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Viv Grigg, 1984, rev June 2006
- The Kingdom of God is seen from Genesis to Revelation. It is the major theme in Jesus teaching.
- The Kingdom always existed, always will (Gen. 1-4). It is
eternal.
- It reflects the Nature of God
- In his rule over creation (delegated to us in the mandate to
manage).
- In his community. "Am I My Brother's Keeper?"
- In the Old Testament the King intervenes, but he does not dwell
with the people
- e.g. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the
Prophets
- In each intervention, the same principles of economics, social
principles, politics are seen. Each case applies the
principles to a different situation.
- In the New Testament the King invades in the person of a child
in a manger, Immanuel. He comes to dwell. He left the Holy Spirit
to dwell in us.
- But the Kingdom is not just present but also future. The
fullness of the Kingdom is yet to come. Now we see the signs
of the Kingdom. Then we will see him face to face. Now we see
the signs of healing, miracles, but they are only signs. There
we will see him face to face. We will be complete. We will be
with him.
The ultimate reign of God is connected with the coming of the city of
God in the final chapters of
Revelations.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the
Holy
City, the new Jerusalem coming down
out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her
husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now
the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will
be with them and be their God” (Rev 21:1-3).
Diagram 1 indicates eternal consistencies of
the Kingdom (and covenants), and its social, spiritual and economic principles. These are contrasted with the phase
differences in the relationship of the
Kingdom of
God to
humanity in the Old Testament, the New Testament and after
the parousia. In the Old Testament he
intervenes but does not dwell. The New Covenant is of an indwelling God.
After the judgement he will rule the earth.
2. In the Old Testament, the themes of the Kingdom are seen in the
covenants.
There are 7 covenants in the scriptures. All (except
one) are given in relationship to three things
2. While the theme of the Kingdom remains the same there is a discontinuity in Jesus
birth and death
- His incarnation changes all - he has come to dwell
- His conditions of
discipleship affect the command to manage the earth, and be our
brothers/sisters keeper
- some are called to forsake all
- we have to put him ahead of family and social relationships
- we have to deny self
3. Jesus is the Answer Some of the questions he answers are
social, economic or political
4. The Kingdom and Social Relationships
- Three views throughout history
- Kingdom In, Over or Against Society
5. A Holistic Kingdom
Proclaiming is the focus of Kingdom activity
- Luke 4:18 - Content of the Great Commission - preach good news
to the poor
- Matt 28:18-20 - Extent of Great Commission - to the ends of
the earth
Holistic ministry is the context of proclamation
6. Discipleship is the Obedient Response to the King
Discipleship involves spiritual dimensions, economic
discipleship and social discipleship
Diagram 2 indicates three sets of
relationships between King, people and the created order within the Genesis account. The obedient human response to the King is
known as discipleship. The first two relationships,
God-human, God-human-land are those of authority. The human-human relationships are primarily
of equality.
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