What Luke and Acts tell us about the Gospel of the Kingdom

Luke 1:1-4 NRSV  Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,  (2)  just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,  (3)  I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  (4)  so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

Act 1:1-5  In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning (2)  until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.  (3)  After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  (4)  While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me;  (5)  for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Two New Testament books are most instructive in piecing together what first century Christianity was, and how it related to first century Judaism. They are of course, The Gospel of Luke, and The Acts of the Apostles. The reason is they were both written by Luke. There is little evidence to disbelieve that Luke was the author of both, and a substantial amount of evidence to believe that he was the author. What he clearly states is that he set out as a reporter that investigated the material from first hand sources. Given this, Luke becomes a most reliable source.

It also must be noted that Luke the physician was a companion of Paul's and was mentioned in his epistles. Therefore, it can easily be concluded that Luke got a lot of the input for his writing from Paul. But, Paul was not an actual eye-witness to the earthly ministry of Jesus and therefore Luke consulted others that were with Paul. Several biblical scholars believe that his chief eye-witness was Mary the mother of Jesus herself. This makes sense to me because there is no mention that his mother brothers and sisters thought that he might be out of his mind  when they went to find him as was portrayed in the Mark account. It seems likely to me that Mary would leave that part out.

John MacArthur, wrote a book entitled "The Gospel According to Jesus." In it, he emphasized the law aspects of Jesus message and, in my view, laid waste to the gospel message. What he did not consider for a minute was the transition that takes place in the New Testament. This transition is most obvious in the two works written by Dr. Luke. One could conclude that Luke wrote about two different gospels. That is not what happened at all. He merely as a good historical reporter finding the facts and presented them as they were. The facts he uncovered and wrote down show the transition very well.

Luke begins with the last Jewish Old Covenant Prophet John the Baptist. Luke presents the story of his birth, calling, and the miracles surrounding his birth and upbringing. He was the prophet that was foretold in Isaiah, "a voice of one crying in the wilderness make way for the Lord." It was a strictly Jewish message to a strictly Jewish audience. He was a prophet to the Jews, before the cross/resurrection event, and thereby was strictly Old Covenant. Jesus said as much. Luke NRSV 7:26-28  "What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  (27)  This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  (28)  I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Jesus states simply and clearly that while John the Baptist was the greatest Old Covenant prophet he was not in the kingdom per se, and was not a gospel of the kingdom prophet.

Luke then takes up the mission and ministry of the Lord himself.  Now it should be very interesting that Luke did not dwell too much on Jesus teaching about the Mosaic Law. There is indeed a contrast between the story that Luke tells and the story that Matthew tells. The reason most scholars give for the difference was that Matthew wrote to a strictly Jewish audience and Luke wrote to a Gentile and Hellenic Jew audience. However, this also shows that there was not as strong an emphasis placed on the law as evangelical orthodox dogma suggests. Most of the references to the Law in Luke's gospel are concerning Jesus birth and youth. However, Luke did record this interesting statement by Jesus: Luke 16:16  "The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force." According to Jesus the Law was in effect until the end of the mission of John the Baptist. The writer of Hebrews explains that it was fading or passing because it was obsolete and would SOON disappear (Heb 8:13.) It would disappear when the temple was destroyed (Heb 9:8.)

Moving on to The Acts of the Apostles, there are several sermons recorded there. Most notably are those of Peter. He preached the gospel to the Jews on Pentecost, and to the Gentiles at Cornelius' house. The complete content of his gospel message in both instances was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This also agrees with what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 15:1-4. Likewise, you have Paul stating that he determined to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ crucified, again the gospel of grace. Finally, Paul states this:  Col 2:6-7 NRSV "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  (7)  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." How did they receive Jesus? The answer is by the obedience of faith. It is clear to see that the gospel of the kingdom was in fact the gospel of grace and nothing else.

People who want the gospel of the kingdom to be more than faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus often throw out the phrase "easy believism." Every time I hear or read that phrase I have to roll my eyes and shake my head. There was nothing easy about Jesus perfect faith in the Father. He believed that in spite of the ridicule and torture that he was the unique Son of God that had a special redemptive mission. It was his perfect faith that pleased the Father. How do we know this? Because the writer of Hebrews explained that without faith it is impossible to please the Father.

So back to the "easy believism" accusation; it is not easy to believe that God declares us righteous, which means justifies us, based on faith alone. Yet, that is precisely what Paul states in Romans 5:1. It just doesn't seem right to the human mind. That is why there are so many that want to add to their faith in Christ with their works for justification or to prove justification. It matters little if one adds works to justify or simply uses works as proof of justification. The end result is ALWAYS the same. It results in death by the killing letter of the law. The gospel of the kingdom operates in a very different manner. The person who hears the gospel, believes that they have been declared righteous by the Father, that they indeed have peace with God as the result of this reconciliation, will automatically love God based on the content of the gospel message. This presents a challenge however, we need to hear the message of the gospel over and over. Every time it is preached, it ALWAYS has the same exact effect. It promotes peace and love for God the Father. Upon hearing the gospel message one automatically fulfills the greatest commandment.

This is why the writer of Hebrews admonished his intended audience to not forsake the assembling of themselves. It was to hear and rehearse the gospel over and over and not for the purpose that most churches today try to force people to be in the church every time the door opens. It was the source of renewal for the Spirit life. The saint is in continual rebirth. We are freshly born of the Spirit each and every time we hear the gospel of grace. It is not that we become spiritually dead in between hearing the gospel message, rather it is that in hearing it we become revitalized. I pray to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the saints of God will awaken to this fact, that they will forsake the leaven of the Pharisees, that they will set aside the strong delusion, and will renew their commitment to the gospel of grace which is the gospel of the kingdom.