From Matthew 3:1-6 / Repent! – This chapter introduces us to John the Baptizer and his ministry. He is Jesus’ older cousin by 6 months and begins his preaching mission well before Jesus makes His appearance. His message? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” With the result that many people came out to hear him, and to be baptized, confessing their sins. Not only will Jesus pick up this same theme of the Kingdom for His own preaching, but it is utilized throughout the preaching in the NT. This reality that the Kingdom is at hand – the King is about to come and take His throne and vanquish His enemies is part and parcel of the Gospel. Note first that what is so prominent here, seems to be so often missing in modern Gospel preaching: That coming to Christ necessarily includes confessing and repenting from sin. Gospel preaching which does not address our sinfulness negates the need for the Cross. And Gospel preaching which does not address repentance, negates the reality that coming to Christ means submitting to Him as our King. We cannot both follow Him and follow our sins. They are mutually exclusive. Note secondly that in our day, the Gospel is presented in such a way that one assumes the perpetuation of this present age rather than its demise. We have lost this element of the coming Kingdom, and that our hope is to be fixed on Christ’s arrival, ushering in the Kingdom in full. We, 21st Century North American Christians need to grasp that Jesus did not come and die to make “the American way of life” a Kingdom goal. This age has been weighed in the balance, been found wanting and is awaiting final destruction. God’s goal is NOT the perpetuation of it, but the giving way of it to His Kingdom. Jesus is not wrapped in a robe of red, white and blue. The Cross is not a flag pole. The Kingdom is not a capitalistic, representative republic. The message hasn’t changed. “Repent! for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”