Rom. 1:15, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”

Msg. Rom. 1:15, “And that’s why I can’t wait to get to you in Rome, preaching this wonderful good news of God.”

Again we are driving home the key message that Jesus asked us to preach in the midst of all these shades of doctrines of the New Age movement within Christendom.

Let’s keep in mind the words of John the beloved as we make progress;

2John 1:9, “Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son,” Ampl.

This seems to me like a guiding post if I must serve faithfully as a servant of God in His vineyard. I must pay close attention to this fact as revealed by Apostle John.

Philip.

He was one man sent to Samaria to preach the Good News and what did he preach? See it here;

Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

This is amazing! Why, you may ask? Because as we know it today, Phillip being an evangelist ought to have stayed with John 3:16. Every evangelist today tells you that they are not called to teach the Word but just to proclaim the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

That is also good, but truth is truth. The fivefold ministry of Eph. 4:11 was meant to equip the saints to maturity and not just drumming John 3:16.

True sons of God, no matter the calling, you are meant to proclaim King Jesus and His kingdom. He was born a king and He must have a kingdom to reign in.

Paul

So was Paul’s message too?

Acts 18:28, “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

This statement ties up with Colossians 1:26-28,

“26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Paul wasn’t saying Christ is the message to be preached per se, but rather he was warning the Colossians Church against the Judaizers who were trying to mix the Christ with Moses.

Therefore he will tell them;

Col. 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ… 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;…”

So he was just solving a problem in this Church and get their focus back on Christ. Having emphasized to them where they are now.

Col. 1:2;

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

So where were they? In the kingdom, his main message. See it further here;

Acts 14:22, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Acts 19:8, “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”

“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more,” Acts 20:25.

This is clear enough that the message of Paul was the kingdom of God and whenever he talked about the Christ ;

“Acts 18:28 “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that JESUS WAS CHRIST.”

This is to prove to the Jews that the Christ- Messiah they were expecting was Jesus. And this was the thought in Col. 1:26-27.

Now one thing is the fact that the Jews expected the Messiah to come and set up a kingdom and reign in the throne of his Father David.

Thinking it was a physical kingdom, even so His disciples asked Him in Acts 1:6,

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

This is after He has taught them for forty good days. Acts 1:3, “…being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the KINGDOM OF GOD.”

So you see, the emphasis is “the king and His kingdom” and that is the Good News we are asked to preach. Nothing more.

To be continued…