Our gospel does not tell of the riches and resources that God has given us to reign in life with Christ Jesus. We are not told that He has made us kings and priests and what that does and does not mean in the here and now. Our gospel cheats the saint and brings reproach on the king, who has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

It also cheats the world and sinners of the relief Jesus offers from sickness, demons, and death. And we are comfortable with that.

Jesus and His salvation offer far more than having Him help us when we struggle against sin or forgiving us when we do sin. He has called us to be overcomers. Do we even know what that means in this day or how He has given us all things to give us the victory in everything?

It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom, yet we tell no one what He has given us other than a ticket to eternal life. Nor do we tell them that eternal life starts NOW. Nor about its joys, its rest, its requirements.

The true gospel offers life abundantly. A life of challenge and victory and overcoming. A life of sharing in His life and a demonstration of His life to a world hurting because of sin. It is an active life, not a passive life. It is an exciting life of watching God do what He said He would do as a result of our faith and obedience.

It is a good thing that few are being saved under our present gospel. It misrepresents God, His King, His kingdom, His victory, His church. God has said, enough is enough.

The truth about the gospel and its King

We are to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. Scripture knows of no other gospel. Often it is abbreviated in only the word gospel, but the apostles always understood it as the gospel of the kingdom

King was the consistent description of Jesus throughout his life, from birth to death and in eternity. Savior is seldom mentioned in the gospels in comparison. In the NT the fact that He is king and Lord overshadows all other of His designations.

Lord is the common designation of him in the epistles. Lord is mentioned 670 times in the NT. Saviour is mentioned only 35 times in the NT. He is able to save because He is the King who conquered sin and death. Jesus and the salvation He brought is meaningless if He is not King forever. If He can not keep and ensure salvation, it is not salvation. Only a king can keep and insure.

His Geneology

Mt 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

From birth He was proclaimed King

Mt 2:2 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. They did not call Him saviour

In His death, He was designated as JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

• Mt 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
• Mt 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
• The reason He was put to death (in the eyes of man) was because He was a king. Not because He was saviour. Putting to death the King because of sin He was not guilty of, was the atonement. He died a death He did not deserve.

Jesus defined Himself as Lord

Mt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus defined Himself as King

Joh 18:36 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.

It was the reason He came into the world

Joh 18:37 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.

Eternity proclaims Him King – It is the title He has in eternity

Re 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The angels know He is the saviour of man, but they call Him King of King and Lord of Lords

The word KING is mentioned 935 times, it speaks of secular kings and Jesus as king. The contrasts allow comparison. In the gospels it is pinned to Jesus as King, God, Lord. Prince. Those descriptors always come before saviour, saviour being a characteristic of the King, not King being a characteristic of the saviour

• Lu 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
• Lu 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
• Ac 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. He is a Prince above being saviour.

In the epistles, God, Lord is often mentioned together with savior. He can’t be savior without being Lord, God, King.

• Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
• Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Our salvation is safe because He is king and no one can grasp it from His hand. Only a king could defeat sin and death.

The gospel is the good news about the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, who emptied Himself and became obedient unto death (that is why it is called the gospel of the kingdom. It is the story of the KING who also became a savior and yet is SO MUCH MORE) so that He might offer salvation (new life and oneness with Him) forever, starting NOW.

If a gospel message is not about the king and His rule, it is not the true or full gospel message. Everything depends on Jesus being king, Lord, God. It seems demeaning to a king to mention only one of His accomplishments, however great.

That is why we are to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. Scripture knows of no other gospel.

Feb 5, 2021