WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO PREACH IN THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM OR SALVATION? By Josimar Salum

WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO PREACH IN THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM OR SALVATION? By Josimar Salum 

We are not “called” to preach salvation anywhere, we are commanded by Jesus to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. 

“And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

People receive Jesus as Lord and King not to be saved, to receive eternal life, but to become son of God, born into His Kingdom to live for Him, to die for him. Wait ! They are not saved to be blessed, not to be healed, not to be delivered. They are saved, healed, delivered, blessed as a consequence of being brought into the Kingdom, but it is not the goal. 

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans‬ ‭8:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You were predestined, called, justified also glorified to become like Jesus is. To become a son of God, because He is a son. To be called, justified, glorified, become righteous, holy, priest, king as Jesus is. 

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“And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Heaven is not their final destiny and salvation is just the door, just the first step. Salvation is the beginning, but to be a disciple is for life. 

“Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.””Luke‬ ‭9:23-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are not commanded to preach to the people to accept Jesus as Savior so they can go to heaven. This is not the message of Jesus. This is a religious message that is not taught in the Bible. Salvation is just a small part of the message, a small part of the Gospel.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, *who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!””Isaiah‬ ‭52:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, *for the kingdom of heaven * has come near.”” Matthew‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”” Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew‬ ‭10:5, 7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The message of the Kingdom is not primarily to save people, mas to make them disciples of Jesus. You are saved to become Jesus disciple. You are disciple of Jesus, therefore, you are saved. 

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts‬ ‭2:38-44, 47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

They were saved to become disciples. 

Since the beginning John the Baptist preached the Kingdom. 

Jesus came preaching the Kingdom. 

The disciples went on, preaching the Kingdom. 

The apostles of Jesus preached the Kingdom. 

It is about the Kingdom not about salvation. The salvation message is a reduction of God’s message. If you preach only salvation you are not preaching the Gospel.

 

““Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” Acts‬ ‭28:28, 30-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Romans‬ ‭14:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Kingdom of God brings salvation because it is righteousness. Only righteous people live in the Kingdom.

 “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When Paul is talking that “if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬) he is not taking about heaven. He is talking about the Kingdom. 

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:22-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew‬ ‭25:31-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I encourage you to look into all verses of the New Testament that the Kingdom word occurs and meditate upon them all, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the mysteries of the Kingdom, because these mysteries are not for all men and women. 

“Jesus said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ Luke‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#ASONE