Uniting the Message of Jesus and About Jesus

(Continuing this discussion from yesterday.)

In searching for a unified model of Gospel ministry, I began with understanding the Kingdom. For more of my thinking on that subject look here, here, here and here.

Have you noticed how the term "Kingdom of God" keeps cropping up in the Book of Acts, packed with all the meaning Jesus that put into it.

• 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
• 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
• 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
• 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
• 20:25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
• 28:23 ...from morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
• 28:31 ...proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

The guys who wrote the epistles (including Paul) proclaimed the same Kingdom message Jesus did, and taught a two-fold combined Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom. I said two-fold but it is really just one Gospel. Jesus and the Kingdom, the Kingdom and Jesus, the Cross and the Kingdom - all one message. In the last verse quoted above we see that the same guy who said he knew "nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2) also boldly proclaimed the Kingdom of God as part of his teaching about Jesus.

The apostles united the message of Jesus and the practice of Jesus with the message about Jesus. We've got to find a way to do the same. What God has put together, let not man put asunder. There is one Gospel message, but it includes what Jesus taught (the Kingdom) and what Jesus did (the Cross) and the life that comes to us from both. Ignore either, and you end up with a "Holey Bible!"

(More on this tomorrow).