Already, But Not Yet

I have entitled our message this morning “Already, But Not Yet.” This sermon title may sound a bit strange; however, it will soon make sense. I am going to have us focus on the topic of the kingdom, and see if we can identify its location. Many of us will probably say, “Well, that’s easy! The kingdom is ‘in’ heaven. That’s why it’s called the kingdom of heaven! We will see it either when we die or when Jesus returns to take us home!” This is how many of us feel about the kingdom; however, I believe some of us are going to be surprised when we see what both the New Testament and Jesus have to say. I’m also sure that some of us will be surprised how “knowing the location of the kingdom” is important for living a victorious Christian life.

So, what is the kingdom and where is it located? These are two questions for which we will seek an answer this morning. We are going to cover many verses; and so, I want to encourage you to write them down for future reference and study. We are going to begin with Matthew chapter 4, verse 23, as we look at the central theme of Jesus’ preaching and teaching; or rather, the heart of His message.

The Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23)

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

What we discover from this verse is that Jesus’ preaching revolved around the kingdom. Here, it is called “the gospel of the kingdom.” So, what was the content of this message? In Matthew 10:7-8, we read where Jesus commanded His disciples, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” The gospel of the kingdom consisted of a message declaring that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and this message was to be accompanied by a demonstration of kingdom power. Allow me to explain further.

The phrase “at hand,” used to describe the kingdom, means that the kingdom is “near” – it is “within reach.” It’s as though a person can reach out and touch the kingdom, because it’s so close. In fact, the kingdom was and is a present reality, and it was demonstrated through miraculous signs and wonders, showing that a new authority and reign had now arrived on the scene. Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven had presently invaded this world, and that God’s light had finally pierced the darkness.

In Luke 9:2, we read that “He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Now, the phrase “the kingdom of God” appears to be interchangeable with “the kingdom of heaven.” This particular message about the kingdom of God was supposed to be a part of the disciples’ preaching. This is also a message that we too must declare – the message that the kingdom of our Savior and Lord is present in great power. So, let’s no back up and take a look at Matthew 4:17, as we begin examining Jesus’ message in greater depth.

The Kingdom is Already Present (Matthew 4:17)

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Here, we once again see Jesus’ message about the kingdom of heaven being at hand; or rather, being present among us in power. In the title of this sermon, where I said that the kingdom is “already, but not yet,” the word “already” refers to the “here and now” or the “present.” The first part of Jesus’ message is that the kingdom is already present; however, as we’ll see in just a moment, He also teaches that the kingdom is “not yet.” But for now, we are going to focus on the present tense aspect of the kingdom.

Listen, as I share a quote from The New Bible Dictionary: Jesus “announced the kingdom not just as a reality which . . . would appear in the immediate future, but as a reality which was already present, manifested in His own person and ministry. Although the places where Jesus speaks explicitly of the kingdom as being present are not numerous, His whole preaching and ministry are marked by this dominant reality. In Him the great future has already become present time.”(1)

Commentators Vickie and Jim Egli tell us that this verse reveals the dramatic declaration by which Jesus launched His ministry. They also say that “through His words and His actions Jesus announced that God’s kingdom was crashing into the present;”(2) and that He not only “announced” the kingdom, but He “demonstrated it.” In Matthew 12:28, Jesus stated, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” In The New Bible Dictionary we are also told, “The whole of Jesus’ miraculous activity is the proof of the coming of the kingdom.”(3)