Whatever house you
enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there,
your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in
the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves
his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they
receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them,
‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and
they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your
town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that
the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that
day for Sodom than for that town” (Luke 10: 5-12).
In its simplest terms, the gospel message is God
Offers Sinful People Eternal Life (note the
acrostic). The soul-saving response to the gospel requires faith… “To all
who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God” (John 1:12). The result of a truly faithful response
to the gospel’s message is a born again life that is surrendered to Jesus
Christ as Lord… “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans
10:9). True disciples have become citizens of a new kingdom… “Our
citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 3:20). Life as a citizen of Christ’s kingdom is full of
incredible blessings… “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). In today’s text we get a glimpse of
two blessings that come to those who receive the kingdom and one terrible
consequence for those who reject it. The Holy Spirit reminds us here that as we
diligently share Christ’s gospel, our world will be transformed by the gospel of
the kingdom of God.
The approaching kingdom brings peace to
those who receive it. Everyone is searching for peace but few understand the
true meaning of the word. The Greek word translated peace here is eirēnē
and it means quietness and rest that comes from being set at one again. Jesus
taught that true peace comes when God’s creatures are restored to fellowship
with Him in His kingdom… “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of
eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”
(Romans 14:17). This kind of peace is not disrupted by the trials and
conflicts of this world… “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The gospel of God’s kingdom offers true, lasting
peace to an alienated world.
The approaching kingdom brings healing to
those who receive it. Jesus gave His harvest laborers the power to heal the
sick. But examination of the Greek word for heal used here, therapeuō
reveals a connection between true, lasting healing and the kingdom of God. The
definition of this peculiar word is to adore (God), or to relieve (of disease):-
cure, heal, worship. The gospel of the kingdom offers healing that sets us
free of the disease of sin so we can worship and adore God… “For the law
of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and
death” (Romans 8:2). The gospel of God’s kingdom offers complete healing that
frees us to reflect and enjoy the glory of Christ.
The approaching kingdom brings judgment
for those who reject it. If a town rejected the harvest laborers the messengers
were to shake the town's dust off their feet. When Jews returned home from a
Gentile country, they would shake the dust off their feet to signify their
breaking ties with the Gentiles. In this way certain Jewish townspeople were acknowledged
to be like Gentiles who would not listen or believe. Jesus gave the entire area
opportunity to become restored to fellowship with God or to remain forever
separated from Him… “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains
on him” (John 3:36). The gospel of God’s kingdom is a message of both
forgiveness and judgment.
As we grow up into Christ we will see hearts and communities shaken and transformed by…
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
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