The Gospel of the Kingdom: Jesus' Revolutionary Message

By David Seccombe

Gospel is a word we often hear. But what does it mean? This book looks at gospels in the ancient world, and seeks to understand Jesus’ gospel and the proclamation of the first Christians. The gospel is the instrument God uses to save lives; fuzzy thinking can be dangerous. The author argues that Jesus’ gospel defines a new reality, r

• Language: English
• Publisher: Whitefield Publications
• Release date: May 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9780620712750

Book preview

Praise for The Gospel of the Kingdom

Clearing away fogs of misunderstanding, David Seccombe takes us to the heart of the gospel of God’s kingdom as the Bible presents it. He explains how Jesus’ life – his teaching, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension, heavenly rule and promised return – relate to the gospel. Helpfully he shows how the first Christians proclaimed it and how contemporary ones might do so more accurately. This is done with the clarity of a good teacher and the depth of a scholar and anyone – Christian or non-Christian alike – who wants to understand what Jesus was about and why he was believed, will find this book stimulating and informing. Stephen Williams, Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral Armidale NSW (retired), Regional Director of Langham Preaching (South West Pacific)

Clear, simple, instructive, encouraging – four words that I would use to describe David Seccombe’s The Gospel of the Kingdom. In an age in which the gospel is so often misunderstood and misapplied, I heartily recommend this book for both pastor and congregation member as well as for the serious enquirer into the Christian faith. Mervyn Eloff, Rector St James’ Church, Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa

It is brilliant and quirky, a very David Seccombe opus with lots of surprising and refreshing insights. Stunning opening section on gospel. It’s a great start. So, warm congratulations for a vigorous and arresting book. Paul Barnett, Former Bishop of North Sydney, Associate in Ancient History at Macquarie University and Lecturer Emeritus at Moore College, Sydney, Australia

This is a marvellous book for Christians who hear preachers continually using the words gospel and kingdom without expanding on what the gospel is or relating the kingdom to daily transformed and transforming life. David Seccombe breathes a life into these words that will inform, inspire and energize – and probably challenge – both the new and the mature Christian. A must-read book. Fred Pink, Leadership Consultant, UK

Too many accounts of the gospel are lopsided or incomplete. Fortunately, David Seccombe has produced a much-needed and full account of the gospel from all of Scripture. If the gospel is at the heart of the Christian faith, then Seccombe’s book is a must read. Martin Foord, Acting Principal, Trinity Theological College, Perth, Australia

This outstanding book is of immense value in clarifying for the reader both what the gospel is, and how it is presented through the whole Bible. That the author has spent a lifetime meditating on the Scriptures is evident from every part of the book. I personally learned much, and gained great benefit through reading it. I wholeheartedly recommend it. William Taylor, Vicar, St Helen’s Bishopsgate, UK

Phrases like the kingdom of God, the gospel and preaching the gospel are big ideas for Bible-loving Christians. In this very readable book David Seccombe draws on years of research and teaching on these topics to provide us with clear and fresh insights into what the Bible means by them. His grasp of the whole sweep of Scripture makes things I thought I knew come alive in a new and relevant way. This book deserves to be widely read. Justin Mote, Chairman and Director of Training, North West Partnership, UK

David Seccombe combines a passion to be clear and relevant with a wealth of biblical insights gleaned from a lifetime of rigorous scholarship and pastoral ministry. While unpacking the essential meaning of the gospel he encourages readers to discover afresh the glory of God by simply reading for themselves the Jesus-story in the four Gospels. He presents powerful reasons why 21st century people need to be confronted with the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. He draws on personal examples and historical events to illustrate concepts and stimulate thought and has an uncanny skill for joining the dots, linking the different books and themes of Scripture. He not only brings the narratives of Scripture alive, but allows us to grasp the spiritual conflict that lies behind the story. This is a book not only about the kingship of Jesus but about living and gospelling the good news in the Church and in today’s hostile world. John Arnold, Anglican Minister and Mission Leader, Brisbane, Australia

Among Christians today there is confusion over what the gospel is. David Seccombe’s book is a timely antidote that anchors the unchanging message of God’s Son in a fresh reading of the Bible. As a worthy companion to The King of God’s Kingdom, the author draws on a wide scholarship, crucial Christian doctrine, important history and striking contemporary illustrations. All this is done with an approach that winsomely summons the reader to consider searching conclusions about the message of Jesus and his kingdom, and to embrace its proclamation. Mark Dickson, Principal, George Whitefield College, Cape Town, South Africa

As a young ministry trainee in Perth back in the 1990s I was handed an old printed copy of an essay by David Seccombe called What is the Gospel? It turned out to be one of the most significant things I’ve ever read, and it changed my understanding of the gospel and of evangelism forever and (I think) for the better. I am delighted to see that Dr Seccombe has now written a whole book teasing out the ideas and insights I first encountered in that essay. The Gospel of the Kingdom is a well-researched, tightly-argued and accessible account of what the New Testament authors and Jesus himself actually meant when they talked about the gospel. I hope and pray that through this book Dr Seccombe’s insights will find a wide and receptive audience. Rory Shiner, Senior Pastor, Providence Church, Perth, Australia

In a world where Christianity is seen by many as tired and irrelevant, this book comes as a breath of fresh, crisp, energy-giving air. David Seccombe brings the person and message of Jesus to life, showing that there is real gospel in the history of Jesus – huge events that turn the world upside down. He writes in a way ordinary people can grasp and at the same time resolves many of the conundrums academics throw around. But the strength of the book is in re-awakening us to the uniquely colossal achievements of Jesus the Christ and reviving joyful hope to those who would trust Jesus. Heartily commended. Tim Thorburn, Western Australian Director, Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students

This book is a great introduction to Jesus, his Lordship, his preaching, apostolic preaching about him and how it might affect our gospelling. It is rigorous in argument, pastoral in dealing with our questions and simple in expression. It answers many common apologetic questions and deals with some of the alternative views about the Lord Jesus and his gospel. It is not an evangelistic book, but will be a helpful explanation of Jesus to some of my friends. It is not a book of doctrine, but from many texts throughout the Bible it argues cogently for contested doctrines, like justification by faith alone. In a world that desperately needs it, it points us back to the hope of nations: Jesus and his gospel. Bruce Hall, Director, Department of Evangelism and New Churches, Anglican Diocese of Sydney

Gospel-of-Kingdom-titlepage

Whitefield Publications PO Box 64, Muizenberg 7945, South Africa 6A Almurta Way, Nollamara WA 6061, Australia

davidseccombe.com

Published May 2016.

Copyright © David Seccombe 2016.

This book is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism and review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without the express permission of the publisher.

Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation or paraphrase, except where marked ESV, in which case they are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

ISBN

Paperback: 978-0-620-71273-6

Mobi: 978-0-620-71274-3

Epub: 978-0-620-71275-0

Managing editor: Belinda Pollard

Cover

The Cushite by Jenny Browne-Cooper In ancient times, as in Africa until modern times, important messages were carried by long-distance runners.

This book is dedicated to my friends at George Whitefield College and Trinity Theological College (Perth), St James’ Kenilworth, Christ Church Midrand, St Helen’s Bishopsgate, Emmanuel Dundonald, North West Partnership, St Matthew’s Shenton Park, St Swithun’s Pymble, Christ Church St Ives, and many many more, who treasure the gospel as the power of God for salvation, and seek to make it known.

CONTENTS

Why I wrote this book

PART 1

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

Chapter 1

Gospel confusion

Gospels galore

Gospels in the ancient world

Gospel: Momentous news

Chapter 2

The Old Testament and the kingdom of God

Foundational promises

Blessing and covenant

A nation under God

Prophets, priests, judges and kings

A disappointing dynasty

Exile

A kingdom beyond the Exile

Chapter 3

The gospel according to Isaiah

Isaiah of Jerusalem

Indictment

Catastrophe and beyond

Comfort

The gospel of the coming King

The gospel is future

Chapter 4

Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom

Jewish hopes at the time of Jesus

Jesus at Nazareth

An historic moment

The gospel of God

Spreading the word

The kingdom is rejected

A new phase

Chapter 5

The gospel under fire

Controversy

Jesus’ enemy

The struggle with flesh and blood

Kingdoms in conflict

The victor

Chapter 6

The gospel breaks out

The World War II gospel

The gospel in Acts

Gospelling Jews

A greater King

The apostles’ gospel

The defence of the gospel

Response

Gospelling Gentiles

Too narrow a view?

The gospel of salvation

PART 2

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

Chapter 7

The kingdom’s King

Jesus is Lord

The face of Jesus Christ

Storytellers

Peter and Mark

Portraits of Jesus

Hidden treasure

Using the Gospels

Chapter 8

The crucified King

Crucifixion

The wounded face of Christ

The preaching of the cross

Power in weakness

Principalities and powers

A ransom for many

Why redemption?

Why slaves?

Sacrifice

Law

The reach of the law

Christ’s people

Vicarious penalty

In Christ

Dead to the law

Reconciled

The prodigal tax collector

The cross and the gospel

God so loved the world

Chapter 9

Proof of the gospel

Acts facts

A remarkable miracle

Jesus on trial

Enthronement

The kingdom has come

The power of the cross and the power of the resurrection

A great omission

What happens when you die?

Eternal life

Preaching resurrection today

Chapter 10

Your kingdom come

The problem of evil

Our Lord come

Hope

The climactic events

The new world

Christ’s mission

Chapter 11

The kingdom now

Where is Jesus?

Dealing with enemies

The coming of Islam

Building his Church

The Holy Spirit

The mission

Our great High Priest

Making war

Gospelling the ascended King

Chapter 12

Justification by faith

The gospel concerning his Son

The need of righteousness

The failure of righteousness

Free forgiveness

Justification and the gospel

Why justification by faith?

Does justification by faith matter?

Justification by faith and Christian life

Preaching justification by faith

Chapter 13

Gospel life

Good news to the poor

Walking the talk

What is ethics?

Old Testament ethics

Is morality relative?

New covenant

Wisdom

A new era

Jesus’ words

The apostles’ teaching

Ethical principle

A missionary life

The Sermon on the Mount

Back to Nazareth

Church

New world

Appendix 1

The meaning of gospel in the Bible

An angel gospels some shepherds

Appendix 2

The righteousness of God in Paul

Righteousness on trial

A new righteousness

The meaning of justification by faith

Works Cited

About the Author

Also by this author

WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK

MY INTEREST IN CLARIFYING THE NATURE OF THE GOSPEL BEGAN IN 1989 when the Archbishop of Canterbury issued a challenge to the Anglican world to make the last decade of the millennium a decade of evangelism. The reaction was interesting. Some felt threatened to be urged into the sort of thing they associated with the likes of Billy Graham. So an amount of redefining went on. Evangelism is just good liturgy, declared one bishop, as he urged his clergy into action. Others interpreted the call as a challenge to boost church numbers, so examined their services and programs to better draw in the outsider. Some saw themselves as gospel people already, identified strongly with the notion of evangelism, and were glad of some official encouragement. Yet even here there was astonishing variety in what was done and said.

In Australia the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion called a conference in Melbourne, which they called Evangelism – the Australian Way. Even before it began, tensions rose over the place of social action in the gospel. I was invited to deliver the initial address: What is the gospel? and was conscious of walking into a minefield. I had to do a lot of hard thinking and poring over Scriptures before I had the courage to open my mouth.

Afterwards, the organizers of the conference asked to publish the paper, but I declined, feeling I needed to do considerably more research and address several more vital issues. What with a busy church ministry in Western Australia, followed by the leadership of a theological college in South Africa, it was twenty years before I was able to get back to it! However, on one of my trips home I learned that the original paper had been copied many times and was in use in the training of student leaders. This encouraged me to get to work on the project I had originally envisaged. A sabbatical in 2002 at Moore Theological College in Sydney and another in 2007 at Trinity Theological College in Perth gave me the time and access to the resources I needed.

Since I began writing, the issue of what the gospel is has erupted several times, including a spirited debate between theologians N.T. Wright and John Piper, and some passionate contributions from Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC and American scholar Scot McKnight. These make clear that it is not enough just to define the gospel; one must also explain its relationship to a raft of other things. It is my hope that my own offering might be of help especially to those who are actively engaged in gospelling.

I am thankful to many who encouraged me in the writing and publication of this book. My thanks go to the organizers of EFAC’s 1990 Melbourne conference for their invitation to speak on What is the Gospel? Also to Tim Thorburn for building my confidence to get started on writing the book. I am grateful to the principals of Moore Theological College and Trinity Theological College for welcoming me to their colleges on two successive sabbaticals in Sydney and Perth. Thanks are also due to the many who joined the crowdfunding campaign and made publication possible; also to Belinda Pollard my editor and producer who turned the manuscript into a book, and Jenny Browne-Cooper who painted the cover picture. And then, my dear wife, Lorraine, who has soldiered on through it all.

David Seccombe

George Whitefield College

in affiliation with North-West University

South Africa

PART 1

What is the gospel?

CHAPTER 1

Gospel confusion

GOSPEL IS A WORD YOU HEAR A LOT IN CHRISTIAN CIRCLES . Outsiders recognize it as a Christian word, even when they describe some quite ordinary assertion as gospel to indicate it is genuine. Ask a Christian and you will be told it means good news. Ask what that good news is, and prepare to be surprised by the variety of views.

Gospels galore

There are gospels whose central focus is any one or a combination of the sovereign majesty of God, the love of God, the judgement of God, Jesus’ lordship, his saving work, his resurrection, his coming again, millennial views of his return, the gift of the Holy Spirit, being born again, justification by faith, the whole Bible story, various understandings of the spiritual life, healing and miracles, material prosperity, radical obedience, the Church, upliftment of the poor, political and social revolution, inclusivism, and the list goes on.

For some the gospel is a way of referring to the whole of Christian truth. Others take their cue from the notion of good news and identify it with whatever to them is the most attractive aspect of Christianity or whatever originally drew them in. Sometimes, distorted understandings of Christian faith are identified with the gospel.

Amidst the divergent opinions on the content of the gospel, where one does find agreement is on its importance. Whatever it is, it is good news, and it is the essence of Christianity; that has to matter to anyone who wears the Christian name. The Decade of Evangelism is long over and the third millennium underway, but Jesus’ command to his disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world still stands – until the end of the age.[1] The gospel still matters.

Should we not rejoice in the variety and see it as a positive fruit of people’s experiences of God? Yes, and no. It is good that the whole message of Christianity be explained and understood. It is good that at different times particular truths of Christianity be highlighted. But it is not good that there should be confusion and fuzzy thinking about the exact nature of what Jesus and his followers called the gospel. For, according to Paul, that gospel is the instrument God uses to save people.[2]

The gospel matters because people’s lives are at stake. God’s gospel gives life, and it alone gives life.

I read that a terminally-ill American asked to have his head severed from his body and frozen in liquid nitrogen in the hope that when medical technology is better he might be unfrozen, given a new body and live again. The task of medicine, he is reported to have said, is immortality. Most would agree his is an extreme case, but when medicine finds a drug which can add even five years to the average life, most of the world lines up for it even if it only means an extension of the half life of declining old age.

According to the New Testament, immortality is not the task of medicine: Jesus has brought life and immortality to light in the gospel.[3] If the gospel is the instrument God uses to bring people into immortal life, understanding it is crucial; the wrong tool may not work!

In medicine the wrong drug, even if harmless on its own, could kill if it stopped someone taking the correct medicine. When it comes to the gospel, to know it, to know how to take it, and to know how to administer it are matters of life and death.

The quality of Christian life is also at stake. The health and fruitfulness of those who are citizens of God’s kingdom hangs on a true understanding of the gospel. So does the maturity of their churches. An individual or church may have enough of the gospel to save, but if this vital centre of Christianity is blurred and confused, Christian life and practice will surely suffer.

Gospels in the ancient world

The words in the New and Old Testaments which we translate as gospel were not special religious terms at the beginning. They had a meaning and a life in the ordinary culture of the ancient world, and it is there I wish to take us first. What follows are five case studies in the ancient use of the word. Understanding these will help us grasp both the meaning and the feel of gospel language in the Jesus story.

When we open our Bibles the first thing we meet with is words. Before we can understand the meaning of its teachings we must find out what the words mean, and in what social context they belong. To understand what the gospel is we need first to know what is meant by a gospel. Was it a Bible word – a technical term of the Christian (or Judaeo-Christian) movement – or was it an ordinary secular term?

Case Study 1: Eli dies from a gospel shock

We find gospel first three thousand years ago in the story of the Battle of Ebenezer between Israel and the Philistines. It appears in connection with the business of long-distance communications on one of Israel’s darkest days.

These days we get the news pretty much as it happens – televised live matches, reporters on the scene in the street, war correspondents with the troops in a foreign country. The Bible takes us back to a world without TV, radio or telephone, when the fastest way of getting news was by despatch rider or by ship, and – in many localities unsuited to horses – by long distance runners.

A courier arrived in the town of Shiloh, where the old priest-ruler Eli waited anxiously for news of the battle. It was obvious from the messenger’s appearance – torn clothes and dirt on his head – that his news was not good. Eli could not see this, for he was ninety-eight years old and blind. He sat by the roadside in desperation for news – for his two sons were at the battle and so was the ark-throne of God. He heard the wail of the townsfolk as they brought to him the young runner.

How did it go, my son? Eli said. At this point in the story the narrator of the First Book of Samuel uses gospel language:

The gospeller (mebasser) answered and said, Israel has fled before the Philistines, and also there has been a great defeat among the people, and also your two sons are dead, Hophni and Phineas – and the ark of God has been captured.[4]

It was too much for an old man. When he heard that the precious ark was gone he fell backwards and broke his neck. The shock induced premature labour in his daughter-in-law, and in her dying words she named her son Ichabod: the glory has departed from Israel. Never in their history had there been a more terrible day.

The Battle of Ebenezer was a monumental defeat, but the news had to be brought back. That the news of this battle is called gospel alerts us to the possibility that gospel news may not always be good.

The ancient Israelite gospeller was a marathon runner carrying an important message, often from the scene of a battle. Getting the news through as quickly as possible was what mattered. In the next case study, we shall see that when the news was good the gospeller could expect a handsome reward.

Case Study 2: King David receives a good gospel

A thousand years before the Christian era, David fled Jerusalem from a coup led by his son Absalom, and Absalom mustered the armies of Israel to march out and crush him. David wished to accompany his own tiny army as they went out to meet Absalom in the forests of Ephraim, but they insisted David stay behind in the walled town of Mahanaim.

Joab led David’s army to a great victory and Absalom’s hosts were thrown into confusion in the dense forest. Joab found Absalom hanging helplessly in the branches of an oak tree and speared him. The army was called back from its pursuit.

At this point in the story we are introduced to two of Israel’s long distance runners, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, and the Cushite (probably a Sudanese man). There was tremendous prestige and financial reward involved in being first with the news of victory. Ahimaaz wanted to run the news to David, but Joab tried to deter him and sent the Cushite instead. Ahimaaz was a favourite, and Joab knew that the death of Absalom would not be good news to the king, not withstanding the victory. "Why should you run, my son? You won’t find any ‘gospel-reward’ (besorah) for this news." But Ahimaaz was insistent, so Joab let him go. One of the great marathon races of ancient history ensued as Ahimaaz tried to outpace the Cushite.

You can imagine David’s state of mind