46. Kingdom Of God Series

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 46 - KINGDOM OF GOD]

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

We have been looking at the implications of the resurrection of Jesus.

• Last time we talked about how the resurrection of Jesus to immortality has heralded a new creation event.

• A new creature now exists in God’s spiritual world, which has not existed before.

• For the first time a human truly in God’s image exists, one who through His sinless life, His death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day has opened the way for mortals to join God in eternity.

• Jesus the Creator, and our mediator, has restored access to the source of true life so that eternal life is now available to all those who seek it.

• Jesus through His incarnation and the ordeal of the atonement has forged a new humanity out of the old.

• Our inclusion in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis then for the creation of the “new humanity” which will live on into eternity.

But we saw Jesus’ resurrection has implications far beyond that of humanity. It has implications for the whole of the fallen creation.

• In His ministry prior to the cross, Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God breaking into human affairs.

• Mark 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

• Jesus “came near” to us with His incarnation as the anointed King of the kingdom of God. But at this point in His ministry, much more needed to be accomplished before the kingdom could be established.

• However, after performing His saving work through His life, death and resurrection, the kingdom of God was established on earth and could be expanded to include all those who believe in the King, Jesus.

• Mark 9:1-4 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power. 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

• Normally in this section, the reference to the kingdom of God coming in power is interpreted as referring to the three disciples, Peter, James and John witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus meeting with Elijah and Moses.

• And that is fine as far as it goes. But Jesus was referring to an event much more significant than just His transfiguration before His disciples.

• In reality, He was referring to the consequence of what His saving work would achieve for the whole of the fallen creation.

• His resurrection from the dead on the third day signified the beginning of the new creation, the new creation that included the possibility of humanity joining Jesus in immortality to share and commune in the life and love of God.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.

• The resurrection of Jesus, crossing the gulf between mortality and immortality through the power of God also signified the start of Christ’s rule over the kingdoms of this world.

• Satan had promised Jesus dominion over the kingdoms of the world at the temptation if Jesus would bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:8-10).

• Now with the defeat of sin, Satan and death, this was the inauguration of the kingdom of God on earth with Jesus as its newly coronated King.