Can we take a little theology at this time of the day?

Bible students have identified something they call the 'kerugma'. It is the content of the heraldic proclamation. It is not 'preaching' that is foolish, but the heraldic content or 'the thing preached'.

The kerugma, linked with the word kerussO meaning to cry out as a herald, has been defined as "the facts about Jesus in an eschatological setting which indicates the significance of those facts" (this is a bit heavy, isn't it)

The Old Testament had looked to a future time. The gospel accounts of Matt, Mark, Luke and John say it has 'drawn near'. The Acts and what follows say 'this is that' - it's here,look!
That future time has primarily to do with the King's perfect reign, hence kingdom. The word kingdom is not primarily a realm, a location, but a rule, a new era.

Christ spoke of 'the regeneration' in Matt 19:28 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. This is the full coming of the Kingdom; Christ upon the Throne. Our personal regeneration is a foretaste of this 'Christ upon the Throne'; we are tasting of the 'dunamis' of the coming age [Heb 6:5] It was his promise that having received the Spirit we would receive 'dunamis'.

In the gospel accounts we have the announcment that the King(dom) is coming. In John we have a frequent little phrase "the hour is coming and has arrived". In Christ, the Kingdom was present but there was more to come. For the genuine believer, now in Christ, the Kingdom has arrived but there is more to come.

The culmination of Christ's teaching is found in John's gospel with the phrase 'in that day'. He was speaking of the day when the Spirit would come. Peter's triumphant cry was 'this is that'. I love this phrase. "this" means something within reach, it's here. "that" means something over there, more distant.

This is the testimony of every regenerate child of God; "this is that". The distant promise has become the present experience.

In the gospel accounts we have details of the Kingdom, its operation, its citizens, a revelation of its King. The gospels hold the manifesto of the coming King; the Acts and onwards are the King in His Kingdom working out His will.

and... there is more to come. Hallelujah.

It is because we have reduced the gospel to 'come to Jesus' that we struggle. The gospel was, and always will be 'kiss the Son, lest He be angry' [Ps 2:12] The gospel never was 'make Jesus Lord'; the gospel always has been "Jesus Christ is Lord, what are you going to do about it?"

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Ron Bailey

"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead forever! [b]For I know that my Redeemer lives,[/b] and He shall stand at last on earth; and after my skin is destroyed this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:23-27

Job preached the gospel too! As someone said earlier in this thread, It is all about the reign of Christ in those who are written in the book of life. Also, for clearity, when I spoke of the gospel preached today. Many only focus on the imputed work of the cross as the only means by which we are saved. The good news that Jesus preached is about the relationship that God creates with man to restore man to His image.

Job knew his Redeemer! Supposedly he was a contemporary of Abraham.


In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek

"And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, [b]but to those who did not obey?[/b] So we see that they could not enter in [b]because of unbelief.[/b] Therefore, since a promise [b]remains of entering His rest[/b] let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it." Hebrews 3:18-19, 4:1

The promise was offered to the OT saints as well as the NT saints. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross made all perfect. However, the future sacrifice of Christ did not prevent those of the OT from entering God's rest. The writer of Hebrews is exhorting the NT saints to press on so that they do not fall short of entering into God's rest. Those who live by faith enter in.

"Stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; [b]Then you will find rest for your souls.[/b] But they said, 'We will not walk in it." Jeremiah 6:16. Some did walk in the old path.

In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek

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Mike Balog

Hi Ron,
You said:
"Can we take a little theology at this time of the day"?
I'll have two lumps with mine please. :-D
You said:
"In the gospel accounts we have details of the Kingdom, its operation, its citizens, a revelation of its King. The gospels hold the manifesto of the coming King; the Acts and onwards are the King in His Kingdom working out His will".
For years I missed it, by trying to live in Matthew through Acts, with out seriously applying Romans through Jude. You can't get THERE from HERE. :-(
Sveral years ago, I was in a small unit training exercise at night somewhere in the palmettos of Northern Florida. We had been on the move for several hours, and I knew that we should have already reached our objective. I asked the young Captain who was "leading" the group where he thought we were on the map. He pointed to an area on the map which told me that he didn't have a clue where wqe were. I then asked him how we were going to the objective ( as in which route). His reply will go down in the annals of military history " I don't know how we're giing, but we're making good time". :-D
We can't have Matthew through Acts, until we've apllied Romans through Jude. :-o
Clutch :-P

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Howard McNeill

Clutch wrote: "You can't get there from here."

The old testament saints had the gospel, they didn't need the NT to know God and live by faith. Why did Jesus preach the good news of the kingdom?

Hint, the answer can be found in Matthew 5:1-12.
He taught His disciples what, why, and how it is the good news. O blessed, or O the bliss, of obeying God! NT or OT, the message never changes. You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. I will be your God and you will be My people. Read through this Scripture. the first four blessings relate to our relationship with God. A disciple of Jesus will have this as the substance of their hopes. Verses 7-12 cover how we will learn to love others as Christ has loved us.

Your are correct, we can't get there from here. We must be yoked to our Savior. He is the only way. "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another, how my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27 Job knew our Savior. The volume of this book is written of Me to do Your will O God! Job had Jesus.

In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek

There are three paths that one might travel. The first leads to the pit. Man is lost without God. Being born of the flesh, his affections are for the things of this world. The world will teach him to worship himself. The world will teach him that high self-esteem is the outcome for which he must strive. The pursuit of money, power, sexual prowess, and the glory of physical and mental domination are the paths one must choose to follow.

There is another path which leads man into the pit. Paul warns Timothy of these men who profess God, yet deny Him by the path they travel. "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come; for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power...always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3:1-7 Paul is giving us a picture of a church in the last days. These men learn the Scriptures, always seeking to be fed, yet they deny the power of the Holy Spirit. They have a form of godliness, which the world sees as hypocrisy.

There is one last path defined in Scriptures. "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray." Isaiah 35:8 Jesus is the Highway of Holiness. Our Lord will teach us to follow Him along this path of righteousness. The world will call our path, a fool's path. Yet, we are His disciples and He will not lead us astray. What will we learn? What will be the substance of our experience? What will our relationship with Jesus mean to us? Let us listen to Jesus, He is faithful to answer these questions. Let's hear the good news!

Read Matthew 5:1-12 Believe that it is a blessed life that the world calls foolishness. Listen to His voice. God speaks!

In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek

Jesus came to preach the good news. Within the beatitudes, Jesus defines the substance of the gospel. Paul declares, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for [b]it is the power to salvation[/b] for everyone who believes." You see, I believe that Paul had at one time struggled with the world telling him that his path was foolish. But as we will see, Jesus promises a blessed life to those who follow Him. Paul learned as Moses, "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, [b]esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches[/b] than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward." Hebrews 11:25-26. The promises far outweigh the reproaches of the world. O the bliss of traveling along the Highway of Holiness! Jesus gives us an itinerary of the experiences we will find as we travel the Highway of Holiness.

Verse 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." O the bliss of one who has been taught by Jesus that his life, controlled by self will and self-centeredness, means spiritual death. The Holy Spirit will say, "Give up, surrender to Me, listen to the words of your Savior." "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God...you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father." O the bliss of experiencing a life that is directed by our heavenly Father. We will decrease as He fills our life with His life!

In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek

Verse 4 As we follow Jesus, He will reveal to us our own sin that put Him on the cross. I believe He does this to reveal His love for us. "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for He (chastens us) for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11 The Lord will soften our hearts. We will weep for our sins as He shows us the iniquity within us. He will forgive us and fill us with His righteousness. We will be comforted because of His chastening. For we know that we are sons of God. O the bliss of learning why He sacrificed Himself for me!

In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek

Verse 5 " Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." What do the philosophies of men teach? Darwin preached that competition within species brought about evolution. Those who are able to adapt more readily to their changing environment evolve into something better. Survival of the fittest is the cry of Darwinist. Therefore, the rules by which men live must always change. Denying God and conscience, men strive against one another for the substances the world is hopeful for. The hope in worldly things causes men to war and lust after those things which can never satisfy. In Isaiah, talking about the judgement of the Lord, "His breath is like an overflowing stream, which reaches up to the neck, to [b]sift the nations with the sieve of futility[/b]; and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err." Isaiah 30:28. As a child of God we see this foolishness all around us. We see the futility of man's hopes. We learn as the OT saints, to "embraced them (the promises) and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland...But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16.

Those who walk this earth following Jesus, will learn that striving, bitterness, covetousness, envy, wrath, pride, and the rage of the flesh are worthless in the heavenly city. Those who experience the yoke of Jesus will rest in His power. O the bliss of walking the Highway of Holiness with Jesus as a pilgrim on this earth! This is good news indeed!

In Christ
Jeff

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Jeff Marshalek