The Gospel of the Kingdom: Luke 16:16
““16) The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” Luke 16:16
The ministry of Jesus marked something new and different. John the Baptist came to prepare His way.
Up until that time, the focus was on the Law and the prophets. They were looked at as the means of salvation, but all fell short. They proclaimed the righteousness of God, but failed to make people Holy. To the contrary, they magnified the sinfulness of man.
But Jesus came proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. (See 4:17; 23) It was a radically new message. It brought healing, forgiveness and hope. It had the power to change people.
Take time to study the gospel of the kingdom through the New Testament. You will discover that It is based on personal faith in Jesus Christ and not merely a system of religion. It includes the promise of the Holy Spirit. It is new wind in new wineskins.
Religious people are constantly trying to force themselves into it. They are like the Pharisees that tried to control, manipulate and bend Jesus into their system of man made religion.
It didn’t work for them, and it is not working for liberal religious people today who twist and bend the Bible into their belief system.
The gospel does not bend to accommodate anyone. God does not change nor does His Word change. He is the standard by which all else is measured.
Jesus is both a bright light and a straight line in human history. He changes not and He is the only means of human salvation. (See John 14:1-6 and Acts 4:9-12)
I stress again that merely being religious does not save anyone. You must enter through the doorway of Jesus Christ. He is only name given among men by which we must be saved. He is the doorway to salvation. (Read John 10:7-9)
Daily Bible Commentary
By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
