Since it's been a while since part 8 of this blog was posted, it might be good to revisit the motivation for beginning this series in the first place. Motivation #1 - Jesus' central theme in ministry was the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23, etal). Motivation #2 - Jesus said that the end would not come until this gospel had been preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations (to all peoples, people groups, ethnos, Matthew 24:14). Motivation #3 - we should be familiar with this gospel so we can preach it accurately, and thereby hasten the day of the Lord's return (2 Peter 3:12).
When we ended last time, we said that we would begin this installment with Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer i who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." By joining Him in death, we are also able to join Him in resurrection power (Philippians 3:10) and share in His resurrection life now (Ephesians 2:5). We are already living on the heavenward side of the first stage of the resurrection. Wow!
The final stage of the resurrection is seen when 1 Corinthians 15:24 and Revelation 20:10, 14 are seen together. The Kingdom (which became the possession of the Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 11:15, is now given up to God as the devil is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, followed by Death and Hades (the grave). At the end of the millennial reign of Christ, the last enemy (death) will be destroyed forever, and having subdued all enemies, He will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father. A previous stage of this conquest occurred, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:23, and Revelations 20:4, when "they which are Christ's at His coming" are raised (or transformed) incorruptible.
So the kingdom of God means the defeat of all of the enemies of God. It means the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, defeating the enemies of God one by one until the last enemy is destroyed... death. And from whence cometh death? "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). And from whence cometh sin? Satan, of course - he who was created perfect, and then iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). Here we have a hellish triumvirate - Satan, sin, and death. Christ must reign until He has put ALL enemies under His feet. While it is not until the end of the Millennium that this is finally accomplished, there is a past aspect to the conquering of this triumvirate which translates into a present benefit. Christ has already been raised from the dead. Stage one to the conquering of the final enemy has been accomplished.
It's not just the first stage of the conquering of death that has been accomplished, but the Kingdom of God has invaded the present evil age - the domain of Satan! Hebrews 2:14 (which we have cited previously) makes this abundantly clear. Those whom God would make His children through faith have been delivered from the fear of death and are no longer subject to its bondage. A destruction of Satan (at least his power) has already taken place through the death and resurrection of Christ. The Greek word translated "destroy" here means "to put out of action," "to render ineffective." The first of three stages in the conquering of Satan has been accomplished. We see this in several of the Gospel narratives, such as Matthew 4:23-24. "And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and infirmity among the people. SO His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them."
The Lord Himself, when He proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom of God, demonstrated that Good News by delivering men from the bondage of Satan. This involved both physical healing and the exorcism of demonic spirits. Jesus would say in Matthew 12:28, "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." And so the Gospel of the Kingdom is that God is now acting among men to deliver them from the power of Sin, Satan and Death. Jesus commissioned the 12, and through them believers down through the centuries, to go and preach this Gospel, declaring that the same signs that accompanied His preaching of the Gospel would accompany theirs (ours).
Next time we will see how the importance of this Gospel being preached and and practiced will reach its zenith in the last days, as the end nears. Until then, be encouraged by these words. May they quell any concerns in your heart about healthcare reform. Jesus already reformed the healthcare system.
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