Acts 20:25
And indeed,
now I know that you all,
among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God,
will see my face no more.
These are words spoken by the apostle Paul
in the context of his farewell talk
to the
Ephesian elders.
Paul believed he would not live to see the Ephesians again
in his physical life,
so he gave a farewell address on
the things he had accomplished
in the area and instructions
for them to remember
after his departure.
Within the midst of his address, he made this
statement as a summary of
his teaching in Ephesus.
This is significant because it
shows us that Paul’s message perfectly
synchronized
with the
teachings of Jesus Christ. Throughout His ministry,
Jesus Chris taught
and emphasized the Kingdom of God
as the core of His message
(Matthew 4:17, 23; Mark 1:15; John 18:36).
Acts 20:25
shows clearly that Paul did
not
change or reform
the gospel message
Paul preached the same gospel to the gentile world
that
Jesus Christ preached
to people of Judea during
His ministry:
the message of the Kingdom of God.
Additionally, when
explaining the gospel he preached,
Paul told the Corinthians,
"
Therefore, whether it was I or they
[the other apostles],
so we preach and so you
believed”
(1 Corinthians 15:11).
Paul’s message was the same message
that was
taught by the other apostles.
That message is the same message
Life, Hope & Truth
takes to the world today.
To learn more about that core message,
read our free booklet
The Mystery of the Kingdom
and our article
“What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom?”
“Preaching the kingdom of God,
and
teaching those things
which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with
all confidence,
no man forbidding him.”
– Acts 28:31
the mystery of Christ revealed first to the
apostle Paul.
Paul used prophecy hoping to prove
that Paul did not first
preach the mystery of Christ.
nope.
If you get a new job,
does that mean you have forgotten
everything you learned at your old job?
In your new job,
do you fail to read, write, and do math,
because
you learned those skills in primary school,
and not at your new job?
If your new job is in the same company,
and under the same supervision as your old job,
does that mean your new job is
not new at all?
A new dispensation
was given to Paul,
but it does not mean
everything Paul
spoke or taught was
new.
He uses the word “kingdom” throughout
his epistles
both during Acts and in his post-Acts epistles
(to the dismay of the Acts 28ers).
He mentions the word “kingdom” in
his epistles
more often than
Peter, James, and John do in their epistles combined
(13 vs 11, excluding Acts).
So, what?
Does this mean Paul
taught the same message
as
Peter, James, and John?
No, of course not.
Why did Paul talk about the kingdom?
There are many reasons. Here are the
most significant.
1. Everyone in the church, the body of Christ,
is translated into the kingdom
No, this does not mean the church is spiritual Israel,
nor does it mean the
body of Christ will reign in Israel’s kingdom.
It does mean that
we in the church are under the
authority of God.
Paul
mentioned the kingdom of God,
because he was a servant of God
and under his authority.
Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness,
and
hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
– Col 1:13
If you have been redeemed
by the blood of Christ,
and
partake of the grace of God
in this dispensation,
you are no longer
under
the
power of darkness,
but have been moved
into a position in heavenly places
(Eph 2:6-7).
We are still present in this dark evil world,
but our
position is no longer here.
We are under the
headship
of Christ in a heavenly dominion.
2. The kingdom of God includes both heaven and earth
The mystery of God’s will revealed
to Paul how
all things would be gathered together
in one in Christ
(Eph 1:10). This was a mystery before Paul,
but describes how God
will reign
in the fullness of times.
God had revealed his purpose
for the earth,
but had never spoken about
the things or positions in heavenly places
belonging to the church.
Part of the mystery
of Christ is
talking about the invisible
dominion in heaven
(Col 1:16).
3. The kingdom of God includes both Israel and the Church
I do not mean the kingdom of God on earth,
which belongs to Israel and the earthly nations.
I am talking about the kingdom of God universal.
God’s dominion is not limited to the jurisdiction of the earth,
but includes the rest of the universe, what the Bible
calls the heaven.
The mystery of Christ
introduces the creation of a new creature
whose conversation is in heaven
(Phil 3:20).
This is a part
of the kingdom of God
that was not made known
-before- Paul
Prophecy spoke of the kingdom of God
as it will be on the earth,
Christ
ruling through Israel;
the
revelation of the mystery
speaks of
the kingdom of God
as it will be in heavenly places,
Christ ruling over the church.
4. The kingdom of God is not yet on the earth
When Paul mentions the kingdom, it is
always in the future tense.
This means the idea of
a present kingdom of God come on earth is false.
The kingdom of God
is waiting for God to establish it
in heaven and earth.
The gospel of the kingdom
is the proclamation that the
kingdom of God is at hand,
or is here.
Paul did not teach this gospel,
knowing that
the
revelation of the mystery delays
the
coming of this kingdom to the future.
He taught the
reign of Grace
and the
gospel of the grace of God.
The gospel of the kingdom, and preaching
the
postponement of the kingdom
is different.
Paul explained this delay
causing interruption
in the
gospel of the kingdom.
Peter acknowledges Paul’s explanation
of the
postponement of the kingdom,
and that
Christ is no longer sending the
twelve to preach the gospel of the kingdom
(2 Pet 3:15).
5. Righteousness will reign in the kingdom of God
Righteousness has not swallowed the earth,
yet.
However, the righteous behavior that characterizes
that kingdom is already known,
and has been known for a long time in scripture.
Paul preaches the
doctrine of righteous behavior
under God’s dominion
to
the saints in the church.
We are servants of God,
members of his body,
and
should serve him in righteousness,
as we will for
eternity in his kingdom.
Didn’t the Corinthians know that sinners do
not inherit the kingdom?
Since they are saints,
shouldn’t they act like it?
(1 Cor 6:9-10).
“For the kingdom of God
is not meat and drink;
but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in
the Holy Ghost.”
– Romans 14:17
5. The same King of the kingdom is the head of the Church
Jesus was sent to Israel preaching he was the
promised Messiah and the coming kingdom.
Paul was
sent to preach Jesus Christ
according to
the revelation of the mystery. This means that he had
to prove
to unbelieving Jews that Jesus was the
Christ and King of prophecy,
and that this same Christ
is now the head of a new creature called the body of Christ.
The king of the kingdom will be Christ.
Prophecy proves this,
and
Christ’s resurrection is the sign of this.
There is no understanding Christ as the
head of the church over all,
without identifying Christ
as the promised Holy One, and king of Israel
(Rom 1:2-4).
Paul mentions preaching the kingdom in some cases,
because he is preaching the same
Jesus Christ who will be the future king.
One Lord over both heaven and earth.
6. The coming kingdom of God means coming judgment
When the kingdom of God
comes and God institutes his reign
in heaven and earth, it will
be preceded by a time of judgment,
and
concluded with a time of judgment.
“I charge thee therefore before God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at
his appearing and his kingdom;”
– 2 Timothy 4:1
Many times when Paul preaches the kingdom
it is to
unbelievers warning them of the
wrath to come with that kingdom
(Acts 19:8; Acts 24:25; Acts 28:23).
7. The scriptures foretold a kingdom come
Paul says all scripture is profitable,
and the scriptures foretold a time of God
reigning over all.
How could God reign over an earth filled with sinners?
The answer lies
in the
revelation of the mystery
revealed
first to Paul about salvation.
The scriptures spoke of the kingdom of God
come to earth.
They did not speak about the people of the earth
going up to reign in a heavenly kingdom.
Both heaven and earth are part of God’s future dominion.
Conclusion
None of these reasons negate the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ
revealed to the apostle Paul
a mystery concerning himself that was not known before.
Paul taught the kingdom of God,
but he did not teach the kingdom now.
Paul taught the kingdom of God, but he did not teach that the church usurps
Israel’s covenants and promises.
Paul
taught the kingdom of God, but he did not
preach the gospel of the kingdom.
He preached
the gospel of the grace of God.
They are different.
Paul taught the kingdom of God,
but he did not preach
the same message as Peter
and the twelve.
The difference is not found
in what is the same.
Paul taught the kingdom of God,
but he did not offer
David’s earthly kingdom to Israel,
nor to Gentiles.
The kingdom of God can refer to
dominions in heavenly places
(Col 1:16).
Paul taught the kingdom of God in the context of
the revelation of the mystery of Jesus Christ
(Rom 16:25).
We know this because Paul did not only
write about the kingdom of God, but also
about a mystery of Christ
(Eph 3:2-6).
And indeed,
now I know that you all,
among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God,
will see my face no more.
These are words spoken by the apostle Paul
in the context of his farewell talk
to the
Ephesian elders.
Paul believed he would not live to see the Ephesians again
in his physical life,
so he gave a farewell address on
the things he had accomplished
in the area and instructions
for them to remember
after his departure.
Within the midst of his address, he made this
statement as a summary of
his teaching in Ephesus.
This is significant because it
shows us that Paul’s message perfectly
synchronized
with the
teachings of Jesus Christ. Throughout His ministry,
Jesus Chris taught
and emphasized the Kingdom of God
as the core of His message
(Matthew 4:17, 23; Mark 1:15; John 18:36).
Acts 20:25
shows clearly that Paul did
not
change or reform
the gospel message
Paul preached the same gospel to the gentile world
that
Jesus Christ preached
to people of Judea during
His ministry:
the message of the Kingdom of God.
Additionally, when
explaining the gospel he preached,
Paul told the Corinthians,
"
Therefore, whether it was I or they
[the other apostles],
so we preach and so you
believed”
(1 Corinthians 15:11).
Paul’s message was the same message
that was
taught by the other apostles.
That message is the same message
Life, Hope & Truth
takes to the world today.
To learn more about that core message,
read our free booklet
The Mystery of the Kingdom
and our article
“What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom?”
“Preaching the kingdom of God,
and
teaching those things
which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with
all confidence,
no man forbidding him.”
– Acts 28:31
the mystery of Christ revealed first to the
apostle Paul.
Paul used prophecy hoping to prove
that Paul did not first
preach the mystery of Christ.
nope.
If you get a new job,
does that mean you have forgotten
everything you learned at your old job?
In your new job,
do you fail to read, write, and do math,
because
you learned those skills in primary school,
and not at your new job?
If your new job is in the same company,
and under the same supervision as your old job,
does that mean your new job is
not new at all?
A new dispensation
was given to Paul,
but it does not mean
everything Paul
spoke or taught was
new.
He uses the word “kingdom” throughout
his epistles
both during Acts and in his post-Acts epistles
(to the dismay of the Acts 28ers).
He mentions the word “kingdom” in
his epistles
more often than
Peter, James, and John do in their epistles combined
(13 vs 11, excluding Acts).
So, what?
Does this mean Paul
taught the same message
as
Peter, James, and John?
No, of course not.
Why did Paul talk about the kingdom?
There are many reasons. Here are the
most significant.
1. Everyone in the church, the body of Christ,
is translated into the kingdom
No, this does not mean the church is spiritual Israel,
nor does it mean the
body of Christ will reign in Israel’s kingdom.
It does mean that
we in the church are under the
authority of God.
Paul
mentioned the kingdom of God,
because he was a servant of God
and under his authority.
Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness,
and
hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
– Col 1:13
If you have been redeemed
by the blood of Christ,
and
partake of the grace of God
in this dispensation,
you are no longer
under
the
power of darkness,
but have been moved
into a position in heavenly places
(Eph 2:6-7).
We are still present in this dark evil world,
but our
position is no longer here.
We are under the
headship
of Christ in a heavenly dominion.
2. The kingdom of God includes both heaven and earth
The mystery of God’s will revealed
to Paul how
all things would be gathered together
in one in Christ
(Eph 1:10). This was a mystery before Paul,
but describes how God
will reign
in the fullness of times.
God had revealed his purpose
for the earth,
but had never spoken about
the things or positions in heavenly places
belonging to the church.
Part of the mystery
of Christ is
talking about the invisible
dominion in heaven
(Col 1:16).
3. The kingdom of God includes both Israel and the Church
I do not mean the kingdom of God on earth,
which belongs to Israel and the earthly nations.
I am talking about the kingdom of God universal.
God’s dominion is not limited to the jurisdiction of the earth,
but includes the rest of the universe, what the Bible
calls the heaven.
The mystery of Christ
introduces the creation of a new creature
whose conversation is in heaven
(Phil 3:20).
This is a part
of the kingdom of God
that was not made known
-before- Paul
Prophecy spoke of the kingdom of God
as it will be on the earth,
Christ
ruling through Israel;
the
revelation of the mystery
speaks of
the kingdom of God
as it will be in heavenly places,
Christ ruling over the church.
4. The kingdom of God is not yet on the earth
When Paul mentions the kingdom, it is
always in the future tense.
This means the idea of
a present kingdom of God come on earth is false.
The kingdom of God
is waiting for God to establish it
in heaven and earth.
The gospel of the kingdom
is the proclamation that the
kingdom of God is at hand,
or is here.
Paul did not teach this gospel,
knowing that
the
revelation of the mystery delays
the
coming of this kingdom to the future.
He taught the
reign of Grace
and the
gospel of the grace of God.
The gospel of the kingdom, and preaching
the
postponement of the kingdom
is different.
Paul explained this delay
causing interruption
in the
gospel of the kingdom.
Peter acknowledges Paul’s explanation
of the
postponement of the kingdom,
and that
Christ is no longer sending the
twelve to preach the gospel of the kingdom
(2 Pet 3:15).
5. Righteousness will reign in the kingdom of God
Righteousness has not swallowed the earth,
yet.
However, the righteous behavior that characterizes
that kingdom is already known,
and has been known for a long time in scripture.
Paul preaches the
doctrine of righteous behavior
under God’s dominion
to
the saints in the church.
We are servants of God,
members of his body,
and
should serve him in righteousness,
as we will for
eternity in his kingdom.
Didn’t the Corinthians know that sinners do
not inherit the kingdom?
Since they are saints,
shouldn’t they act like it?
(1 Cor 6:9-10).
“For the kingdom of God
is not meat and drink;
but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in
the Holy Ghost.”
– Romans 14:17
5. The same King of the kingdom is the head of the Church
Jesus was sent to Israel preaching he was the
promised Messiah and the coming kingdom.
Paul was
sent to preach Jesus Christ
according to
the revelation of the mystery. This means that he had
to prove
to unbelieving Jews that Jesus was the
Christ and King of prophecy,
and that this same Christ
is now the head of a new creature called the body of Christ.
The king of the kingdom will be Christ.
Prophecy proves this,
and
Christ’s resurrection is the sign of this.
There is no understanding Christ as the
head of the church over all,
without identifying Christ
as the promised Holy One, and king of Israel
(Rom 1:2-4).
Paul mentions preaching the kingdom in some cases,
because he is preaching the same
Jesus Christ who will be the future king.
One Lord over both heaven and earth.
6. The coming kingdom of God means coming judgment
When the kingdom of God
comes and God institutes his reign
in heaven and earth, it will
be preceded by a time of judgment,
and
concluded with a time of judgment.
“I charge thee therefore before God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at
his appearing and his kingdom;”
– 2 Timothy 4:1
Many times when Paul preaches the kingdom
it is to
unbelievers warning them of the
wrath to come with that kingdom
(Acts 19:8; Acts 24:25; Acts 28:23).
7. The scriptures foretold a kingdom come
Paul says all scripture is profitable,
and the scriptures foretold a time of God
reigning over all.
How could God reign over an earth filled with sinners?
The answer lies
in the
revelation of the mystery
revealed
first to Paul about salvation.
The scriptures spoke of the kingdom of God
come to earth.
They did not speak about the people of the earth
going up to reign in a heavenly kingdom.
Both heaven and earth are part of God’s future dominion.
Conclusion
None of these reasons negate the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ
revealed to the apostle Paul
a mystery concerning himself that was not known before.
Paul taught the kingdom of God,
but he did not teach the kingdom now.
Paul taught the kingdom of God, but he did not teach that the church usurps
Israel’s covenants and promises.
Paul
taught the kingdom of God, but he did not
preach the gospel of the kingdom.
He preached
the gospel of the grace of God.
They are different.
Paul taught the kingdom of God,
but he did not preach
the same message as Peter
and the twelve.
The difference is not found
in what is the same.
Paul taught the kingdom of God,
but he did not offer
David’s earthly kingdom to Israel,
nor to Gentiles.
The kingdom of God can refer to
dominions in heavenly places
(Col 1:16).
Paul taught the kingdom of God in the context of
the revelation of the mystery of Jesus Christ
(Rom 16:25).
We know this because Paul did not only
write about the kingdom of God, but also
about a mystery of Christ
(Eph 3:2-6).