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The Kingdom of God

1. The Kingdom of God is seen from Genesis to Revelation. It is the majortheme in Jesus teaching.

o The Kingdom always existed, always will (Gen. 1-4). It is eternal. It reflects the Nature of God In his rule over creation (delegated to us in the mandate to

manage). In his community. "Am I My Brother's Keeper?"

o In the Old Testament the King intervenes, but he does not dwellwith the people

o e.g. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the Prophetso In each intervention, the same principles of economics,

social principles, politics are seen. Each case applies theprinciples to a different situation.

o In the New Testament the King invades in the person of a child ina manger, Immanuel. He comes to dwell. He left the Holy Spiritto dwell in us.

o But the Kingdom is not just present but also future. The fullness ofthe Kingdom is yet to come. Now we see the signs of theKingdom. Then we will see him face to face. Now we see thesigns of healing, miracles, but they are only signs. There we willsee him face to face. We will be complete. We will be with him.

The ultimate reign of God is connected with the coming of the city of God in the

final chapters of Revelations.Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the firstearth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from

God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God iswith men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God

himself will be with them and be their God (Rev 21:1-3).

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Diagram 1 indicates eternal consistencies of the Kingdom (and covenants), and itssocial, spiritual and economic principles. These are contrasted with the phasedifferences in the relationship of the Kingdom of God to humanity in the Old

Testament, the New Testament and after the parousia. In the Old Testament he

intervenes but does not dwell. The New Covenant is of an indwelling God. After thejudgement he will rule the earth.

2. In the Old Testament, the themes of the Kingdom are seen in thecovenants.

There are 7 covenants in the scriptures. All (except one) are given inrelationship to three things

God-Man Society Land

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2. While the theme of the Kingdom remains the same there is a discontinuityin Jesus birth and death

His incarnation changes all - he has come to dwell His conditions of discipleship affect the command to manage the earth,

and be our brothers/sisters keepero some are called to forsake allo we have to put him ahead of family and social relationshipso we have to deny self

3. Jesus is the Answer Some of the questions he answers are social,economic or political

4. The Kingdom and Social Relationships

o Three views throughout historyo Kingdom In, Over or Against Society

5. A Holistic Kingdom

Proclaiming is the focus of Kingdom activity

o Luke 4:18 - Content of the Great Commission - preach goodnews to the poor

o Matt 28:18-20 - Extent of Great Commission - to the ends

of the earth

Holistic ministry is the context of proclamation

6. Discipleship is the Obedient Response to the King

Discipleship involves spiritual dimensions, economic discipleship and socialdiscipleship

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Diagram 2 indicates three sets of relationships between King, people and the created

order within the Genesis account. The obedient human response to the King is

known as discipleship. The first two relationships, God-human, God-human-land arethose of authority. The human-human relationships are primarily of equality.