The Meaning of the Kingdom (1)
In previous studies we’ve looked at the central message of Jesus’ teachings
– His “Good News of the Kingdom”.
In this chapter and the next we will wander a little from looking strictly at Jesus’ teachings and look at how His disciples took up His message about the Kingdom.
The Bible frequently describes humanity as living in one or other of two realms.
John describes them this way:
In 1 John 3:14 he says “We know that we have passed
- from death
- to life”.
Elsewhere he speaks of:
- the children of the devil; and
- the children of God. (1 John 3:10)
He speaks of:
- those born of natural descent; and
- those born of God (John 1:13)
He speaks of those who:
- live and walk in darkness; and those who
- are in the light (1 John 2:7-11).
In speaking of those who have passed from death to life, he says this is the same as going
- from hate
- to love (1 John 3:14-15)
John quotes Jesus as saying
- you are from beneath;
- I am from above (John 8:23)
In the same verse Jesus says
- you are of this world;
- I am not of this world.
Paul speaks of these two realms in similar terms:
He writes about belonging to either
- sin; or
- righteousness (Rom 6:11-18)
He speaks of those who have
- the mind of the sinful nature; and those with
- the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:10-16)
He contrasts
- the kingdom of the air; with
- heavenly realms (Eph 2:1-7)
And
- the dominion of darkness; with
- the kingdom of light (Col 1:12-13)
In another contrast he writes of
- flesh; and
- spirit (Gal 5:16-26).
Throughout Scripture we see the two realms described in terms like these:
Daniel speaks of
- the kingdom of men; and
- the everlasting kingdom (Dan 4:17, 34).
Revelation speaks of
- the kingdom of the world; and
- the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
Both John and Paul speak of the kingdom in the present tense as though it had already begun:
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Col 1:13)
W.E. Vine in his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words say the Greek word basileia translated kingdom “ is primarily an abstract noun, denoting sovereignty, royal power, dominion.” It is “where the King is and where his rule is acknowledged”.
Peter says “in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15), so in establishing His kingdom Christ first rules in our hearts.
The New Testament has three words (in Greek) which describe the Christian attitude to the world:
· xenos – a foreigner or stranger. This word is used of the patriarchs in Hebrews 11:13. In the world the Christian is always a stranger; he is never really at home; he can never regard the present world as his permanent residence.
· Parepidemos – a pilgrim or traveller (also used of the patriarchs in Hebrews 11:13 as well as Christians in 1 Peter 2:11). The Christian is essentially a temporary resident in this world; he is looking beyond and is on his way there.
· Paroikos – a resident alien (used in Hebrews 11:9 and 1 Peter 2:11). This word describes the man who took up residence in one place without giving up citizenship of the place to which he truly belonged. The Christian is essentially a person whose only real citizenship is citizenship in the kingdom of God.
John speaks of the new life as “eternal life” He says: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12). John bases this claim on Jesus’ teaching that “he who believes has everlasting life” (John 6:47).
The expression “eternal life” describes a quality of life as well as the length of life. It is the highest kind of spiritual and moral life, irrespective of its length. It is not only to be thought of as life prolonged to infinity, but as a sharing of living fellowship with the Father.
“Life” without Christ is not really life. Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10).
Several of the verses I’ve just quoted speak of the Christian as moving from one realm to another – going from death, darkness and sin, into life, light and righteousness. When we are “in Christ” we continue to exist in the world of death, darkness and sin, but we no longer belong to it. We have changed our citizenship, although not our residence. We experience a higher quality of life and a new relationship with God.
The question we need to answer then is how do we move from one realm to the other? How do we become citizens of the kingdom and enjoy the benefits of the new life?
This was the question Jesus addressed when He told Nicodemus that “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3) and “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (v. 5).
The transformation from one realm to another is so dramatic that Jesus describes it as a new life, being born again.
Paul takes up this idea in his letter to the church at Rome and describes how baptism in water is a symbol of dying and being raised to a new life.
“Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. … count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:3, 4, 11)
Baptism has several meanings. Ananias told Paul to baptised and “wash your sins away” (Acts 22:16). Peter takes up this idea when he refers to the flood in Noah’s time and says “this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Paul used similar language when writing to Titus: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
Putting these things together we see that when we are converted
- our past sins are taken away,
- our old way of life ends and we begin a new life, and
- we are reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Baptism in water is the outward symbol of these inner realities. It is an appropriate symbol of washing, burial and resurrection, and rebirth.
One of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before going to heaven was: “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Matthew ends his Gospel with these important words. Mark ends his Gospel with something similar: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16).
Soon after, in the Acts of the Apostles, we read of the apostles baptizing thousands of people and saying “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
We read of many incidents like this one: “when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12)
And this one: “Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may”. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:36-38).
Baptism in water was the normal way by which people became Christians in the New Testament. It was the
sign that they had commenced a new life.
Throughout the New Testament it is clear that our “rebirth” is the work of God – we do not recreate ourselves into new people.
- Peter says “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23). Peter is speaking of a life conceived by God Himself!
- Earlier Peter wrote: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
- Several times in his first letter John speaks of those who have been “born of God” and he says in one place “God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).
- James says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (James 1:17-18).
These ideas are based directly on the Lord’s own words: “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6). Our rebirth then is the work of God. He enables and empowers us to live the new life.
The meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus was a confrontation of two philosophies - two opposing views on salvation. Nicodemus thought a person made themselves acceptable to God through observing commandments and rules; Jesus said salvation is entirely the work of God.
Nicodemus questioned this. “How can this be?” (John 3:9). He was asking why would God do this? What would motivate Him to offer such a gift? Jesus’ answer reveals that this was the reasoning behind Nicodemus’ question, because He says: ''God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life'' (v. 16). The motive, the reason for God taking the initiative in salvation, is love.
The choice now is ours to accept this gift from God of a new life. The two realms are set before us and we need to make the decision to accept God’s offer. God set a similar choice before Israel when they escaped slavery in Egypt. He said: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction … This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19-20).
Notice how God sets the two choices before them. On the one hand there is death, destruction and curses; on the other hand is life, prosperity and blessings. The choice was theirs, and God said “choose life!” It seems strange that given such a clear distinction between life and death, destruction and prosperity, blessings and curses, that God should have to say “choose life!” Yet we are faced with the same choice: the dominion of darkness or the kingdom of light; to be slaves to sin, or to be set free by the Spirit; to have the mind of the flesh, or the mind of Christ. So many people make the wrong choice – but with the right choice comes the assurance of salvation: “He who believes and is baptised will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
