Risto Göös
“The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21)
The most central aspect of Jesus’ teaching was instruction about the Kingdom of God. At the beginning of his public ministry he proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
The Pharisees came and asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was to come. Jesus replied that the kingdom of God would not come in a visible way. Jesus told them that the kingdom of God was in their midst. (Luke 17:20-21)
Jesus spoke to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)
The kingdom of God therefore, cannot be found on a map, neither can border markings be found on the ground. The kingdom of God travels with the believers. Borders also exist, they travel within hearts. The children of God believe in the existence of one holy Christian congregation. In its smallest form, the kingdom ofGod is there where two or three children of God meet one another.
The kingdom of God is just as real as the kingdoms of this world. The kingdoms or nations rise and fall, but God’s Kingdom stays forever. In his sermon on the mount, we find Jesus’ important encouragement: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33) This exhortation was directed first and foremost to Jesus’ disciples, but this instruction is essential for all people. The most important matter is to seek and find God’s kingdom and his righteousness.
A person can be a citizen of two nations, their home country and the kingdom of God. A person can only be either a believer or an unbeliever. Every person born into this world receives citizenship to the kingdom of God. Many have, however, lost this privilege because of sin. A person who has given up their childhood faith and citizenship of heaven can regain it through a re-awakening, which is through repentance.
THE OFFICE OF PREACHING
For the sake of receiving and keeping of faith, God has set up the office of preaching in his kingdom, which is the post of the Holy Spirit. Every person who has believed the forgiveness of sins for himself, has also been given the office of preaching. A child of God has the permission and power to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins. According to the book of Romans, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the forgiveness of sins: Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted onto them; whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:22-23). The Holy Spirit “brings about faith in them, who hear the word.” Faith clings to the forgiveness of sins that God has prepared and salvation through Christ. Through faith, one can see the preciousness of Christ’s grace work, which is the reason and base for the redemption of a child of God.
A CHILD IS THE BEST EXAMBLE OF A BELIEVER
The ranking order in the kingdom of God differs from the ranking system found in temporal nations. “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” asked the disciples. Jesus called a little child unto him and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:2-4)
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of children and those with childlike minds. There the greatest is the smallest and the smallest is greatest, “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matt. 20:27)
LOVE AS A SIGN OF RECOGNITION
Love is the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit and the most important sign of recognition for the children of God. Like cement ties bricks to each other, love also ties God’s children one to one another.
In the kingdom of God we live of grace and the forgiveness of sins. “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent: thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:3-4) If a child of God no longer has a forgiving mind, he finds himself on the outside of God’s kingdom.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God… Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (John1 4:7-11)
The love of the kingdom of God is a caring love, God’d children take care of one another, so that not one would stray away from this grace kingdom. “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Rom. 15:7)
IN THE WORLD
Our temporal fatherland is important for Christians and there we care for our earthly calling. The church organizations in our own countries are a different matter than God’s kingdom. The base of faith that is acceptable before God is His grace work in Christ and taking part in the forgiveness of sins of God’s kingdom, and not membership in any church.
We are a light and salt unto this world and hope that in us can be seen something of this love with which He has loved us.
THE GOAL OF FAITH
The road to the kingdom of glory in heaven travels through the kingdom of grace. A child of God believes for the sake of heaven. The flock of God’s children is a journey of saints of which one end has already reached the destination, at the rest of the righteous. God’s kingdom is said to be a struggling and rejoicing kingdom. The children of God remember those that have made it to eternal rest and want to endeavor in their behind them “in the tracks of sheep” The greatest matter of joy for the children of God is that even our “names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20) Before us is a better time. Everything temporal will once be destroyed and as from behind a curtain, will appear unto the eyes of the children of God, all of the beauty, the Son of God has prepared for his own.
Risto Göös
Trans. Joonas Wuollet
Service reporter Risto Göös (presentation for the International Evening)