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The Big Picture Of The Bible Story
Part 8: The Kingdom Of God
Throughout the Bible story, we have been watching as God has provided the answer to the problem of mankind’s rebellion against Him. He has now fulfilled the promises that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After God made their descendants into a great nation and gave that nation the land of Canaan, He had now brought His Son into the world to provide salvation from sin as the Seed of Abraham. Jesus Christ (the Messiah) had now provided the perfect sacrifice through His own death on the cross and risen from the dead. Now, we focus on the eighth major section of the Bible story: “The Kingdom Of God.”
Acts 1:3-11
Jesus spent 40 days walking the earth after His resurrection, providing many convincing proofs that He had risen from the dead and preaching about the kingdom of God. Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus told His apostles they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days and that preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins would begin in Jerusalem (Luke 24:44-49). In fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-8), the gospel would be first taught in Jerusalem, spread to Judea and Samaria, and then go to the ends of the world. All nations would have the opportunity to be saved through Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16)! Jesus’s apostles would provide eyewitness accounts of Jesus’s resurrection. Then, when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He fulfilled prophecy and took His seat on the throne to reign as King (Daniel 7:13-14)! Also note the promise that Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36-44)!
Acts 2:1-4, 16-21, 22-24, 29-36
With the King now on His throne and the apostles waiting in Jerusalem, the time had arrived for the Holy Spirit to come on the apostles and the gospel (good news) that announced Jesus’s reign as King to be spread! This was within the few days Jesus promised (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:4-5), in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-8), and during the days of the fourth successive kingdom (Roman Empire, Daniel 2:31-45). This also fulfilled Joel’s prophecy concerning the last days (Joel 2:28-32), when everyone who calls on the name of the Lord would be saved! The message of salvation centered around Jesus, who had been crucified and risen from the dead, now reigning in Heaven at the Father’s right hand as both Lord and Messiah! The new covenant that offered forgiveness of sins had now begun (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:7-13)!
Acts 2:37-47
Some of the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost who heard that they had just killed the Messiah asked what they needed to do to be saved. They had heard the good news about salvation through Jesus and believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Now, they needed to repent and be baptized (immersed in water) for the forgiveness of their sins (and confess the Lord Jesus, Romans 10:9-10). About 3,000 people were obedient to the gospel! These people who had believed in Jesus and submitted in obedience to Him as King were now part of the kingdom of God! This is the beginning of Jesus’s church (His collection of saved people; Matthew 16:13-19). These new believers then performed functions together as a local church in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:4-18
The gospel soon spread beyond Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4), even reaching the Gentiles! Now, with the gospel being taught to and obeyed by Cornelius and his household (who were Gentiles, Acts 10), the doors of the kingdom of God were opened to everyone – both Jews and Gentiles, so all can be saved through Jesus (Romans 1:16)! As promised, all nations of the earth can now be blessed through Abraham’s Seed (Jesus, Genesis 12:3), and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:32)!
1 Peter 2:4-10
Although God had used the physical nation of Israel to bring the Messiah into the world, everyone who comes to Jesus Christ can now be God’s special people, His holy nation! Rather than God’s people consisting only of those who come from the physical ancestry of Abraham, His people consist of all who have faith in Jesus. This is spiritual Israel, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles. In this way, all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:17-32)! The people of God are now also considered as His royal priesthood who bring spiritual sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15). Furthermore, the people of God are built as God’s new spiritual temple (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)!
Titus 2:11-14
God has poured out His grace through Jesus, so all people can experience eternal salvation from God’s wrath (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-11)! Those who believe and obey Jesus must allow the grace of God to transform them (Romans 6). This involves denying what is contrary to the will of God (as expressed in Scripture) and living according to God’s righteous ways, as you wait for the day Jesus will return (2 Peter 3:10-13). For, Jesus did not die so people could continue living in wickedness. Rather, He gave Himself so people could be redeemed (bought back) from sin and to cleanse a people for His own possession – a people who are devoted to Him and zealous for good works (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)!
Revelation 21:1-4, 21-27
The hope of those who are part of God’s kingdom is not limited to this life. Rather, the ultimate hope is the promise that those who are faithful to King Jesus will experience eternal life with God in Heaven (John 14:1-7; 1 Peter 1:3-9), rather than spending eternity in the fires of Hell (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 21:8). This passage symbolically pictures the glorified condition of God’s people in the new order that God will bring about in this Heavenly realm, when the kingdom is delivered over to God (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Grief, crying, pain, death, and evil will have no part in this new order. Instead, those who had lived as God’s people on this earth will get to live forever in intimate fellowship with God!
Conclusion
The Bible contains the greatest story ever told! In it, God shows how He has provided the opportunity for eternal salvation to all mankind. Despite mankind’s rebellion against Him, God has demonstrated His love to the extent that He sent His Son into the world to provide the only sacrifice that could possibly take away sin. Now, no one has to perish in their sin and experience the eternal wrath of God. However, they must believe in and obey Jesus as their King. Those who do are saved from their sins and get to be part of the kingdom of God. One Day, those who have been devoted to being God’s people on this earth will spend eternity with God in the Heavenly kingdom!
Discipleship Questions
What would begin in Jerusalem?
What was the significance of Jesus’s ascension?
What message is at the center of the gospel?
What does the gospel require of people to be part of Jesus’s kingdom and church?
What was significant about Cornelius obeying the gospel?
Who can be part of God’s special people and holy nation today?
Why did Jesus die for people, and what does He expect His saving grace to do?
What is the hope of God’s kingdom?
