Here’s a question for you: Did Jesus preach the Gospel of Salvation or the Gospel of the Kingdom? Is there a difference?
Let’s explore this by defining some key terms such as the Kingdom of God, the Gospel of the Kingdom, the Messiah, and the Torah. Understanding these will help us grasp their meaning when we read our Bibles.
Let’s begin with the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The word ‘gospel‘ simply means ‘good news‘. The Gospel of the Kingdom is the message about how people can enter and live within God’s Kingdom. Jesus preached this gospel, instructing His disciples to do the same.
Jesus begins His ministry by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
This single sentence encapsulates the gospel message – repentance is the way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
But what is the Kingdom of Heaven? It refers to the Messianic Era, a future time when the Messiah will reign on earth from Jerusalem for a thousand years.
When Jesus said, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” He was announcing that the Messianic Era was near and that He Himself was the Messiah—Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
The name ‘Jesus’ or ‘Yeshua’ (from the Hebrew ‘Yehoshua’), means ‘to deliver or rescue’; the title ‘Christ’ (from the Greek ‘Christos’) means ‘anointed’, the same as ‘Meshiach’ in Hebrew, or ‘Messiah’.
So, when we say ‘Jesus Christ of Nazareth,‘ we are declaring that He is the anointed deliverer from Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.
Jesus, attested by God through miracles, was crucified according to God’s plan, raised from the dead on the third day, and later ascended to the Father. His death and resurrection confirmed Him as the promised Messiah.
So, His message remains: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
This call to repentance is not just about turning away from sin but also about accepting Jesus as the Messiah. When we do this, we receive forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As believers, this repentance leads to immersion in Jesus’ name, becoming His disciples, and participating in His movement. This also empowers us to preach the
same message, accompanied by signs such as healing, casting out demons, and even raising the dead.
When Jesus returns, He will establish the Kingdom of God on earth, defeating Israel’s enemies, ending the Jewish exile, and restoring the Kingdom to Israel, as foretold by the prophets.
At that time, the Lord will resurrect His disciples, Jew and Gentile, just as He raised Jesus from the dead. They will join Him to rule and reign a thousand years.
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection… (they) shall reign with Him a thousand years”. (Revelation 20:6)
At the culmination of the Kingdom, or the Messianic Era, there will be a final judgment where all people will stand before God. Those who believed in Jesus and obeyed Him will have their names written in the Book of Life and enter the World to Come.
This promise extends to the Jewish people, their children, and all who are afar off, including Gentile believers—everyone whom the Lord God calls to Himself.
This is the Gospel of the Kingdom—the good news that the Kingdom of God is near, and we are invited to enter it by repenting and following Jesus as the Messiah.
Understanding these definitions helps us see the depth of who Jesus is and the significance of the Gospel of the Kingdom, helping us to align our lives with Jesus’ message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
The Milk Course explores the six foundational principles of Messiah: milkcourse.org Join Ps Greg every Saturday morning from 9.00-10.30am AEST for The Torah Portion: thetorahportion.org
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