2. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God In this series we shall study – Plans, Prophecies, and Expectations – The Kingdom Is At Hand! – The Kingdom’s Nature – The Kingdom Comes – The Kingdom’s Citizens – The Kingdom’s Laws – The Kingdom’s Rewards – The Kingdom’s Defenders – The Kingdom’s Future – The Kingdom’s Alternative

3. Outline – Review of prophecies of its coming – The role of Jesus Christ in its coming – The role of the Holy Spirit in its coming – The role of the apostles in its coming – The fulfillment of prophecies and roles – The kingdom is the church The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

4. Prophesies of when it would come – In the last days (Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-8) The last days of the Mosaic period The beginning of the last days of time – During the days of the 4 th kingdom (Dan. 2:40-44) – When the king was born (Mic. 5:2; Mt. 2:2; Lk. 1:31-33) – John the Baptist & Jesus preached that it was at hand – Some alive that day would see it come Matt. 16:28 – will see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom Mark 9:1 – will see it after it has come with power Luke 9:27 – will see the kingdom of God – Clearly the time was right when Jesus ascended! The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

5. The role of Jesus Christ in its coming – He would ascend to heaven to receive it (Dan. 7:13-14) – He would sit at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1-2) – Jesus did ascend to heaven, to the throne of God Mark 16:19 “He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” Heb. 1:3 “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” See also: Hebrews 1:8; 8:1; 12:2; and 1 Peter 3:21-22 – He has all authority as king of kings and lord of lords Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:18-23; Rev. 17:14; 19:16 The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

6. The role of the Holy Spirit in its coming – Prophecies of the Holy Spirit’s participation Isaiah 44:3 “I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring” Ezekiel 39:29 “I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel” Joel 2:28-29 “I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind” Zechariah 12:10 “I will pour out…the Spirit of grace and of supplication so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced” – Jesus promised to send Holy Spirit to His apostles To testify of Jesus (John 15:26) To convict the world (John 16:7-11) To guide the apostles (John 16:13) To give power to apostles (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8) The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

7. The role of the apostles in its coming – To preach the kingdom (Mt. 10:7) – To use the keys of the kingdom, binding and loosing the doctrines made in heaven (Mt. 16:19) – To make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them (Mt. 28:18-20) – To proclaim repentance for forgiveness (Lk. 24:45-48) – To testify of Christ (Jn. 15:27) The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

8. The fulfillment of prophecies and roles (Acts 2) – Holy Spirit’s role: fulfilled as prophesied (17-18) – Jesus’ role: fulfilled as prophesied (22-36) – Apostle’s role: fulfilled as commanded (37-44) – And with all things fulfilled, the kingdom was born! – We have received the kingdom (Heb. 12:28) – We are the kingdom (Rev. 1:6; 5:10) – John was in the kingdom (Rev. 1:9) – Anyone still looking for the kingdom today should look to the Lord’s church! The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

9. The kingdom is the church (all saved individuals) – God planned & promised to build a kingdom – The church is the kingdom: Compare Acts 20:28 to Revelation 5:9-10 “church of God which He purchased with His blood” “purchased for God with Your blood…made them to be a kingdom” Those purchased with Christ’s blood are the same group – Matt. 16:18-19 equates the church to the kingdom – Eph. 3:8-11 shows the church was always God’s plan! The Gospel of the Kingdom Plans, Prophecies, and Expectations

10. Summary of the coming of God’s kingdom – It came at the prophesied time – Jesus ascended to heaven to claim it – The Holy Spirit was given to guide it – The apostles preached it – All was fulfilled and people entered it – The church is Christ’s kingdom Conclusion: the kingdom was established on the day of Pentecost and exists today! Next week: The Kingdom’s Citizens The Gospel of the Kingdom The Kingdom Comes

11. The gates of the kingdom are open now and all are invited to enter God has done His part to make the kingdom accessible to you today Will you do your part to enter it? Obey the Gospel: believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and God will add you to it! (Acts 2:38,47) If you previously entered but have since departed, will you repent and return? The Gospel of the Kingdom

12. Hear, believe, and obey the Gospel today!