30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 14-17 The cross and the kingdom of God 10 Inauguration of His kingdom
📖 Luke 16:14-17
13Apr2020 - *Inauguration of His kingdom* - _Luke 16:14-17_ - Bible reading: _Luke 4:18-21_
_Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it._
The cross, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus leads us to the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. These times of refreshing is the Shalom of God, which God longs for man and all of creation to enjoy _Act 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord_
As I have been saying, leaders of our world are trying to find a solution to the crisis but they are not seeking the solution for the disease that is plaguing us, which is our alienation from God. If we would be reunited with God, God will bless us with His times of refreshing, which is the fullness of His kingdom. The cross leads to His kingdom.
John the Baptist came preaching the good news of God’s kingdom. _Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Jesus continued on from John. _Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."_
Right there, the Lord places before us the essentials of His kingdom. The time of the kingdom of God has come since the King has arrived. The cross would be the place of entrance into His kingdom. For it was to go to the cross that Jesus came. There needs to be repentance to enter into His kingdom. We repent from our rebellion. We chose to go our own way, we must repent and now surrender to the Kingship or Lordship of Christ. We do not live by the dictates of our will but in His kingdom, His will overrules. The Kingdom of God can only be experienced on the basis of belief or trust. We now trust *only* Jesus and not trust *also* Jesus. Trust and obedience are the basis of His kingdom. The Kingdom of God experience is the good news. The gospel or the good news is not just about our salvation. Salvation is included and so is redemption, reconciliation, righteousness, new life and all the other glorious inheritances that we have in Jesus, at the cross. All of these are included within His kingdom. This is the gospel, the gospel of His kingdom.
The understanding of His kingdom is seen in _Luke 4:18-21 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."_ The kingdom of Jesus or kingdom of heaven is comprehensive. It is sin that has caused all the sadness and brokenness in our world. In the gospel of His kingdom, all the painful issues that mankind is facing is set right. Man and all of creation are invited to experience His refreshing.
_(20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."_ The Kingdom of God is being inaugurated since the King had arrived.
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you living out His kingdom?```