Ministry

The long-hidden aspect of the Gospel of the Kingdom has to the do with the EXTENSION OF JESUS MINISTRY on  the earth by Christ acting spiritually through every believer.  We become as Kings and Priests in the earth, with Jesus in us and working through us with supernatural empowerment to minister and experience the work of God. Through the enablement of the Holy Spirit available to each disciple for the sole purpose of doing the works Jesus and the apostles were enabled to do.

One aspect has been conspicuously absent in the revelation of the gospel for hundreds of years. It is now only marginally coming to light. There is great resistance to this message by the spirits of darkness.  The wonderful truth of "Christ In Us, our hope of Glory" expresses a new life, a new character, and new spiritual potential.  It is not a rite of becoming church members according to the form of worldly tradition but partakers of Jesus character and of his ministry (gr. Diakonia).  

Commissioning Disciples
The gospel of the Kingdom is expressed more through relationship than in religious knowledge or ritual.  Jesus chose men and women  to disciple and to share the witness of His glory.  It was his original disciples who witnessed all of the miracles and wonders of His word and  deed.  Yet amazingly, it was not enough for the disciples who witnessed His words and His works for 3 years to share their testimony. The Gospel required more than that. They needed an surpernatural empowerment from God; the same power that was in Jesus had to energize and equip each man and woman.

 Jeshua quoted a portion of Isaiah 61 that was to outline the parameters of his ministry and the ministry of those who would immediately proceed into the church age. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," (Luke 4:18) "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." (Luke 7:22) "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where." (Luke 9:6)
Darkness continues to withstand the full gospel message from being taught. The "leaven of the Pharisees" is still an active agent of resistance to the Gospel of the Kingdom.  It is this religious spirit that brings a believer into the bondage of unbelief and the traditions of man.  The Gospel says that we are transformed into a new life of provision and authority and supernatural ministry but tradition says otherwise; The gospel says we are as He was in this world, tradition says otherwise; The gospel says we are Kings and Priests and the anointing teaches all things, tradition says otherwise; The gospel says he ascended and gave gifts to man and that every man has received these gifts in order to minister, tradition says otherwise; The gospel says there is but one mediator between God and man and we do not go to man to meet God, tradition will direct otherwise.  The gospel says not by man, not by man's own will, or by  any worldly means, tradition says otherwise.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is Manifested Power

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and then to the Greek (gentiles)" (Romans 1:16)
"Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."  (Romans 15:19)" The Gospel means "Good News" - - Hope and Blessing

 Why is the Gospel called the "good news"? Through  it is found liberty, peace with God, joy and righteousness.     "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15)   "And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:29) The Message of the Gospel is Hidden to Human MindsThe natural man with all of his intellect can not receive things which are spiritual, for it takes faith to believe. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:" (2 Corinthians 4:3)  "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" (Romans 10:16)  "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."(2 Corinthians 4:4) "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2)   "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,"  (Romans 16:25)    "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." (1 Corinthians 1:17) 

False Gospels, Other Gospels There are many cultic or non Christian "gospels" being taught. Every cult and sect has any of three things which are wrong with it: 1. The wrong Jesus, 2. the wrong Gospel, 3. the wrong spirit. "For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:4)

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:"  "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6,7) "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians  1:8,9)   Fellowship with the Holy Spirit"Instructs us in the Gospel"

 The Gospel of the Kingdom was communicated directly to the Apostle Paul by revelation of the Spirit of God, and face to face with Jesus Christ (revealed "to one out of due time " a time after the forty days when Jesus made in the flesh visitation with his disciples before ascending into heaven.) Paul was visited personally by  Jesus. The epistles indicate a time of extraordinary revelation of His Gospel.
 Now for any who will seek it, there is the same Spirit of revelation, "the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth". The Holy Spirit will communicate all the things which are of Christ and show them to us in prayer, reading of the word and in meditation.
"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man."
(Galatians 1:11) "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain." (Galatians 2:2) 

The Gospel: Good News of Salvation

 Salvation is not limited strictly to promised heavenly rewards, having been made free of the fierce judgment of God's wrath upon sinners. Salvation encompasses total restoration, (salvation, healing and deliverance.) "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians  1:13)  

A Prayer of Faith,The Prayer Which Brings Salvation If any person believes the Gospel in their heart and declare this aloud to witnesses, that person shall be saved; changed and made alive in Christ! The testimony of the believer which brings salvation is a prayer of Faith, which is a spoken proclamation declaring a promise from the Word of God. It should include some of the following understandings. "Who is Jesus? What did he do for ME? What will He do in ME because I believe?" These are elements of the Gospel you should know after reading these chapters. Grafted into the Vine of God's ElectThe gospel of Jesus Christ extends God's grace and provision outside of circle of the people of  God's original covenant. Beyond the fellowship of the Elect of Israel -- outside of the boundary of the Abrahamic line.
"That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3:6)   "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" (Colossians 1:5) Note the link above: My brief commentary on this subject. Salvation through a prayer of faith.

When the Gospel is Preached in its Fullness
Through mighty signs and wonders by the Spirit of God, from Jerusalem and round about, I have preached fully (the gospel in its full measure) the Gospel of Christ.  (Romans 15:19)  When Fully Preached there are Signs Attesting its Truth.

Yes, God can and will manifest His power to bless in order to demonstrate His power! "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." (1 Thessalonians 1:5) 

The Gospel Age (Age of Grace) is the Season of The Lord's Favor

 The church age has been called the age of Grace, the year of the Lord's favor, or the acceptable year of the Lord. (Read Isaiah Chapter 61, the portions the Jesus quoted in Luke Chapter 4.)
In a quickly approaching future time, the night will come. It will be a time of great vexation, when no man can work. The time is coming for the earth to be purified and judged. This promised, prophetic time will see "a thorough purging of the threshing floor with fire. (a figurative picture of Jesus spoken by John the Baptist, (Matthew chapter 3:12 and Luke Chapter 3:17.) The day of the free access to Christ's  forgiveness of sins is a window of opportunity will expire. We do not know what tomorrow will bring.  We may have no tomorrow, as the evangelist Billy Graham expressed so strongly in all of his appeals.

 It is a certainty that there is coming a time of  wrath and judgment upon those who have not believed or received the word of Gospel.  "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" (2 Thessalonians 1:8)   "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." (1 Peter 1:12) The Gospel Begins in Simplicity The Gospel begins simply in its scope as a simple seed of promise, but deepens and grows as the mustard seed of the parable into a great size;  into greater and greater revelation and spiritual wisdom of Christ. "But the word of the Lord endures for ever.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Pet 1:25)  "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ -" (Romans 16:25)
 As long as any disciple lives and grows in the knowledge of Christ he or she will never exhaust the fullness of its splendor, or the greatness of its wisdom. We are as the apostle says, looking in a foggy or cloudy mirror. But some day that mirror will be clear

1996 -2023