It's been about 35 years ago. I was in a small group with six other Bible College students, and there was a professor that was leading a discussion, and Cliff Bedell was the faculty member's name, and he asked each of us to speak to this question. What does it mean to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? That's at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33. So each of the six of us men went around in a circle giving a comment or two about what we thought that means. How do we do that? It was a learning experience. This fellow would say this and wax eloquently about what he thought it meant, and another and another and another, and then Cliff Bedell in a very gentle, humble way, he said, men, a kingdom implies a king, and to seek first the kingdom of God is to seek first the king of that kingdom and make sure that you're surrendered to him.
Make sure that you are right with him. And it was amazing that six Bible College students with aspirations for ministry went around this circle and not a one touched on that critical issue. Well, we're considering the kingdom of God here in Mark chapter 1. We have these words in verses 14 and verse 15. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent and believe in the gospel. Both Matthew, Mark, and Luke pick up this narrative at this same point. John is the only one who tells us that there is perhaps eight months to a year that has passed since Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.
And it's just kind of a reminder that when you're reading the scriptures to be mindful that we have four gospel accounts. John is the only one who tells us of the wedding of Cana and Galilee, of the miracle, the first miracle, of the first cleansing of the temple, of Jesus's encounter with the Pharisee Nicodemus, of the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar in John chapter 4. None of the other three gospel writers speak of that, but all of that happened between Jesus's being tempted in the wilderness and his coming, as it says here, now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. John was put in prison. And we're wondering, as John is narrowing his focus upon the life and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, why he's again speaking about John. John has been a focal point in the opening verses of this first chapter. And I'm wondering, why would John, or yeah, why would Mark tell us, when I say John, his name is John Mark, why would Mark tell us about John the Baptist being put in prison?
Well, I think it's helpful to know what happened there. He was bold enough to confront the king about an unlawful marriage, and the result of that in his boldness was Herod put him in prison with the intention of killing him, but he was afraid of the people because the people perceived that he was a prophet. But I think it's there to tell us that although John had an incredibly significant assignment and ministry as a prophet of God, his ministry was short-lived. He accomplished a task that God assigned for him. He had come in preparing the way of the Lord and pointing people away from himself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore his ministry, which may have only lasted about a year, was over. He was put in prison, and you know what happened to him.
He was beheaded. Again, it says, now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. He came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. I want to point something out to you because I've run into this idea that the gospels speak of the kingdom of God and speak of the kingdom of heaven, and that they're speaking of two different entities, two different kingdoms, two different realms. That's a falsehood, and let me just show you one thing that would help you see that.
Notice again what Mark says. Now, verse 14, after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Turn to Matthew chapter 4. Matthew chapter 4, and let me show you, beginning at verse 1, we have Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Same thing that Mark makes reference to, just Mark only uses two verses to speak to it. Matthew gives 11 verses to it. After that, it says in verse 12, now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he departed to Galilee.
Same language. And then when you get over to what is said about the preaching ministry of Jesus, verse 17, from that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now the question is, why does Matthew say the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and Mark says the kingdom of God is at hand?
Well, it's because of his audience. Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience, and in deference to his Jewish audience, he doesn't use the name God, he uses the entity of heaven, the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdom of God. But, bottom line is, whether the subject is the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God, we're talking about the same thing. Not two different entities, not two different kingdoms. They're one and the same.
And it's amazing how so much ink could be spilled over something like that. And just a simple Bible study reveals, now wait a minute here, it's not two different kingdoms. What was the ministry of Jesus? What was the ministry of Jesus?
Back to Mark chapter one. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching. Jesus came to Galilee preaching.
That is, to cry aloud as a herald, to make a public proclamation of a vital message. Jesus came to do a lot of things, but first and foremost of preeminence, he came preaching. And he came preaching a certain message. What message did he preach? He came preaching the gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God. This good news is sourced in God.
It comes from God. And folks, in a world where all you seem to hear is bad news, we've got the best news. We've got the good news. And I would challenge all of us to be prayerful, to be intentional as we enter into conversations to look at ways to direct people's attention away from the bad news that dominates our world and our culture to the good news.
That's a challenge, isn't it? And even for us as believers, we can become so discouraged and downtrodden and weary about life and its challenges because if we're just taking in all the bad news around us, we forget that we have good news. And if you're a child of God, the good news has come to you, and there's no better news. But a church that's not characterized by preaching and a church that's not characterized by preaching the gospel is not a church worthy of your time.
Know your attention. In the 29 years I've been here, I've seen families make terrible decisions. Children grow up, become teenagers, they're lost. Parents are praying for their salvation.
The teenagers begin to carpet their parents. I don't like going to that church. I don't like this.
I don't like that. My friends go over here and it's this and it's that. And instead of the parents being the parents and setting the agenda, they listen to the teenagers and it's not too long that the parents are being led by the teenagers over to this church where preaching isn't prominent, where the gospel isn't front and center. And it has puzzled me how parents who are concerned about the salvation of their children would leave a gospel preaching church for a church that's characterized by entertainment.
I'm dumbfounded by it. And I've even spoke to some of these parents and said, what are you doing? What are you doing? Where are they going to hear the gospel? Well, I know, but they've been sitting under the gospel there for years and years and God hadn't saved them, so we thought we'd do something else. Something else? What is the substitute for the good news of the gospel? Something else? The never-dying souls of your children you're going to gamble with?
No. Be a part of a church, support a church, be thrilled that you're in a church where preaching is prominent and the gospel is front and center, not in just the preaching but in the teaching and in the singing. We're setting Christ and the work of Christ before you constantly. We're never tired of doing that. That is our calling. That is our job description.
I didn't even plan to say that. Preaching is an interesting dynamic. You pray, you prepare, you study, and then you get here and look out and see people and the Spirit of God brings things to mind that you feel are prompting to say.
Let's ask this question. What is the gospel of the kingdom? Jesus came preaching a message and his message was the gospel of the kingdom of God. Well, let's think a moment about the word kingdom. It's from the Greek word basilia, which means the realm in which a sovereign king rules. What is the realm in which the sovereign king of the universe rules? We say, well, he rules over heaven and earth.
Yeah, I understand that. But where is he trying to establish his kingdom, his rule on this earth? Because this kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.
It's not a physical kingdom. And it is the rule and reign in the hearts of believers. That's where his kingdom is established. The gospel of the kingdom is to be preached. This is the message that permeates the gospel record.
When you become aware of this, it's a bit arresting. There are 126 references in the four gospels to the kingdom of God. 162 references in the entirety of the New Testament.
17 of the 29 books of the New Testament make reference to it. Jesus preached it continually. The Sermon on the Mount, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is what?
The kingdom of heaven, Matthew would say. John 16 verse 16 says, the law and the prophets were until John. Since that time, the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it.
So it dominates the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's what he preached. It's what he commissioned the 70 to preach when he sent them out two by two. Listen to these words in Luke chapter 10.
After these things, the Lord appointed 70 others also and sent them two by two before his face and every city and place where he himself was about to go. Then he said to them, the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray that the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Go your way. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves carrying either money, bag, knapsack, nor sandals and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say peace be to this house. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it. If not, it will return to you and remain in the same house eating and drinking such things as they give, for the labor is worthy of his wages.
Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there and say to them, the kingdom of God has come near you.
And whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go into the streets and say the very dust of your city, which clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you. That was the message they were commissioned to go and preach.
And not just the 70, the message didn't change after the resurrection. Listen to the opening verses of Acts chapter 1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom also he presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God. You remember, Jesus told them to go and wait until they'd be endued with power from on high and then they were to carry the gospel away from Jerusalem to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. Well, when Philip carried the gospel to Samaria, what message did he carry?
What did he preach? Acts chapter 8, verse 9. But there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria claiming that he was someone great to whom they all gave heed but the least to the greatest saying, this man is the great power of God.
And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Peter as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Paul carried this message to Corinth, Acts chapter 19.
I won't read, I was gonna read one down through verse 8 but let me break in at verse 6. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about 12 in all and he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. What would you expect to find when you come to the very end of the book of Acts?
And Acts chapter 30 verse 30 and 31, then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. End of book of Acts. So our first point in our consideration of Mark 1 verses 14 and 15 is that this gospel of the kingdom is to be preached. It is to be preached. But secondly, notice with me that this gospel of the kingdom is to be understood as a present reality. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Two references to time there. The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.
That is, it's close by, it's near, it's about to come. And you remember that time when Jesus was casting out demons and they were accusing him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? Listen to what Jesus said in that context. He says, now when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself, how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
A present reality. Jesus was proclaiming the message of the kingdom and he said, it is among you. And again, not to make the mistake that me and six Bible college students made in divorcing the kingdom from the king, Jesus is standing there talking and he says, if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you because the king is here.
That's why. Paul preached, the kingdom of God is a present reality in which every believing sinner is instantly translated, rescued from the power of darkness and conveyed to the kingdom of the son of his love. Colossians chapter one in verse 13, it is a present reality as the Spirit of God works in the hearts and lives of men and women. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom and not an earthly one. The kingdom of God is not a restoration of the earthly Jewish nationality and kingdom.
It's a spiritual kingdom. And that's the audience that Jesus ministered to and preached to. That was their basic misunderstanding. They heard kingdom, they heard king, they assumed that meant an earthly kingdom.
That the yoke of Rome would be thrown off. But no, that is not at all what Jesus intended. They completely misunderstood him. Never in any way did he ever imply that. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15, an interesting place where he's talking about the resurrection. He says there in chapter 15 verses 54, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Flesh and blood cannot, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. So that does away with this whole idea that it's an earthly kingdom. It's a spiritual kingdom.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. So this gospel of the kingdom is number one, it's to be preached. And this gospel of the kingdom, number two, is to be understood as a present reality. Number three, this gospel of the kingdom is to be believed. It is to be believed.
Back to Mark chapter one. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. Repent and believe in the gospel. Belief is to be expressed in terms of faith and repentance. Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And I think repentance is a subject that doesn't get too much press, doesn't get too much attention. Not many people preaching about repentance.
It needs to be emphasized more than it is. Repentance toward God. Repentance means a turning away from and a turning toward. It's as if a man, not as if a man, it is men in their sins have their back toward God, are living their life with no concern for God, moving away from God, and God in his power arrests men, stops them in their tracks, and repentance is that man who's running away from God, turning and facing God. He's looking at God. He's concerned now about God and the Bible tells us in Hebrews that all things are laid bare before the eyes of him with whom we have to do. So here is this sinner who has been arrested by the Spirit of God, convicted of his sin and he has turned, and now he's facing God.
And what is he to do? He's not only to repent toward God, he is to what? Believe toward the Lord Jesus Christ. He's to understand what Jesus has done for sinners and he's to start moving in a completely different direction. He was going that way away from God, now he's turned and he's moving toward God. That's what repentance is. One of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible is Acts chapter 20 where Paul is speaking to the elders of Miletus.
I don't want you to hear what he has to say there. Verse 17, from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church and when they had come to him he said to them, you know from the first day that I came to Asia in what manner I always lived among you. Serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews. But I kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews and also to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, entrusting yourself to the person and merit and work of Jesus Christ. Verse 22, and see now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that will happen to me there except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city saying that chains and tribulations await me but none of these things move me nor do I count nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God and indeed now I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. He recalled that the central to his message was preaching the gospel of God.
I know this idea of the kingdom of God is a bit fuzzy in our minds, a bit vague, we're not real sure exactly what that means, but listen the kingdom of God is entered into only upon individual repentance and faith and only by the door of the new birth. You remember that encounter that Jesus had with Nicodemus the Pharisee. Listen to what Jesus said to him. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews this man came to Jesus by night and said to him Rabbi we know that you are a teacher come from God for no one can do the things that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him how can a man be born when he's old can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit do not marvel that I said to you you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes so is everyone who is born of the spirit. It's another way of saying what Jesus said in Mark chapter 1 repent and believe in the gospel. It is a supernatural work of the Spirit of God in regeneration you must be born again.
From time to time you'll hear people say this you'll read in commentaries and periodicals and articles this and I want to set it before you and correct it for you. I read I hear God would never command a man to do something that he didn't give him the ability to do. That sounds logical but it's false. God commands a man to keep the Ten Commandments. Does that imply that God gives men the ability to keep the Ten Commandments?
Absolutely not. Then what's the purpose of the Ten Commandments? It's a schoolmaster to point us to Christ. I think it's Augustine who said God command what you will but give what you command. Command what you will but give what you command. The implication is God has the right the prerogative to command men to do anything and everything but if God doesn't empower that man to act upon that there's no way he can obey. Matthew chapter 18 verse 3 Jesus said except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter in to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gave a definition.
Well let me back up. In Romans chapter 14 verse 17 we find a definition of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. So here's what it's not.
It's not eating and drinking. Here's what it is. It's righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. There's a biblical definition of the kingdom of God.
Now Paul's writing that in Romans chapter 14 and verse 17 and let me remind you what he said in Romans chapter 5 that reinforces what he's saying in Romans 14 with this definition. He says in chapter 5 verse 1 having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Having been justified. Having been declared righteous. How are we declared righteous? We're declared righteous by an alien righteousness that's been imputed to our account.
Again the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Having been justified by faith we have peace with God. Not peace in a subjective sense but our war with God is over. We're no longer at enmity with God. God has made peace with us because we've bowed the knee and surrendered to him and yielded ourselves to him.
That's what it means. Those are the blessings of the gospel. Having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And then verse 12 speaks of the joy that comes as a byproduct, a ministry of the Spirit of God.
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and it is recorded in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 2. Behold now. Now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation. Now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation.
Remember our second point. This kingdom that's to be preached, the gospel of the kingdom is to be understood as a present reality. Behold now.
Now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation. As a new Christian in my home church Sunday night was designated evangelistic night despite the fact that we rarely saw a lost person in the services. And yet because of tradition we heard evangelistic preaching, the gospel being preached. And the vast majority of people thought be sensitive to your audience. You're preaching to the choir here.
And I was young and I was immature and I didn't know any better and my voice joined that choir. I thought well why don't we hear something that is applicable to believers? Why are we hearing gospel messages preached to people who have embraced the gospel? And then I've come to understand that the gospel isn't just for lost people. We need to be reminded every day of the gospel as believers, right?
I think it's Jerry Bridges. He said you need the gospel on your worst day and you need the gospel on your best day because on your best day when you are walking in communion with God and in fellowship with God and all is right with you and God, the only way you're right with God is through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ and you need reminded of that constantly, right? My hope is built, your hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness, right? Carry that message into this week. Carry that message as you walk in this world and seek to represent Him well in a world that's dominated by bad news.
We've got the good news. Live it out, speak it out, preach it out if God gives you opportunity. A week or so ago I traveled over to Statesville to hear a young man preach at a Bible conference and he's been a Christian for about 10 years and he's got a boldness that I don't have.
He loves street preaching. There's a few out here that know of that and the challenges that go with that but God gives certain people just a gift to do that, an ability to do that, a desire to do that regardless of the opposition, knowing that there will be opposition. Folks in our families, we're not enemies with our families but we have members in our family that are strangers to the grace of God. We need to go with winsomeness and love in our hearts and maybe even with tears running down our cheeks and appeal to them concerning the gospel.
It's true. Now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. I'm glad that God has not pulled the curtain on the age of grace. There are some people that I'm burdened for, that I want to see brought into the ark of safety and as long as the door of grace is open, there is hope for them. So let's not weary and tire of praying and preaching and talking and witnessing with our life and with our mouths this glorious gospel that has been entrusted to us.
We're stewards of it. God has made us messengers of reconciliation, ambassadors. What's an ambassador? An ambassador is somebody who is sent by a sovereign to represent the sovereign's interest. So as an ambassador of God, we've been commissioned by Almighty God with His message. We don't have a prerogative to create our own message or to change the message or reshape the message, but with His message and we're to be His ambassador. You know what happens when an ambassador fails to represent the country that he is sent from? They call that ambassador back home and say, we're going to replace you.
You're not representing the country that has sent you as an ambassador. Well, God doesn't recall and renege on us, but He's worthy of our honest and accurate representation of Him. He is King Jesus. And I think if we had a better understanding, the church had a better understanding of what Jesus was preaching, the gospel of the kingdom.
There can be no kingdom without a king. And the Messiah King had come. Jesus was on the scene.
That's why He could say, the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand because the King had arrived. We can appeal to people. We're concerned about people who have a profession that show no evidence of converting grace in their life. What do we say to them? Well, we talk to them about the kingdom. We talk to them about a king and just ask him, how's your relationship with King Jesus?
And they'll look at you. What do you mean? Do you care about what he says? Are you in submission to his authority? Are you living your life for him as opposed to yourself?
Those are pretty probing questions, but that gets to the heart of the matter, doesn't it? That exposes an empty profession because a lot of people are still of the opinion that they're right with God because they made a profession, but in their heart of hearts, I will not have this man rule over me. I'm in charge of my life.
No one's going to tell me what to do. Well, you'll carry that mantra all the way to hell because to be a Christian and to be a citizen of the kingdom means bowing the knee to King Jesus and living for him and not yourself. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for the kingdom of God. We thank you for the spirit of God that comes and convicts men of sin and of righteousness and of judgment and translates them out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of our dear savior. Father, thank you for those of us who have been redeemed, who have been made children of God, who are part of the kingdom of God. Take this message and seal it to our hearts and use it, Father, for our good and for your own glory, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
