The Cosmic Gospel: Establishing God's Kingdom on Earth

 

Summary

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find two pivotal verses that frame the ministry of Jesus Christ: Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 24:14. These verses highlight the central theme of Jesus' ministry—the gospel of the Kingdom. This gospel is not merely a message of personal salvation or individual peace; it is the proclamation of God's reign and rule over all creation. The Kingdom of God is a realm where God governs, and it is this Kingdom that Jesus came to establish on Earth.

The world today, much like in Jesus' time, is in turmoil and confusion, often misunderstanding the true nature of the gospel. Many reduce the gospel to a personal experience or a subjective feeling, but the gospel of the Kingdom is far greater. It is a cosmic message that addresses the entire universe, not just individual needs. The gospel is about the restoration of God's rule over all creation, which has been marred by sin and the dominion of Satan.

Jesus' mission was to usher in this Kingdom, a task that required his incarnation, death, and resurrection. The world is under the influence of evil, and Jesus came to liberate it from the bondage of corruption. His life, death, and resurrection are the means by which he defeated the powers of darkness and established the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is not of this world; it does not come with outward show or political power. Instead, it is a spiritual Kingdom that grows quietly and mysteriously in the hearts of individuals.

The ultimate purpose of the gospel is to bring us into obedience to God, to live for His glory, and to participate in His eternal Kingdom. This Kingdom will be fully realized when Jesus returns, bringing judgment and restoration to all creation. Until then, the gospel of the Kingdom continues to be preached to all nations, gathering people from every tribe and language into the Kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways:

- The gospel of the Kingdom is not just about personal salvation; it is about the reign and rule of God over all creation. This cosmic perspective reminds us that the gospel addresses the entire universe, not just individual needs. [10:39]

- Jesus' mission was to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth, a task that required his incarnation, death, and resurrection. This mission was necessary because the world is under the dominion of evil, and only through Jesus can it be liberated. [20:54]

- The Kingdom of God does not come with outward show or political power. It is a spiritual Kingdom that grows quietly and mysteriously in the hearts of individuals, transforming lives from within. [45:33]

- The ultimate purpose of the gospel is to bring us into obedience to God, to live for His glory, and to participate in His eternal Kingdom. This requires repentance and faith in the good news of the Kingdom. [18:10]

- The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all nations, gathering people from every tribe and language into the Kingdom of God. This ongoing mission will continue until Jesus returns to fully establish His Kingdom. [49:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Gospel of the Kingdom
- [01:04] - The Consistency of the Gospel Message
- [02:36] - The Timelessness of the Gospel
- [03:57] - Jesus' Emphasis on the Kingdom
- [05:24] - The Shift from Law to Kingdom
- [06:48] - Defining the Kingdom of God
- [08:13] - The Greatness of the Gospel
- [10:27] - The Universal Scope of the Gospel
- [12:34] - The Cosmic Purpose of the Gospel
- [14:50] - The Gospel's Address to All Humanity
- [17:22] - The Ultimate Purpose of the Gospel
- [20:08] - The Necessity of Jesus' Mission
- [23:13] - Jesus' Authority Over Evil
- [39:29] - The Mystery of the Kingdom
- [49:03] - The Global Mission of the Gospel

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 4:23
- Matthew 24:14
- Ephesians 1:10

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#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two pivotal verses in the Gospel of Matthew that frame Jesus' ministry, and what do they emphasize? [00:10]
2. How does the sermon describe the Kingdom of God, and what is its significance in Jesus' mission? [06:48]
3. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate purpose of the gospel, and how does it relate to our obedience to God? [17:22]
4. How does the sermon explain the way the Kingdom of God grows and manifests in the world? [45:33]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon differentiate between the personal and cosmic aspects of the gospel, and why is this distinction important? [10:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Kingdom of God is different from earthly kingdoms, and what implications does this have for believers? [40:03]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus' incarnation, death, and resurrection in establishing the Kingdom of God? [20:54]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the ongoing mission of the gospel and its global impact until Jesus returns? [49:03]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your understanding of the gospel. Have you viewed it more as a personal experience or as a cosmic message? How might this sermon challenge or affirm your perspective? [10:39]
2. The sermon emphasizes the spiritual nature of the Kingdom of God. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of this Kingdom in your daily life? [45:33]
3. Consider the ultimate purpose of the gospel as described in the sermon. In what ways can you align your life more closely with living for God's glory and participating in His Kingdom? [18:10]
4. The sermon highlights the quiet and mysterious growth of the Kingdom in individuals' hearts. Can you identify a recent experience where you sensed this growth in yourself or others? [45:33]
5. How can you actively participate in the ongoing mission of preaching the gospel to all nations, as mentioned in the sermon? What practical steps can you take in your community or beyond? [49:03]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s description of the world under the influence of evil. How does this understanding affect your view of current global issues and your role as a believer? [20:54]
7. The sermon calls for repentance and faith in the good news of the Kingdom. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to repent and renew your faith? How can you take action on this conviction? [18:10]

Devotional

Day 1: The Cosmic Scope of the Gospel
The gospel of the Kingdom is not just about personal salvation; it is about the reign and rule of God over all creation. This cosmic perspective reminds us that the gospel addresses the entire universe, not just individual needs. The Kingdom of God is a realm where God governs, and it is this Kingdom that Jesus came to establish on Earth. In a world often focused on individualism, it is crucial to remember that the gospel's message is far greater, encompassing the restoration of God's rule over all creation, which has been marred by sin and the dominion of Satan. [10:39]

Isaiah 45:22-23 (ESV): "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'"

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from personal concerns to embracing the broader cosmic scope of the gospel in your daily life?


Day 2: Jesus' Mission to Establish the Kingdom
Jesus' mission was to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth, a task that required his incarnation, death, and resurrection. This mission was necessary because the world is under the dominion of evil, and only through Jesus can it be liberated. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are the means by which he defeated the powers of darkness and established the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is not of this world; it does not come with outward show or political power. Instead, it is a spiritual Kingdom that grows quietly and mysteriously in the hearts of individuals. [20:54]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in Jesus' mission to establish the Kingdom of God in your community today?


Day 3: The Quiet Growth of the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God does not come with outward show or political power. It is a spiritual Kingdom that grows quietly and mysteriously in the hearts of individuals, transforming lives from within. This transformation is not always visible or immediate, but it is profound and lasting. The Kingdom's growth is often unnoticed by the world, yet it is powerful and unstoppable. As believers, we are called to nurture this Kingdom within us and allow it to influence our actions and interactions with others. [45:33]

Luke 17:20-21 (ESV): "Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate the quiet growth of God's Kingdom in your heart and in your relationships with others?


Day 4: Living for God's Glory
The ultimate purpose of the gospel is to bring us into obedience to God, to live for His glory, and to participate in His eternal Kingdom. This requires repentance and faith in the good news of the Kingdom. As we align our lives with God's will, we become part of His redemptive plan for the world. Our lives should reflect the values of the Kingdom, demonstrating love, justice, and mercy. By living for God's glory, we become witnesses to the transformative power of the gospel. [18:10]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your life more closely with God's will and live for His glory?


Day 5: The Global Mission of the Gospel
The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all nations, gathering people from every tribe and language into the Kingdom of God. This ongoing mission will continue until Jesus returns to fully establish His Kingdom. As followers of Christ, we are called to participate in this mission, sharing the good news with others and making disciples of all nations. This global perspective reminds us that the gospel is not limited to any one culture or people group but is a message of hope for the entire world. [49:03]

Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV): "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"

Reflection: How can you actively engage in the global mission of the gospel, whether through prayer, support, or direct involvement in sharing the good news?

Quotes


The kingdom of God means the rule of God, the reign of God. That's true of an Earthly kingdom, isn't it? A kingdom suggests at once a king, the place in which the King has rule and authority and power. That is the definition of a kingdom. It's exactly the same here. It means that realm in which God rules and God reigns. [00:06:48]

The gospel reminds us in this very term that the whole world is involved in this matter, the whole Cosmos, the whole universe. The Son of God didn't only come into the world in order to give this that or the other to you and to me who happen to be Christians and to offer it to others. That's the smallest part of this salvation. [00:10:27]

The ultimate purpose of the Gospel is to make us obedient to God. That's its ultimate purpose. The ultimate purpose of the Gospel is to bring us to a condition in which we shall glorify God and live to his praise and keep his Commandments. That's the object of the Gospel. [00:17:22]

The Son of God came into this world not only to deal with my particular needs. He has come to do something about the whole universe, things in heaven, things on earth, and as Paul adds elsewhere, things under the Earth as well. You see, this is a vast, it's a great gospel, the gospel of the kingdom of God, the reign and the rule of God. [00:12:34]

The world is under the Dominion of the devil. It's in the kingdom of darkness, in the Kingdom of evil, the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of hell. That's where the world is tonight, and it's behaving as such. Our Lord turned to the Pharisees and he said, you are of your father the devil, and the works of your father he will do. [00:28:49]

The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to All Nations, and then shall come the end. Here he is, nearly 2,000 long years ago, the carpenter of Nazareth, this fellow who's never had any training and who has no learning. He says this gospel that I'm preaching to you and have been preaching to you for 3 years, this is going to be preached as a witness to all the nations of the world, every one of them. [00:49:03]

The kingdom of God does not come with outward show or political power. It is a spiritual Kingdom that grows quietly and mysteriously in the hearts of individuals, transforming lives from within. The world says nothing's happening, you people are preaching, but what's taking place? Oh, the blindness of mankind. This is a mystery. It happens in the hearts of men. [00:45:33]

The gospel of the Kingdom is not something primarily concerned with our particular needs but with the whole condition of the universe. Now let me put before you the great statement of this made by the Apostle Paul in the epistle to the Ephesians. Listen to this. He's talking about this gospel, and he puts it like this: having made known, he's talking about God, having made known unto us the mystery of his will. [00:14:50]

The Son of God came into this world because of corruption, the bondage of corruption. Men by nature are in the bondage of corruption. We all are born in the bondage of corruption. We are all moral lepers. We are all moral failures, and we know it. Can you give up a sin just by deciding to do so? Don't you know something about the bondage of corruption in your own personal life? [00:31:48]

The gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to All Nations, and then shall come the end. Here he is, nearly 2,000 long years ago, the carpenter of Nazareth, this fellow who's never had any training and who has no learning. He says this gospel that I'm preaching to you and have been preaching to you for 3 years, this is going to be preached as a witness to all the nations of the world, every one of them. [00:49:03]

The ultimate purpose of the Gospel is to make us obedient to God. That's its ultimate purpose. The ultimate purpose of the Gospel is to bring us to a condition in which we shall glorify God and live to his praise and keep his Commandments. That's the object of the Gospel. I know that incidentally in doing that it does many other things, and thank God for these other things. [00:18:10]

The kingdom of God is amongst you. It's here now, but you don't see it. It's this influence, it's this thing that takes hold of a man and delivers him out of this present evil world. It's this thing that translates a man out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son. It's this amazing change that takes place in a man's heart and in the depths and vitals of his personality. [00:46:33]

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Transcript
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