Has the modern church lost sight of The Kingdom of Heaven?
Yeshua came preaching the good news, the gospel:
“Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
He taught many things but he spoke only the words given him by his Father.
He said to those that wanted the food that endures to eternal life, “The
work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”In other words we
are to hear and believe the message that Jesus brought.
When Yeshua asked his apostles if they might leave him because of his
teachings Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Yeshua taught about the Kingdom:
- who would be able to enter in and
- who would not
- how the Kingdom grows and spreads,
- the commandments to be obeyed,
- the things that defile a man,
- what would be the final fate of those
that fail to enter in and of - the rewards for those that do enter into the
Kingdom.
Yeshua taught repentance for the forgiveness of sin and he forgave sin with authority. Rightfully so, for he is the judge of the living and the dead.
Yeshua paid a great price when he was murdered by wicked men. He
accepted death as the will of his Father and as necessary to complete the
mission of establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. In so doing he
glorified the Father. Then the Father brought glory to himself by raising his
Son, Yeshua, from the dead.
This is the Gospel that Peter recited to the household of a God fearing
gentile named Cornelius. :
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” Acts 10:34-44 NIV
This is the Gospel of Yeshua and this is the gospel that the church should be
teaching.