"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus - II (1:14-15)
INTRODUCTION
1. Previously, we observed that "The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus"
involved...
a. Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God
a. That kingdom foretold by Daniel - Dan 2:44; 7:13-14
b. The good news that is was "at hand", for "the time is fulfilled"!
2. In examining the nature of the kingdom, we noted that it...
a. Involves the rule or reign of God through the person of Jesus
Christ
b. Is spiritual in nature
c. Is manifested visibly today in the form of the Lord's church
d. Has both present and future elements
-- Indeed, this kingdom is now available to all who freely submit to
the authority of Jesus
3. But Jesus did more than just announce the coming of the kingdom of
God...
a. He called on people to repent
b. He called on people to believe
[And so as we return to our text (Mk 1:14-15), we note that in addition
to the kingdom of God...]
II. JESUS PREACHED THE NEED TO REPENT
A. WHAT DOES REPENT MEAN...?
1. There are two common misconceptions concerning repentance
a. E.g., that repentance is "sorrow"
1) But repentance is an outcome of sorrow - cf. 2Co 7:9-10
2) Sorrow leads to repentance; sorrow itself is not
repentance!
b. E.g., that repentance is "a changed life"
1) Thinking that repentance is a converted life
2) But repentance and conversion are two separate things
- cf. Ac 3:19
a) Peter says "Repent therefore and be converted"
b) If repentance means the same as conversion, then Peter
was redundant
2. W. E. Vine defines "repentance" as:
a. A "change of mind"
b. That which "involves both a turning from sin and a turning
to God"
3. Repentance is therefore a decision to "turn from sin and turn
to God"
a. Preceded by sorrow - 2Co 7:10
b. Followed by a changed life - 2Co 7:11
-- Jesus therefore called on people to make a decision regarding
sin, because of the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God
B. DO WE NEED TO PREACH REPENTANCE TODAY...?
1. Most certainly!
a. Repentance is to be preached in Jesus' name to all nations
- Lk 24:46-47
b. God now calls men everywhere to repent - Ac 17:30
c. Thus Paul preached to both Jews and Gentiles that they
should repent - Ac 26:20
2. Wherever there is sin, repentance needs to be proclaimed
a. People need to be told to "change their minds" (repent)
b. They need to "turn to God, and do works befitting
repentance" - cf. Ac 26:20
3. Whenever the kingdom of God is proclaimed, it must include a
call to repent
a. Paul spoke of preaching the kingdom of God - cf. Ac 20:25
b. Which included telling people of repentance - cf. Ac 20:21
-- Any preaching of the kingdom of God that does not include a
clarion call to repent is not the true gospel!
[Of course, the decision to turn from sin involves faith. So we are not
be surprised to note also that...]
III. JESUS PREACHED THE NEED TO BELIEVE
A. WHAT DOES BELIEVE MEAN...?
1. As defined by Easton's Bible Dictionary:
a. Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a
certain statement is true
b. Its primary idea is trust
2. It is a strong conviction or trust in something; as the NIV
translates He 11:1...
a. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for..."
b. "...and certain of what we do not see."
3. For example, you have faith that your parents are indeed your
parents
a. Based upon your trust or conviction in the reliability of
their word
b. Such trust prompts you to respond accordingly
-- Jesus proclaimed that people should trust in the good tidings
concerning the kingdom of God
B. DO WE NEED TO PREACH THE NEED TO BELIEVE TODAY...?
1. Most certainly! For people need to believe:
a. In God, to be pleasing to Him - He 11:6
b. In Jesus, to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life - Jn
8:24; 20:31
2. But people also need to believe in the kingdom of God!
a. Which is what Jesus was saying in our text - Mk 1:15
b. That it was "at hand" when Jesus was preaching
3. Thus there is the need to believe in the kingdom of God today!
a. Just as Paul sought to convince his Jewish brethren - Ac
28:23
b. If we do not believe, then the good news of God's kingdom
and salvation should be taken to others - Ac 28:24-28
4. We need to believe concerning the kingdom of God:
a. That Jesus now reigns over all - Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1 Pe
3:22
b. That those who obey the gospel become members of that
kingdom - Col 1:13
c. That those who persevere will inherit the everlasting
kingdom - 2Pe 1:10-11
d. That those who persist in sin will not inherit the kingdom
of God - 1Co 6:9-10; Ep 5:5
CONCLUSION
1. Thus "The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus" began with a proclamation
regarding...
a. The coming of the kingdom of God
b. The need to repent and believe
2. The kingdom of God came just as Jesus (and the prophets) said it
would...
a. Jesus received all authority, and now reigns at the right hand of
God - Mt 28:18; 1Pe 3:22
b. He exercises that reign, even in the midst of His enemies - cf.
Ps 110:1-2
c. His people (the church) freely volunteer in the day of His power
- cf. Ps 110:3
d. When He returns, it will be to deliver the kingdom to His Father
- 1Co 15:24-26
Do you wish to be part of that everlasting, heavenly kingdom? Then you
must be in the kingdom of God now, freely submitting to the reign of God
in your life today!
If you have not yet done so, then repent of your sins, put your faith in
Jesus Christ, be baptized for the remission of your sins, and begin
living for Him today...! - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:36-38
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