Written by Zach Windahl, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Bible Simplified.”
Jesus did not come to earth to start a new religion called Christianity. He came to earth to expand upon an old religion and show its followers how He was the fulfillment of all they had been waiting for…Everything Jesus did and said had to do with the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven, as the Gospel of Matthew says it)…The Kingdom of God wasn’t taking over the old one with force and violence, but with peace and love and joy and an emphasis on holiness. This Kingdom was the exact opposite of the kingdom of the world. The Kingdom of God cared for the poor and sick and hurting and defenseless; it wouldn’t take over in a military fashion like the powers of the world always did. Jesus taught believers how to handle anger and lust and divorce and enemies. He taught them how to pray and fast and handle money and deal with anxiety. He went on and on, teaching about this new Kingdom that had come near — God’s Kingdom. This “Kingdom lifestyle” is how God planned to partner with humans to rescue and redeem the world. If people were willing to obey His teachings, the world would slowly become what God had intended it to be…When we accept Jesus as our King and Lord, He invites us to participate in the Kingdom of God, bringing Heaven to earth in the present, and boosting our hope for the future where He reigns for the rest of eternity.
The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! [Mark 1:15]
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