Glad tidings of the kingdom of God

The gospel, then, was preached to Abraham by the angel of the Lord, and it was preached by Jesus to His own nation, and to them only, for He "was not sent, save to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24). Paul also declares that it was preached to that generation of Israelites whose carcases fell in the wilderness, but it did not profit them because they did not believe it (Heb. 4:2). Therefore God sware in His wrath that they should not enter into the rest it proclaimed (Heb. 3:18,19). Before He suffered on the accursed tree, Jesus sent His apostles, and seventy others, throughout the land, to "preach the kingdom of God." In recording their obedience to His command, Luke says, " they went through the towns preaching the gospel" (Luke 9:2, 6); so that it is clear that to preach the kingdom is to preach the gospel, and to preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God.

This is a most important demonstration, for it enables us to determine when we hear the gospel. The gospel is not preached when the things of the kingdom are omitted. And this is one grand defect in modern preaching; either there is nothing said about the kingdom, or a kingdom is preached which is a mere matter of speculation, a kingdom of heaven in principle, in the hearts of men, or somewhere beyond the skies! But, the gospel does not treat of such a kingdom as this, a mere fiction indoctrinated into men's minds by "the cunning craftiness of those who lie in wait to deceive." So inseparable is the idea of gospel from that of kingdom, that we find them not only substituted for each other, but associated together as terms of explanation. Thus, "Jesus went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1; Mark 1:14); and in the prophecy of Mount Olivet it is written, "THIS gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the habitable (en hole oikoumene, Roman empire) for a testimony to all the nations: and then shall come the end" (Matt. 24:14). After He rose from the dead He commanded the apostles, saying go preach the gospel to every creature: he that believes and is immersed shall be saved: and he that believes not shall be condemned," and "lo, I am with you unto the end of the world." In view of these texts can anyone be so mystified as not to see that salvation is predicated on believing the gospel of the kingdom, and being baptized into Jesus Christ?

They were to preach "this gospel of the kingdom" in the name of Jesus; how did they execute the work? "They went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming THE WORD with signs following" (Mark 16:20). They began at Jerusalem, passed throughout Judea, then went to Samaria, and, lastly, to the end of the land (eschatou tes ges). They began on the day of Pentecost and preached only to the Jews for several years, at the end of which Peter and Paul began to proclaim the kingdom to Gentiles also. The labors of the apostles were indefatigable. They filled the Roman empire with their doctrine, and made such an impression upon it that tumults were excited, and they were charged with treason against the state, because they proclaimed another king than Caesar (Acts 17:7, 31) who should rule the world in righteousness as the sovereign Lord of all the earth. "They spake the word of God with boldness." "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul," and great kindness was among them all. In about thirty years the gospel of the kingdom was proclaimed in all the world, to every creature under the heaven (Col.1:6, 23). They finished their work, and fell asleep, the Lord having abundantly fulfilled His promise of co-operating with them to the end of the world.