Charles Cooper Kingdom Alive

No parable of Jesus should cause more fear in modern believers than the Parable of the Talents. This parable answers the question, "Will there be negative consequences for unfaithful believers?" You must know the answer to this question. You must live accordingly.

Jesus repeatedly warned his listeners of a coming time of separation for all of humanity. The separation is depicted as sheep vs. goats; tares vs. wheat and others. It is important to understand that there is going to be a separation of believers and unbelievers, but also, faithful believers and unfaithful believers. What is the destiny of the unfaithful believers? Let's find out.

Jesus Christ came to build a government to rule the coming sovereign administration of God coming to earth. You have been offered an opportunity to earn a position. You must wear a crown of thorns now to wear a crown of gold - to be a king in the kingdom. Listen as we learn an important lesson.

Mark 1:14-15 – The Three Pillars of the Gospel of God

1. The Time is Fulfilled

2. The Kingdom of God has come near

3. Repent and believe the gospel

Repentance is God's requirement for both sinners and saints to escape the temporal judgment of God.

In summary, repentance is for believers and unbelievers. It can occur before or after regeneration. It can even aid a person in coming to faith in Christ. However, repentance is not a condition of eternal life.

If wearing a cross was an indication of one’s true commitment or belief in the atoning death of Jesus Christ, I suppose the majority of Americans would be committed followers of Jesus Christ. Yet, we know this not to be true. I believe a far better symbol for the Christian life is a Crown made of thrones and Gold. We all need to understand that to wear a gold crown in the coming kingdom will require each one of us to wear a crown of thrones now. Jesus did and so will we if we hope to reign with him in his glorious coming kingdom. Let’s see what Scripture says.

Whatever else the Kingdom of God is, it cannot be equal to salvation. The New Testament lists no less than 7 conditions necessary for a person to enter the Kingdom of God. Now one does not have to accomplish all seven, but the fact that one must meet more than one condition makes it impossible to associate the entrance into the kingdom of God with receiving salvation by faith.

What are these conditions, and what is the significance of these conditions for New Testament believers? That is the subject of our study today.

The book of Mark opens with the announcement that Jesus began his public preaching ministry with the Gospel of God. Those unfamiliar with the Old Testament might confuse this message with what is thought to be the intent of the Prophets. God, long before the beginning of the New Testament era, promised that he would come to this earth in physical permanent manifestation to exercise a sovereign administration.

Jude 14-15 records that Enoch, the 7th from Adam, prophesied this very thing. What exactly is the essence of this promise, and how are we to understand the fulfillment yet to come? This is the essence of our study today.

Mark 1:14-15 reports the essence of the Gospel of God. It includes three pillars. The first pillar defined the time human history marches to God's jubilee has begun. God has set me free from the imprisonment of sin. Those who believe in Jesus are free from the penalty, punishment, and the ever-present need to sin.

The second pillar is the announcement that the Kingdom of God has come within man's reach. What is the kingdom of God? This is the question we will answer in this session. What is the Kingdom of God – Part 2.

In this session, we answer the question, "What is the Gospel of God?" We discuss the first pillar of the good news of God. Mark 1:14-15 tells us the content of Jesus' sermon. The first thing Jesus told his audience concerned the time on God's eternal clock. What time is it? Jesus tells us.

Having minored in Greek in college and spent four years studying at Dallas Theological Seminary, I thought I at least knew all the major theological viewpoints on every significant doctrine of the Christian faith.

I was wrong. The difference between the Gospel of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ is so simple, yet I just came to this knowledge in recent years. My journey was not an easy one. Listen as I explain my journey.