The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

Your Kingdom Come: “The Story of God’s Glory” (continued)

4. Jesus as the binder of the strong man: Matt. 12.25-30 (ESV) - Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [26] And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [28] But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. [30] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” D. Two manifestations of the Kingdom of God: The Already/Not Yet Kingdom (Oscar Cullman, Christ and Time ; George Ladd, The Gospel of the Kingdom ) 1. The first advent : the rebellious prince bound and his house looted and God’s reign has come 2. The second advent : the rebellious prince destroyed and his rule confounded with the full manifestation of God’s kingly power in a recreated heaven and earth

Jesus’ message was the Kingdom of God. It was the center and circumference of all He taught and did. . . . The Kingdom of God is the master-conception, the master-plan, the master-purpose, the master-will that gathers everything up into itself and gives it redemption, coherence, purpose, goal. ~ E. Stanley Jones

V. The Christo-centric Order: Messiah Yeshua of Nazareth as Centerpiece in Both God’s Revelation and Rule

A. Messiah’s mission : to destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3.8

B. Messiah’s birth : the invasion of God into Satan’s dominion, Luke 1.31-33

C. Messiah’s message : the Kingdom’s proclamation and inauguration, Mark 1.14-15

D. Messiah’s teaching : kingdom ethics, Matt. 5-7

E. Messiah’s miracles : his kingly authority and power, Mark 2.8-12

F. Messiah’s exorcisms : his defeat of the devil and his angels, Luke 11.14-20

G. Messiah’s life and deeds : the majesty of the Kingdom, John 1.14-18