the kingdom of god” chapter six. jesus had a strong vision of an ideal future “the dream of...
TRANSCRIPT
The Kingdom of God”
Chapter Six
Jesus had a strong vision of an ideal future
“The Dream of Jesus”
129
He referred to his vision as
“The Kingdom of God”
130
by “The Kingdom of God”
“the reign of God” - or -
we mean
“the rule of God over all the created world”
Psalm 981.Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, his right hand and holy arm have won the victory. 2. The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see, 3. Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. 4. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 5. With trumpets shout with joy to the King, the LORD. … the LORD who comes, who comes to govern the earth.
130- OT sometimes referred to God as father
- God was ”all holy”- awesome: Out of reverence Jews wouldn’t even say or write God’s name.
But an individual wouldn’t refer to God as “father.”
134
- Often saw God as distant, fearsome
B. Jewish understanding of God
“most high above all the earth”
(Side notes for “C”)
A. Jews were famous for their deep sense of
communal love, concern for poor;
B. Seven of the Ten Commandments deal with relationships with others;
137-8
C. Giving ALMS was required, not just
suggested
(At bottom of page)
Two main ideas interfering with Jewish command to love
a)
NationalismSense of being “chosen” led some
to believe that “love your
neighbor” referred only to fellow Jews
138-9
Tribalism!
6. Two main problems conflicting with command to
loveb) Legalism
An overemphasis on rules and regulations,
especially among Pharisees, which
tended to dominate many aspects of life
138-9
130Jesus rejected political kingship
i Rejected violent military
takeover.
ii Rejected a physical
geographical state with boundaries
131
iii Not a new
philosophyiv Not a plan
for social
reform
130
Then what DID Jesus mean by his “kingdom?”
131
130Jesus’ vision of
the kingdom is closely tied
to his understand
-ing of GOD
His idea of God differed dramatically
from the common Jewish
understanding .
131
130Jesus
shattered Jewish
belief and practice:
1.. He called God
“Abba !”
i. “Abba” is an Aramaic
word used by kids, an
intimate feeling: “Da-
da,” “Daddy”
134
ii Callin
g God
“abba” was
shocking!
E. Jesus’ understanding of God
1302. Jesus’ personal
experience of an intimate
relationship with God
136
led him to want to share that experience, teach about
God’s relationship with all people.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”
(John 3:16-17)
.He saw God as a passionately caring
parent whose love is
•tireless,
•healing,healing,
•limitless and
•unreserved.
136
God offers his love not only to the just
and the rich,
but to outcasts, sinners, the poor.
136
The Kingdom that Jesus announced was a new understanding of our relationship
with God.
137
Want to know what God is like? LOOK AT JESUS!
Jesus breaks down God for us,
Jesus’ deeds
parables
miracles
attitudes
lets us SEE what God is like:
Loving
Accepting
Kind
Powerful
Forgiving
GOD is
F. Jesus’ understandi
ng of the Command to
Love
137
1. The ability to participate
fully in the reign of God requires a
137
“a change
of heart”2. Then the kingdom takes
root in the heart of the believer.
3. Kingdom is not just “me and
God.”
137
a new relationsh
ip between God and
the individual
, and also among individuals
Love
without
Limits
F.a)
The Good Samaritan
Who is my neighbor?
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemieslove your enemies, and pray for those who persecute youpray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and he makes his sun rise on the bad and the goodthe good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust…. So you must set no set no boundaries on your loveboundaries on your love, just as your heavenly Father sets no boundaries on his love." (Matthew 5:43-45, 48)
Jesus called people to love beyond the boundaries of
their own Judaism,
1. to love all people -- even their
enemies!
Mt 5:44-48
Tribalism!
“love your enemies”
a. Not found in OT or in teachings of
other rabbis.
2. Jesus’ call to
was unique to him
139B. Jesus did not believe that the Law in itself was bad,
but saw that the many spin-offs and additions to it had crippled people’s ability to respond with compassion &
love.
D) The reign of God is revealed when God reigns over the hearts
of people,
E) Jesus’ dream will be fully realized only when people are
in tune with God’s will.
Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' (Matt. 25:34-43)
“The Kingdom of God”
1. a nation-state
2. ruled by a military messiah-
king3. free from
pagan influence
1. NOT a place: no political borders2. new way of relating
to God, & neighbor =love without limits 3. messiah as a purely spiritual figure
“What God is Like”
1. awesome, fearsome: can’t
say/write His name
3. faithful, loving, patient
2. “all-holy:” distant, mysterious
“What God is Like”
1. awesome, fearsome: can’t
say/write His name
3. faithful, loving, patient
2. “all-holy:” distant, mysterious
1. a passionately loving parent
2. our “abba” -(intimate closeness) 3. who loves
everyonewith boundless & unconditional love
“Love Thy Neighbor”1. concern for one
another
3. only fellow Jews
2. esp. poor, widows;almsgiving
required
1. love everyone- no exceptions
2. our love imitates God’s love
for us:unconditional
3. love even your enemies
not gentiles, not outcast, sinner
“The reign of Sin”
141-143
601b
139Jesus did not use the word “love” very much,
He spoke instead of the results or expressions of love.
1. The ability to participate
fully in the reign of God requires a
137
“a change
of heart”2. Then the kingdom takes
root in the heart of the believer.
The reign of God is revealed when God reigns over the hearts of
people,
Jesus’ dream will be fully realized only when people are in tune
with God’s will.
1. Sin defined:
“The refusal to acknowledge God as
God,
142
and our dependence upon him”
Two kinds of sin:a.
Personalb. Communal
142
a) Personal sin
that has a negative effect on the sinner as an individual
142
and on his/her relationships with others”
“A personal,
freely chosen
action
b) Communal sinThe effects of the sinful
actions of individuals which accumulate over time
142
E.g. povert
yenvironmental pollutioninstitutionalized
racism
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, ....' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? …. And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
Evil that is not caused by sin?
“natural” evil:
143
tsunami
“natural” evils:
143
earthquake
sbirth defects
hurricanes
1432. A. Jesus’ unique role in the kingdom:
he was to save humanity from sin
B Jesus showed his claim to divine
authority:i.Called God “my
Father” ii.Claimed to be above the lawiii.Forgave Sinsiv. Rid temple of injustice
Right
Now
Not Yetbut
3.The Kingdom of God:
Right
NowNot Yet
The Kingdom of God:
“The kingdom of God is
among you.”
“Pray that the kingdom will
come”
1. Through the birth, death and 1. Through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesusresurrection of Jesus
2. Death and sin have been 2. Death and sin have been conqueredconquered..
WWe are e are alreadyalready saved saved
A. ALREADY:
2. We must say “yes” to God’s invitation.
1. The kingdom will only be fully realized when we respond to it by
our way of living.
B. NOT YET
Alread
y
Not Yet
in the tension between
C. We live in the “in-between” time,
and
145
1. Jesus’ dream of the Kingdom of God is made a
reality whenever people are
compassionate
concerned
willing to extend
themselves in
service to others
D. Explain how each of the following involves the Kingdom
1. Jesus’ identity /role is to
2. Miracles of Jesus are
3. Parables of Jesus give
4. SinSin:“me centered” vs Kingdom: “God-
centered”
- the “not yet” part
proclaim, define, establish Kingdom
signs that the Kingdom is starting
details of Kingdom: how to get in, etc.
J
oy
esus
thers
ourself
End
“God is ultimately victorious; love is stronger than hate;
good always wins over evil; and life, not death, has the last
say.”