13.
It is not the purpose of this study to make an issue of the Kingdom of God, but rather to show its importance and its message. The Lord has made available the kingdom now. We can enter into it and have it within our spirit nature, now, here in this life. The message of the Lord Jesus was exactly that, the kingdom of God. He went through all the villages and cities preaching the kingdom. Also, He demonstrated the help and benefit of the kingdom by healing every sickness and disease which was among them. Mt. 9:38 The Word which He preached and demonstrated was one of joy and glad tidings. Luke 8:1.
He declared and liberally demonstrated to them that the time for the kingdom had arrived. They had anticipated a natural kingdom a kingdom of this world but He brought a far better. A spiritual, an eternal kingdom. His preaching related to the fulfillment of prophecy, the time is fulfilled. It was a call to repentance and faith. A call to a new life which was to be found in Him and His message. Mark 1:14-15.
The Lord Jesus presented His message without fear or favor to a gathering of chief priests and Pharisees. He bluntly told them that the kingdom was taken from them and given to others. Mt. 21:43 It is not religious activity which will produce the glories of the kingdom but rather a willingness to do the will of the Lord. A people who bear the fruit of the kingdom, the righteousness of the Lord, are to make up the kingdom. Entrance is gained by doing the will of the Lord. Which, to some would create peculiar circumstances. Such as the despised publican and harlot going into the kingdom before the extremely religious. Religion is not required for it will not achieve that which is sought after. Repentance and a confession of Christ as savior will afford one new life now, and in the eternal kingdom to come. Mt. 21:31.
Jesus said; that His kingdom was not of this world. He did not come to establish His kingdom on earth at that time. The expectation of the religious was that the Messiah would be nothing more than an earthly king, like king David. They looked for the natural, not the spiritual which He presented to them. John 18:36 Flesh and blood, human kind, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. It is not a natural, earthly kingdom. The ungodly cannot partake in that kingdom. 1 Cor. 15:50 Paul used that statement to introduce those who will occupy the millennial age. The redeemed. The resurrected or transformed. 1 Cor. 15:51-54.