What is the Kingdom of God?
“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4.3)
The “Gospel” message that Jesus Christ proclaimed was the “good news” of the kingdom of God. Jesus did not predominantly declare a message of our salvation from sin. That was enacted at the Cross—the entry point for believers into the kingdom mission of God today. Instead, Jesus declared and cast vision for God’s redemption of the world.
It’s easy to envision the “Kingdom of God” as a new cultural reality in which civil society is transformed, people find peace among themselves, and the earth is renewed. Certainly, all this is true. However, fundamentally, the Kingdom of God is about the King and the effect of the nearness of the Trinity everywhere and in all circumstances. The former could be a utopian vision, but the latter reveals the beauty of God.
As Jesus proclaims his invitational message of “the Kingdom,” we see his life and the one God envisions for us. Jesus compels us through a message that satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart for love, purpose, and value (Ps 19:7-10). His fulfillment of the Law and prophecies is more than an endpoint. His lifestyle, manifesting the wisdom of the Law, points to the essence of what it means to be human, broadcasting the image of God. Therefore, the ways of God described in the Old Testament come alive in Jesus and spread its wisdom abroad with powerful influence. Wherever Jesus goes there is healing, deliverance, and changed minds.
Jesus’ ministry illustrates his parables. As he speaks, his words work like yeast fermenting in flour. They begin to permeate society, causing a stir and transforming life. His parables teach us how to recognize God’s presence in our midst while casting a vision for our participation in its advancement. The mystery of the mixture of Spirit, Word, and human comprehension establishes the work of God on earth. It cannot simply be our volition or our repetition of God’s words, but the very presence of God partnering with us that reveals his Kingdom. Jesus teaches, and so we teach. He heals, and so we pray, inviting his power to our circumstances and watching its (not our own) impact like yeast growing all around. Truly, only God establishes his Kingdom (1 Cor. 3:13-15). We invite others to see but understand that as the parable of the soil relays, not all take root. Sometimes, few choose to accept his invitation.
Today, the Kingdom of God is present, establishing the wisdom and ways of God through his presence. It advances, like yeast, in our spirits as we receive Jesus’ sacrifice and message, giving us the desire to imitate him through the power of his Spirit. This transformative partnership is personal and communal, working through us in others’ lives despite our weakness and unbelief. Therefore, we cannot say that we have advanced God’s Kingdom. No, we position ourselves to see and recognize God as he reveals himself, and we partner in his ways and will. We pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven,” and then we watch. In this posture and with the desire to see, God’s Kingdom comes, promising and revealing our ultimate future.