THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Way’s emphasis on the Kingdom of God has implications for the whole storyline of the Bible. Here’s a quick rundown of that storyline:
CREATION
As Creator of all, God is King over all. God made humans in His image to have a loving relationship with Him and a caretaking relationship with the world and each other. God appointed humans as His royal representatives to be agents of His reign over creation on His behalf. In the Beginning, Heaven and Earth were united in fellowship and love.
REBELLION
The rebellion against God’s Kingdom rule that began in Heaven comes to Earth through Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve. As God’s delegated rulers of creation, when Adam and Eve fell for Satan’s lie and disobeyed God’s will, they gave the authority and dominion of the Earth to Satan. In fact, not only did they, but the whole world became captives of Satan’s kingdom. All creation now groans under the curse of Adam and Eve’s sin. As a consequence of their revolt, Adam and Eve were banished from God's presence, leading to their deaths and the separation of Heaven and Earth.
RESCUE
1. ISRAEL
On the day of the Earthly Revolt in the Garden of Eden, God graciously promised He would defeat Satan through one of Eve's descendants. The nation of Israel was birthed to bring forth this Descendant and Rescuer (aka the Jewish Messiah) who would reestablish God's Kingdom on Earth. The covenants (Kingdom contracts with Abraham, Moses and David), the law, the tabernacle (temple), the priesthood, the sacrifices, the ceremonies, the feasts, the kings and the prophets all point to and prepare for the coming of this Rescuer King. Though God had blessed Israel to bless the world, they didn’t keep covenant with God and couldn’t be rescuers of the world.
2. JESUS
Birth - Jesus’ birth is the story of the rightful King’s invasion into enemy-occupied territory and the initiation of the restoration of God’s Kingdom on Earth. Amazingly, God sent His OWN Son to rescue us! In Jesus, Heaven comes down to Earth. Jesus is also God’s YES to all of His Old Testament promises. Therefore, Jesus comes as Eve’s Descendant, Abraham’s Blessing, the New Moses and King David’s Son.
Ministry - Having been filled with the Holy Spirit and affirmed by His Father, Jesus was tested by Satan in the wilderness. By resisting Satan’s temptation, Jesus is our New Adam who obeys and the True Israel who keeps covenant. Jesus’ teachings, healings, miracles and deliverances are power encounters attacking Satan’s kingdom. Through His perfect obedience to God’s law and His Father’s will, Jesus was qualified to be our substitute and the sacrifice for our sin. Jesus took personal responsibility for both our obedience to God’s law by living the life we should have and our disobedience of God’s law by dying the death we would have. Simply put, Jesus took our place as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Death, Resurrection & Ascension - What seemed to be the greatest Kingdom defeat—the King’s death on the cross—is revealed as the greatest Kingdom victory because the King came back to life. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinners are forgiven, rebels are reconciled with God and captives are set free from Satan’s kingdom. Having accomplished the Victory, Jesus ascends back to Heaven with all authority in Heaven and on Earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Lamb who was slain is also the Lion of Judah.
3. CHURCH
The Gift of the Spirit - The Spirit was given to the church to empower God’s people to carry on Jesus’ ministry of setting captives free from Satan’s kingdom. Through the Spirit, the church bears witness to the forgiveness and life of God’s Kingdom to the whole world. Through the Spirit, Heaven continues to come down to Earth through the presence and ministry of God's people. Through the Spirit, every Christian becomes a Kingdom Ambassador (a little “Jesus"), carrying His Kingdom authority into every sphere of life. We are blessed to be a blessing.
The Christian Life - When we repent and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, our sins are forgiven and we are given the righteousness of Jesus. We are rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of Light. We are reborn as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Christian life is learning to live like Jesus by assimilating the values, priorities and mission of this new Kingdom in a world that is still captive to the kingdom of Satan. This is why the Christian life is one of both abundant life and intense spiritual warfare.
RE-CREATION
God’s Kingdom has been reestablished on Earth by the ministry of Jesus and now by the ministry of the Spirit through the church. The kingdom of Satan, however, continues to have influence on the Earth. This influence will be completely broken when Jesus returns in glory and restores the Kingdom of God to Earth in all its fullness and perfection. All rebellion against God will be judged and punished and all loyal trust in Jesus will be acknowledged and rewarded. Then Heaven and Earth will be re-created and re-united in fellowship and love forever.
This is a synopsis of TheVineyard Statement of Faith and is covered in Follow The Way’s FAITH. For a brief summary of the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ see 2Kingdoms.org.