Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)
Jesus came “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God”. He was not preaching Moses and the law. He came proclaiming liberty from sin’s bondage – something the law of Moses could never do (Luke 4:17-21; Heb. 10:1-2). Jesus said the time of kingdom fulfillment had come – the kingdom of God was near. Through Jesus, God was about to fulfill His promise to “set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Dan. 2:44). And, He did. The King, who is not of this world, built a kingdom that is not of this world – His church (Jno. 18:36; Matt. 16:18-19). Jesus preached repentance and belief; only a kingdom of repentant believers would do. And so now, the Lord Himself adds sinners to His kingdom when they believe, repent and are baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:36-41, 47; Col. 1:13). His kingdom is composed of Christians. Are you in His kingdom, the church? If not, you can be. Jesus is calling you by His gospel into His kingdom.
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