The Importance of the Kingdom of God - John D. Martin - Ep. 096

What part does the Kingdom of God have in the gospel? How does a Biblical understanding of God's Kingdom change one's view of Christian living? In this episode, John D. Martin describes what the Kingdom of God is. He shows us how a proper understanding of God's Kingdom and the gospel will give one a passion for the Church.
John D. Martin works for Christian Aid Ministries in the Billboard Evangelism program. To find more information at: christianaidmi...
This is the 96th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and KZbin channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
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The views expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Anabaptist Perspectives or Wellspring Mennonite Church.

[@SoundFaithChannel]

“What the world would look like if everyone obeyed the King.“God's people, God's Nation. “The emphasis is bringing heaven to earth.” Thank you, Brother John!

[@Benjamin-jo4rf]

Ya ya we know you guys love each other

[@samymarcu562]

I grew up in a Christian home and heard hundreds of sermons about salvation but none have really impressed me. When I met the Anabaptists I saw straight away how they were different and living what they preached and that has completely impacted my life. Now I am very blessed to be part of an Anabaptist church and experience God's power in my life every day and be part of His kingdom. It really feels like Heaven on earth

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Hi Sammy. We're glad you were able to find a community where its members are open to God's work.

[@alyssac2799]

This has radically changed my husband and I. We have been so blessed by this. Thank you.

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Thanks for the note, Alyssa. We’re glad to hear how God is working in his people.

[@hopeforwonderingamish898]

I've listened to this message multiple times, and I'm always very inspired by this message. Not only this one but all the many other messages by John D. Martin. Many thanks!!

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Yes indeed! We also appreciate John's messages

[@buffaloniceguy7823]

This was a beautiful presentation. He's absolutely right, the church isn't preaching the Kingdom of God as it should. I pray that I become better able to effectively communicate the gospel

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

This is a worthy prayer and ambition, Adolphus.

[@buffaloniceguy7823]

@@AnabaptistPerspectives Thank you, and keep proclaiming the Kingdom of God!

[@carlandre8610]

The Kingdom is proclaimed and demonstrated. it is not in meaningless words but in power.

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

We agree.

[@sarahildebrandt-edmister1436]

Yay I’m so glad to see new episodes!! I am not Mennonite yet but I do intend to become one. My husband and I have been attending a Mennonite church since June and we intend to join it eventually. Funny enough I used to be Muslim until about 2 years ago!

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Hi Sara. We're also delighted to be able to publish new episodes again! Thanks for sharing a bit of your story. We're encouraged to hear your testimony of God working to bring you to Christianity.

[@NUMENOREAN91]

Dont become a Mennonite. Become a follower of Jesus.

[@kathrynstemm9826]

The Truth of Jesus, so we’ll spoken. Thank you!

[@johnnystahl116]

What an encouraging perspective! Thanks for doing this interview with brother John!

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

You're welcome! We were also encouraged by the interview and delighted that John was able to share it with us.

[@pth6060]

Very interesting truths, God richest blessings.

[@ryan00035]

Such an interesting interview, thank you.

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Our pleasure!

[@victoriabondarenko8051]

Great video, blessed by it. Please improve your audio quality, the volume needs to be up so loud just to hear the dialogue.

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

We’re sorry to hear that the audio wasn’t great. We’ve attempted to make improvements with the audio. Hopefully our more recent episodes have been better, but please feel welcome to continue providing feedback or this nature.

[@marcusbyler7837]

Great message!

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Thanks, Marcus. We are glad that John D. was able to share with us.

[@father.of.7bear963]

I think the doctrine of the New Earth and the doctrine of New Creation is what has been abdicated from the get-go.

[@TheEmmaLucille]

Amen!

[@fromtheheartwithjohnwhaley578]

What do anabaptist teach concerning the promises to ethnic, territorial, Israel? Do they believe God will restore the kingdom to Israel?

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

If you’d ask around among different Anabaptists, you would probably hear a variety of perspectives on the contemporary nation-state of Israel. However you’d probably hear substantial emphasis on the church, all who believe, being the center of what God is doing in the world. The promises to Abraham and his descendants are given to all those of faith, not only ethnic Israel. Romans 11 is particularly insightful with its imagery of some branches being broken off and others being grafted in. Also see Galatians 3:6-9 and Romans 2:25-29.

[@pjd1147]

My dispensationalist friends dismiss the teachings of Jesus, saying that is for the Jews. They even dismiss books of the new testament, Matthew; Hebrews; 1,2 Peter; James; 1,2,3 John; Jude and Revelation. It seems they're followers of Paul rather than Jesus.

[@ReflectedMiles]

I think it's worth noting that the epistles actually say far less about the Kingdom of God than the gospels do--only 8 times does that phrase even appear between Romans and Revelation compared to dozens in the previous books. Does that mean that the Church lost this emphasis very, very early? Or might it be that contention about the Law, great struggles with establishing churches and keeping them established, and most central of all, disputes over who Jesus was--especially from the Gnostics--became central in the work that the apostles and elders were having to do as well as in later creeds? The creeds were often intended to be the dividing line between heretical baptisms and those rightfully within the Church, not a summary of unquestioned aspects of the Messiah and His work. I suspect that the great interwoven character of their lives from Acts 4 well into the early Christian writings made the idea of the Kingdom much more of a given, much less of a question or even an oddity, as it is for us now with all of the departures from that manner of Life in the interim. Those changes now seem to us to be what "normal" Christianity looks like.

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Good questions and observations. I think you are right that the Epistles (Letters to the Churches) took for granted the material about the kingdom that we have in the gospels. The epistles also emphasize the kingship of God with other terminology. Jesus is referred to as "the Christ," which is to say "the Messiah." When the epistles talk about Jesus being exalted at God's right hand that means he is sharing in God's kingship. So Kingdom is still important.

[@SolidOscelot]

So for people like me who aren’t affiliated, but interested: I love this idea of the Kingdom of God as a separate, alternative kingdom to the kingdoms of the earth, but there’s almost no diversity of opinions on passages that other denominations have interpreted to support secular governments or participate in them (like Romans 13, or God “using” secular leaders like Nebuchadnezzar). In my opinion & experience, this is the biggest obstacle to whatever your position is called because people have so much faith in the idea that they can “represent Christ” or “hold back evil” via traditional political participation. Please make a video that addresses this? And anyone that’s reading this, can you please recommend a book or material I can explore on this concept? I don’t argue with people, I’d just like to quietly read.

[@SoundFaithChannel]

You need to get the book ”The Kingdom that turned the world upside down” by David Bercot. Audible has the audio version of the book as well. Also, check out the Sound Faith KZbin channels playlist on The Kingdom of God.

[@SoundFaithChannel]

““And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:29-31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ www.bible.com/114/luk.12.29-31.nkjv

[@SolidOscelot]

Sound Faith great. I just downloaded the book and I’ll listen today.

[@erikabutterfly]

"King Jesus Claims His Church" is also a good book

[@calvinpeterson9581]

Scripture teaches we are not called to participate in the systems of government, but rather to follow after the kingdom that Christ establishes through his rule and reign. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:4 God bless you in your journey, may the grace of God fill your heart as you trust in him

[@lfrancis8980]

I appreciate this video. I am curious, what is dispensationalism? (I think that's how you spell it?

[@lfrancis8980]

@Nathan Gough Thanks. What happens to those who died before Christ was born? Were their souls asleep until his resurrection?

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

As Nathan mentions there are varieties of Dispensationalism. I think John was especially talking about the dispensationalist idea that the Kingdom which Jesus talked about had to be postponed till a future millennium after the age of the church. Some would say that because Israel as a whole did not accept Jesus as Messiah, the Kingdom got postponed and we got the Church as an interim solution. We believe on the contrary that Jesus brought in the Kingdom for all who repent and believe in him.

[@jeremiahzeiset]

When the Bible speaks about the kingdom, it's almost always connected with the "kingdom of heaven." I'm not so sure that it's talking about a people group, as it is about God's rule in and from heaven.

[@timothy6828]

Hi Jeremiah, actually it's only one author, Matthew, who uses the expression Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes he uses kingdom of God, but almost always Kingdom of Heaven. No other author ever uses Kingdom of Heaven. Why that is, you have to ask someone who is more educated than I am but if you want to hear my guess its so his Jewish readers would understand Jesus message wasnt about the kingdom they imagined ie the restored kingdom of David here on earth. Blessings!

[@jeremiahzeiset]

@@timothy6828 Thanks, you're right. The rest of the NT seems to use "kingdom of God" instead of "kingdom of heaven." In Revelation, "kingdom" is used alone, as well in a relatively few other places. Still, looking at those verses, it seems most of the focus is on God, more than on the people. Of course, all of God's elect are subjects in the kingdom of God, yet those verses seem to focus less on us and more on the Lord. Just my observation, for whatever it's worth.

[@thykingdomcome5081]

I totally agree with what was said in this interview about dispensationalism, and about living out the kingdom of God here on earth. However, I have a few questions. The first question is regarding the statement made about divorce and remarriage. Are you aware that the early anabaptists, including the writer of 'Martyrs Mirror' believed that divorce and remarriage was sinful, but they also believed that Christ gave an exception, such as if the marriage covenant was violated by immorality? Jesus himself gave this exception. This was the historical position of the early anabaptists. Also, while the Scriptures condemn the act of murder, if a police officer stops a criminal, or if a judge sentences a child abuser to death, etc., this is not a violation of 'thou shalt not kill.' many modern day anabaptists do not seem to make this crucial distinction. However, according to the Bible, it wouldn't it be wrong if civil magistrates did not restrain criminal activity, but let it continue instead?

[@AnabaptistPerspectives]

Good points and questions! You are correct that early Anabaptists took Matthews exception clause to permit remarriage if ones spouse violated the first marriage through adultery. Conservative Anabaptists now would disagree with that interpretation based on their overall understanding of the NT view of marriage and on the position of the church in the first several centuries. God's law for Israel (including the Ten Commandments) certainly had provisions for restraining criminal activity, and even capital punishment. God still uses violence by rulers to restrain evil, and even to carry out his wrath against evil, as we see in Romans 13. But here is the question: what happens when someone in such a government position surrenders their life to God and his will? Does God tell that person that due to their position he has chosen them to serve him as an agent of wrath? Or does God them that he has called them to serve him as an agent of reconciliation following the perfect example of Christ?

[@thykingdomcome5081]

@@AnabaptistPerspectives while I would whole heatedly agree with the principal of the separation of the jurisdiction of the church, and of the state, it does appear as though Cornelius was called 'devout', and the Scriptures say that he feared God, even while he was a centurion. I do believe that it is wrong to assume that someone is not a believer, just because they are in some sort of civil office. My point is that 'thou shalt not kill' is not a prohibition against civil rulers executing criminals such as murderers, child molesters, etc. Do you believe that such criminals should be let go? Even Jesus spoke of how that if the goodman of the house would have known what hour the thief would have come, he would not have suffered (allowed) his house to be broken up. Obviously, Jesus had no objections to preventing criminal activity.

[@ReluctantPost]

@@thykingdomcome5081 The foundational concept of two kingdoms is that the State has the God-given right to govern, as was pointed out above. Why would a command for Christians in the Kingdom of God be binding on those in another kingdom? Many soldiers and civilian officials in the early generations came to Christ, and they weren't in America--there was often no way for them to exit the military immediately, nor was that demanded of them. They were asked to commit not to killing others in the interim and to free themselves of the potentially conflicting obligations when they could. The Scripture doesn't detail more about Cornelius as far as whether he came to that point as a convert to Judaism or what the case was, nor what the Church did or didn't instruct him to do afterwards. Conservative Anabaptists that I know sometimes serve in firefighting, medical, and a variety of other public-service roles that do not involve being a prince or ruler, or an enforcer for one, in an earthly kingdom. I learned the extent of the principle in an amusing way when I questioned whether it was immoral or at least irresponsible to not vote against a tyrant, and why it would be wrong to serve a civil authority with the force that God had Himself granted that authority to rightfully use. A thoughtful brother in the conversation just asked if those were things I would feel responsible for or would try to do if I was visiting in a foreign country. I couldn't imagine being responsible for another country's ruler, or that it would be positive if I attempted to act on a foreign ruler's behalf with his or her own people, and the brother's point was that the Scriptures call on Christians to live as aliens and visitors in this world, just as Abraham and so many of the prophets and others of the righteous had no fixed abode but were nomads and wanderers, looking for a different sort of city. " _Therefore_ , God is not ashamed to be called their God..." Heb. 11:13-16 I sure don't want that "opportunity to return" part.

[@thykingdomcome5081]

@@ReluctantPost Abraham is often spoken of by the apostles as being a sojurner, and an example of one who walked by faith, and sought a 'better country.' However, he also rescued Lot, and was blessed by Melchizedek. This was before the Mosaic law was instituted. Also, Christ recognized that if the 'goodman of the house would have known what hour the theif would have come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Obviously, if Christ used this as a parable, principles such as using some type of force to stop crime, is not necessary sinful. I also believe that there is a separation in the jurisdiction of the church and the state. However, there really is more to this issue, than just to say that everyone serving in civil positions that God has ordained, or someone stepping up to prevent a crime from happening (such as theft/rape/murder, etc.), means that person cannot be truly following Christ. God's commands do not define the lawful use of authority as sin.

[@ReluctantPost]

@@thykingdomcome5081 Part of the point of the passage in Hebrews is that we are under the covenant of Christ, which they were looking for and awaiting. Their prior covenants were civil, nation-building and population-centered in their physical aims even while they were still nomadic or captives. They had never heard the words that changed all that, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” These new values were expected, though. What happened when Israel tried to war on its own behalf instead of by God’s direction? Why did David lose his dream of building the temple? Maybe hating one’s enemies, praying many times that catastrophe overwhelms them, even declaring the person happy who dashes their infants’ heads against the stones, was far from what God desired in a man after his own heart? Even though David was appointed by God as king over an earthly, warring nation, God refused to honor him in that respect and from the beginning of Solomon’s reign, praised and blessed him for not asking for the death of his enemies. There is no equivalence between sacrificing one’s own life and welfare to protect someone and sacrificing someone else’s life or welfare to do so. In open defiance of the core save-self value in Protestant Evangelical preaching, Paul says at the opening of Romans 9 that he would sacrifice his own salvation and be accursed if it meant that Israel would be reconciled to God. That is the Spirit of the new covenant. Jesus’ use of physical illustrations of a spiritual point doesn’t imply His endorsement of whatever He was using as illustration as a behavior or role for His disciples, including being a king who is calculating the odds in a battle about to be joined. What is not sin for an earthly king can certainly be sin for a disciple of Jesus.

[@victoriak1219]

Jesus clearly stated His Kingdom is not on this earth. Jesus also clearly stated that Satan is the king of this world. We are called in God’s Kingdom which is heavenly and will be established on a new heaven and earth after this one is gone. My goodness. This guy just takes something from scripture and puts emphasis on something that isn’t actually emphasized. 🙄 I would like to see the result of a psych evaluation on him. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@dragonflyranchflorida1977]

Amen!