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     When Jesus began His three years ministry declaring He was the prophesied Messiah, teaching true righteousness and performing miracles, He said to His disciples, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11).  In addition to the kingdom being “at hand,” Jesus said it was a “mystery.”  The New Testament refers to the “mystery” 26 times.  This mystery is the scheme of redemption — how God would offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life to everyone who lives.

     Although not called the mystery until Jesus did so, the mystery began in the ambiguous promise to send a Savior soon after Adam and Eve sinned and lost their fellowship with God (Genesis 3:15).  God’s promise of the Savior given to Abraham was more detailed — (1) his descendants would become a nation (2) one descendant would be a blessing to every family on earth (Jesus; Gen 12:1-3; 22:18; Galatians 3:16).  This prophetic promise began to unfold 430 years later when the Israelites agreed to the Mosaic covenant, delivered by Moses on Mount Sinai thereby becoming God’s chosen nation.  Abraham’s descendants became a nation!  Still the mystery’s unfolding loomed for nearly another 1500 years.  What about this kingdom Jesus said was a mystery?

     First, every kingdom has a king.  In this series we have considered Jesus is the Messiah who rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is the King reigning on His throne in heaven (Acts 2:29-36; Hebrews 10:12; 12:2).  Second every kingdom has subjects (citizens).  Reasonably, one asks if the King is in heaven, where are His subjects?  The apostle Paul wrote, he had been translated into Jesus kingdom (Colossians 1:13, 14).  Jesus said a person could not become a citizen of His kingdom unless He was born again (John 3:3-5).  We considered baptism (immersion) prompted by trust in Jesus as the Savior as the moment a person is “born again.”  Obviously, Paul was on earth when he was baptized (Acts 9:17, 18; 22:16) and wrote he was now in Jesus kingdom.  How can this be when Jesus told governor Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world…” (John 8:36).  How could Paul be in Jesus kingdom, when Jesus said it was not of this world?  Where is the kingdom?  There is more to this mystery!

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