The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

/ 6 7

T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

e. It would be apocalyptic in its power: it would come suddenly, in the future, affecting all the world, both the material world and human affairs.

II. Jesus’ Appearance Is the Presence of the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now: He Opposes and Overcomes the Effects of the Curse and the Kingdom of the Devil.

A. Jesus Christ in his person represents the Kingdom of God in the here and now .

1. Jesus announced himself to be the promised Messiah through whom all of the effects of the curse, sin, demonic oppression, and social injustice would be overcome.

2

a. He announced with his coming the Kingdom as present, Mark 1.14-15.

b. He declared himself to be Yahweh’s Servant who would end all oppression in his person, Luke 4.18-19.

c. He is the Word made flesh , the actual manifestation of God in human form come to earth, John 1.14-18.

2. Jesus is the presence of the future .

a. The fulfillment of the promise of Abraham, Gal. 3.13-14

b. The one appointed to rescind the effects of the curse, cf. Isaiah 11