THE KINGDOM OF GOD (2)

As presented in Luke, the kingdom of God is all that system of grace which is embodied in the Lord Jesus.  It is that reign of grace which has been set forth in Jesus so that those who receive it receive the gift of righteousness, abundance of grace, and eternal life, but it is all bound up in a Person – that is how the kingdom of God is presented in Luke.  It must be seen and received first, then we can enter into it.  Entering implies movement on our side.  The Lord said to Nicodemus, If a man is not born anew he cannot see the kingdom of God.  It requires new birth in order to see it, but then if it is seen there must be a move made to enter into it. I may see a beautiful garden, but it is another thing to enter it. The kingdom of God is seen first and then it has to be entered; we enter as we practically follow Jesus. It was only those who were subjects of the work of God who could see what was there in Jesus. It is just the same to-day; millions of people know something of Jesus, but they see nothing in Him that is worth making any surrender for.

… God has taken matters into His own hands: that is the kingdom in a very simple way. He has provided in Jesus everything that would meet the need of man as a fallen and sinful creature; He has done it from His own side. All the rights of God have been maintained by Jesus; He has brought in the compassions of God; His goodness, His mercy and His salvation all subsist in Jesus, and when these are received a man is turned upside down. All his thoughts are changed about himself – the world, riches, and everything else. Man begins to live in the blessedness God has made known in Jesus. There is resource in the Lord and we can never get to the end of it. I have One who not only can save me from my sins and relieve me from fear of judgment, but He is a living resource, so that I can go to Him, commit everything to Him, and count upon Him – that is the kingdom.

Extract from CAC An Outline of Luke’s Gospel pp. 225,226

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