One Kingdom, One Gospel

There once was a man who was king over a large kingdom.

It was the only righteous kingdom in all the land.

All were welcome to become citizens of his kingdom under two conditions. First, a person had to surrender their previous citizenship, for no other kingdom abided by the laws of his. Second, every new citizen had to agree that he was indeed king.

Now, being a gracious king, he only asked that a person be agreeable to the above terms. He understood fully that new subjects would have to spend time learning the laws of the land. As such, one of his laws was that existing citizens of his kingdom show the same kind of patience he did, helping new citizens acclimate to their new life.

Like a good king, he protected his subjects from those outside the kingdom walls. He loved so deeply that he often referred to his subjects as his own children. Fatherly, he certainly was, and all under his care loved him right back.

Now, outside of the kingdom walls were protestors. Some of their signs read, “Your king isn’t fair!” and “Your king doesn’t love you!” The king knew that those outside of his kingdom were jealous and weak. Because of his deep understanding, patience, and lovingkindness, the king never turned away a person willing to accept his terms of citizenship, no matter how awfully they may have slandered him or his kingdom in the past. The gates were always open, just guarded.

One day he decided to send his beloved son outside the gate to share the good news about His father’s kingdom, something that had never been done before. Before his son departed, he comforted his father saying, “Father, if I don’t come back, please welcome those who make it to our gates pleading for citizenship in earnest, knowing that I showed them the way. If they kill me out there, Father, please know that I believed my sacrifice was worth it. I love you, Dad.”

His son never came back.

Obviously, this is an analog to the Kingdom of God. Only in this case the Son is resurrected and seated at the right hand of His Father in Heaven.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about entrance into the Kingdom of God (also called the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew).

There’s only ever been one kingdom. There’s only ever been one King, one Lord over all, and His name is Jesus Christ. And there’s only ever been one way to gain citizenship into His kingdom. The King said it Himself.

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
Jesus is the perfect representation of His Father (Hebrews 1:3). As such, He has been given every right to call out to His own, at the behest of His Father. He has the authority to grant citizenship to those willing to accept His terms, that is to say, to accept Him. This is what is known as the “Gospel call”.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
A person who refuses Jesus Christ dies in their sins.

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
The Gospel is non-negotiable. What Jesus stated about Himself, His purpose, and His calling is non-negotiable. A person must be willing to accept His terms in order to become a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).

The good news is that once a member of His kingdom, the Kingdom of God, a citizen is able to enjoy all that He has promised. Sheep in His kingdom are eternally nourished.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
There’s only one Gospel, my friends. Never, EVER listen to anyone telling you any differently. Jesus taught it clearly, and laid out His terms. The apostles understood it unequivocally. While audiences have always differed, the Gospel has never changed.

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith...”

“But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Peter, a Jewish apostle taught firsthand by Jesus, knew precisely why I sit and write this blog two thousand years later. He preached the truth to his audience that day, on behalf of the King of the Kingdom of God, the only one that has ever existed. He made it very clear that the very same Gospel he preached to Jews was the same one he preached to Gentiles, without distinction. Likewise, God saves Jews and Gentiles the same way. Those willing to repent and believe in the Son of God are given saving faith, all by the grace of God.

Let us always preach one Kingdom, one Gospel!

It’s God’s kingdom, my friends. He alone grants citizenship. The terms are non-negotiable.

Selah.

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins