Links
"God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not parish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)
It has been said "The beginning of the gospel is nothing but the whole TaNaCH, or Old Testament." How else could one understand the forerunner who proclaimed, "Behold the lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world!"(John 1:29)? You may be surprised to learn that the word gospel meaning "good news" is first used in the Old Testament describing God's process of accomplishing total restoration of all that was lost by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden reconciling G-d's expressed will with his permissive will without compromising either in fulfilling the Genesis 3:15 promise made by G-d through the Jewish Messiah for all nations in which all Jewish Old Testament festivals, symbols, and types point/pointed. Among other things, this Messiah was to come from God, be born of a woman descending from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, and first fulfill a suffering servant role in which he would be cut off in death to make an end of transgression thereby making it possible for people condemned in sin unto eternal death, if they will, to be redeemed through faith and repentance predicated upon holy Messiah's self-sacrifice and ransom. This is good news as all stand condemned under sin leading unto eternal damnation where the fire is not quenched and the worm never dies apart from G-d's means of salvation through Yeshua's ransom for sinners. And, all have sinned and fallen short of G-d's glory from different extents except Jesus. Messiah Jesus/Yeshua appeared on earth fulfilling all Messianic prophesy pertaining to this role. He was indeed cut off in death on Passover Eve, assigned a grave with the wicked, but nevertheless buried in a guarded tomb among the rich in Nissan/April AD 33. Go to this page for details. However, this holy One did not remain in a tomb like king David unto physical decay and corruption. He was resurrected on the morning of the feast of First Fruits, and ascended to the Holy of Holies in heaven where he functions as everlasting and mediating High Priest in the order of Melkizadek and will remain until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled and the gospel of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed to all people groups. Then, Messiah will return as the great and everlasting Davidic king in order to usher in a universal millineal kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven" whereby the redeemed of God reign as joint-heirs over creation and kingdoms with the Messiah from Jerusalem (Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:27; Rev 11:15). While saving people from hell can not be diminished, there is another purpose for G-d providing the means of redemption, extending that means for forgiveness to all mankind whom he loves, and saving those who by faith appropriate G-d's provision for eternal life from hell. The purpose of G-d saving people from hell was/is to create one people of G-d, consisting of a remnant of redeemed Jewish and Gentile individuals, unto eternal life and to inherit the kingdom of G-d "on earth as it is in heaven."
The gospel of the kingdom of G-d message proclaimed before, during, and immediately after first century Jesus as preserved in the New Testament not only describes the means of reconciliation with G-d through Messiah's redemptive self-sacrifice, but also presents it as the basis for bringing "all things in heaven and on earth under one head-Christ Jesus" in ultimate fulfillment of the Genesis 3:15 covenant declaration. This includes appropriating the current means of grace imparted by G-d to overcome evil with good "rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto G-d what is G-d's" in the existing age, but ultimately refers to Messiah Yeshua's second coming and millennial reign on earth as it is in heaven in the age to come. Even now the gospel of the kingdom of G-d is already present on earth as it is in heaven to certain extents in terms of transferring citizenship of those living on earth from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light forming members of Messiah's collective body and all that entails. Jesus fulfilling his suffering servant role and reigning as mediating high priest made sending the Holy Spirit to indwell/empower those at the time and in the future who appropriate Messiah's atonement possible. This is significant because the Holy Spirit does what the law in and of itself is incapable of doing; The Holy Spirit empowers one to live holy and for godly service in accordance with the new covenant imparted through the ancient prophets in the Tenachk, also called the "First Testament" or "Old Testament." Jesus referred to this spiritual transaction as being born of the Spirit, or born again and the necessary prerequisite to entering the kingdom of G-d. In fact, the redeemed become sons, and daughters of G-d effectually by the Holy Spirit appropriated through faith predicated upon Messiah fulfilling the suffering servant phase of his ultimate messianic mission. Consequently, new life and disposition to holiness characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control result. Moreover, the Holy Spirit empowers one to be bold as ambassadors of the gospel of the kingdom in an age preceding the second coming of Messiah. Thus, with transformation already taking place on an individual level as a result of appropriating redemption through Messiah Jesus, the kingdom of darkness is already fleeting where the light of the gospel shines forth in a dark world. However, the gospel of the kingdom of G-d's ultimate reality on earth is forthcoming and described in unparalleled terms in the Holy Bible. And unlike those belonging to certain religious groups who believe they are responsible to usher in a world-wide theocracy for their god by terror-conquest in accordance with written exhortations passed down from their prophet, the Bible teaches that Messiah himself will return and usher in the coming messianic age characterized by righteousness and peace. During the interim the redeemed are to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto G-d what is G-d's," live in expectancy putting off anything that is unbecoming as "children of light" and messianic kingdom characteristics, and share the holistic Biblical gospel of the kingdom inviting others to appropriate redemption for the forgiveness of sin unto eternal life for citizenship in the kingdom by trusting in Messiah Jesus. We are to "stand firm" in this gospel of the kingdom of G-d that is in harmony before, during, and following historical Jesus. And, we are to appropriate the principal imparted by Jesus who taught his disciples to pray "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" as the Messiah taught during his first advent.
Indeed, through the Jewish Messiah Yeshua all nations will be blessed. Messiah will return as the great and everlasting Davidic king in order to usher in a universal millineal kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven" whereby the redeemed of G-d reign as joint-heirs over creation and kingdoms with the Messiah from Jerusalem (Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:27; Rev 11:15). Messiah is coming very, very soon! Therefore, the word "gospel" should not be divorced from "the kingdom of God" for the two are linked together throughout the TaNaCH, or so-called Old Testament and the New Testaments, and predicated upon Messiah Yeshua's substitutionary death, burial, resurrection, and current intercession as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek in the Heavenly Holy of Holies. These issues are explained in greater detail for your information, and including references for verification in this site accessed here.
God loves You _____________________________________________________________________________________________
If you would like anonymous prayer, you may send prayer requests by selecting the following link:.