Repent & Believe the Gospel of the Kingdom

“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 6:

In our last study we began examining the third time the Greek word “Pisteuo,” usually translated “believe,” is found in New Testament history. That was when Jesus Christ Himself uttered it at the beginning of His ministry: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14 & 1514 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

. I identified five elements in Jesus' statement to be examined:

1) The significance of Jesus Christ's words,

2) The time referred to as being fulfilled,

3) The gospel of the Kingdom of God being preached,

4) The implications of that Kingdom being at hand,

5) The significance of repentance and belief.

Our last study covered the first two elements. Today we go to the third and answer the question, what is/was the gospel of the Kingdom of God that Jesus spoke of here? To begin with, according to the “e-sword Live” Internet Bible program the word gospel occurs in 95 verses in the New Testament (NT.) The Greek word for gospel in this passage is “euanggelion,” which, according to Smith's Greek-English Concordance, is found 77 times in the NT. (The reason the English word “gospel” occurs 95 times while the Greek word “euanggelion” only 77 is because there are two other forms of euanggelion in the NT manuscripts and they are translated variously “preach,” “preach the gospel,” “bring good tidings,” etc.[1]) “Euanggelion,” or “gospel” in Mark 1:1515 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

simply means the good message or good news. It's important to recognize there are different gospels proclaimed in the NT. For example, later on in NT history we find the Apostle Paul preaching a Gospel different than the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and we will study that gospel when we get to Paul's writings.

John the Baptist was raised up by God to introduce Jesus Christ. The book of Mark opens with: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,' “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Mark 1:1 - 41 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

. John the Baptist proclaimed the gospel or good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The books written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called the Gospels because each writer, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, gave his own perspective of the good news of Jesus Christ. There are different facets of the good news of Jesus Christ, one being that God loved the world so much He gave Him, His only begotten son, to die for the sins of mankind and whoever believes in Him will be saved unto everlasting life, John 3:16 & 1716 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

. Jesus said He was/is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can approach God but through Him, John 14:66 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

. But we see from Mark 1:14 & 15 and throughout the Gospels a primary purpose of Jesus Christ was to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. It should be noted that the term “Kingdom of Heaven” occurs only in the Gospel according to Matthew while the term “Kingdom of God” appears in all four Gospels and these two terms are synonymous.

The word Kingdom is made up of two words, King and dominion. A King is a sovereign ruler and a dominion is the area or territory in which he dominates, so a Kingdom refers to a specific place where a King has dominion. Back in the beginning God gave dominion over the entire earth to the first man Adam, Genesis 1:26 - 2826 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

. When Adam sinned and was cast out of the Garden, dominion of the earth was usurped by Satan, the Prince of this world and the Power of the air, John 14:3030 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

; Ephesians 2:22 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

. The Kingdom of God which is referred to in our text, Mark 1:14 & 15, is the same Kingdom that God promised the Nation of Israel in the Old Testament in such passages as Isaiah 11 & 12; 65:17 - 25; Ezekiel 37, etc. The Jews looked forward to this Kingdom and rightfully claimed it as their birthright.

Based on Old Testament prophecy the wise men from the east came to worship Jesus. They knew what they were looking for and were correct when they came asking for Him who was born King of the Jews, Matthew 2:1 & 21 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

. The chief priests and scribes that King Herod subsequently gathered together to determine where Christ (the promised King of Israel) would be born were right when they said that according to the Old Testament Prophets He would be born in Bethlehem in Judea, Matthew 2:3 - 123 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

. Jesus Himself testified that He was King of the Jews, Matthew 27:1111 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

; Mark 15:22 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

; Luke 23:33 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

; John 18:33 - 3733 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

. And even Pontius Pilate was right when he had placed on the cross of Jesus the title: “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews,” John 19:1919 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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Throughout His three-year ministry Jesus Christ taught and described various aspects of His Kingdom and the requirements to enter it, Matthew 5; 12:28; 13:10, 11, 24, 31, 33, 38, 41, 44; 19:23 & 24, etc., etc. He taught His disciples to pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1010 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

. So it is indentified as the Kingdom of God as well as the Kingdom of Heaven. The Disciples eagerly looked forward to the Kingdom of God/Heaven and wondered who would be the greatest in that Kingdom, Matthew 18:1 - 141 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

; Mark 9:33 - 3533 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

. Jesus also spoke about His Kingdom after His resurrection, Acts 1:33 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

. He had promised His Apostles they would sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel in His Kingdom, Matthew 19:2828 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

& Luke 22:3030 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

, so just before He ascended up into heaven they asked Him again when that Kingdom would be established, Acts 1:66 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

. “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:77 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

. He sent them out to be witnesses as to who He was and then He ascended up into heaven, Acts 1:8 & 98 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

. The Kingdom that Jesus described and for which the Disciples waited was/is literal. When Christ returns to earth and establishes His Kingdom Satan's influence will be removed as he will be bound and Jesus Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years. Thus God's will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Revelation 20:2 - 72 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

. Some have incorrectly “spiritualized” these promises and falsely claimed we are somehow presently in this kingdom and so should be working for the kingdom now. Some have taken the Jews out of the equation and claim the church today has replaced them. This was never God's plan.

Israel was set aside some 2000 years ago but all the promises made to them for a literal Kingdom on earth will yet be fulfilled. God promised and it will happen. The Apostle Paul explains this: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:25 - 2925 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

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The Kingdom of God/Heaven on earth will be a time never before experienced during the history of this earth. Jesus Christ, the King, will literally be here on earth and the 12 Apostles will sit on 12 thrones, ruling the 12 Tribes of Israel. The entire earth will benefit; there will be no “United Nations” to argue over what's right and wrong between nations; there will be no politics played turning one class of people against another in order to gain power; there will be perfect and equal justice for all, and none will want; Jesus Christ will reign supreme over the entire earth in righteousness; He will rule with a rod of iron, Revelation 2:2727 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

; 12:5; 19:15.

Our next study will go over the implications of this Kingdom being at hand during Christ's time.

[1] Smith's Greek-English Concordance: “euanggelion” #2098, occurs 77 times, always gospel; “euanggelid'zo” #2097, occurs 55 times, translated variously as preach, preach the gospel, bring good tidings, share glad times, etc.; and “proeuanggelid'zomai,” #4183, found only once where it is translated “preach before the gospel.”