What We Stand For

Fulfillment of the Old Testament promises in the historical mission of Jesus: 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

Fulfillment of the Old Testament promises in the historical mission of Jesus: He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” ~ Luke 4:16-21

A Consummation at the End of Age Inaugurating the Age to Come: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with

A Consummation at the End of Age Inaugurating the Age to Come: them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Rev. 21:1-4

The Present Reality 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ~ Rom. 14:17 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ~ Col 1:13-14

The Present Reality 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”

The Present Reality 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” ~ Luke 7:18-23

An inheritance which God will bestow upon His people when Christ comes in glory ~ 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ~ Matthew 25:34

The Kingdom of God at Work Among Us 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. ~ 2 Cor. 4:16-18

The Kingdom of God at Work Among Us 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ~ 2 Cor. 4:3-4

Parables on the Kingdom of God The 4 soils (Matt. 13:3-9; 18-23) The kingdom is secretly working among people It does not force itself upon them It must be willing received When it is received, it brings forth much fruit

The Tares (Matthew 13:23-30, 36-43) The kingdom has come into history but in such a way that society is not disrupted. Children of the kingdom have received God’s reign and entered into its blessings yet they must continue to live in this age intermingled with the wicked in a mixed society. Only at the end will the separation take place.

The Treasure, the Pearl (Mt. 13:44-46) The kingdom of God is priceless and is to be sought above all other possessions. It costs everything one has, yet a small price in return for gaining the kingdom. The kingdom of God itself was present in the person of Jesus, yet without visible glory (Isaiah 53:2).

The Net (Matt. 13:47-50) Invitation goes out to all kinds of people The community created by the working of the kingdom (the church) will not be a pure community until the last day when the separation occurs.

The Kingdom moves secretly but forcefully - Matthew 11:12-13 (Amp) 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John. The dynamic power of God has invaded the world People are to respond with a radical reaction Jesus sometimes described this reaction with violent acts

"This is the end — for me the beginning of life." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his final letter from prison (April 1945)