Marks of the Kingdom (Luke 4:31-44)
Jesus in Luke 4:43 distinctly spell out the purpose of His coming into the world. Today we want to understand it as the characteristic Marks of the Kingdom of God, and uphold them as two major Marks of the Church, without which the Church is not a Church and thus has lost the cutting edge of our ministerial purpose.
Luke 4:43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
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The preaching of the Gospel (Good News). |
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The Good News is Jesus Christ |
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| 1 Corinthians 1:23
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, |
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The Good News is an instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. |
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| Romans 1:16
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. |
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There is only One Gospel |
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| Galatians 1:6-9
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. |
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2. |
The sending of the Messengers. |
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The sending is from the Kingdom, the sent are with the very same purpose of Christ, to proclaim the Gospel, influenced by the very same Spirit, clothed with the very same authority. |
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| John 20:21-22
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. |
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The sent are on a proper mission |
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| Luke 9:1-2
1Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. |
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