Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mark 1:14-15 Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Jesus' message (the gospel of God): Repent, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and believe in the gospel!
Most often Jesus was calling people to repent from religion which tried to control God - from trying to force God's hand to get God blessings by keeping a set of rules, beliefs, and good deeds. Christians struggle even now not to become like the religious people (the Pharisees) of Jesus' day. But other times, Jesus called people to repent from an immoral lifestyle - like he did with the Samaritan woman who had multiple partners that were not her husband. Repentance means to turn from old ways towards the way of Jesus.
The Kingdom of Heaven is both a present and future reality. Presently Jesus was with them - his reign was beginning as people began to repent and follow him. Jesus also taught that the Kingdom is within us - a reference to the Holy Spirit's work in believer's lives. But the Kingdom of Heaven is also a future concept when a day will come when Jesus will reign everywhere and forever.
Believe in the gospel is not the same as "believe" in Santa. I think "trust" is a better translation since the word "believe" in Christian cultures has cheapened. "Trust in the gospel" means our belief goes so far that we enter into a relationship with God where we give up our selves and place our selves in God's care and control. It is where we desire Jesus' reign in our lives - to be the servants of God.
Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, put your trust in God's good message!
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