A good book on how God's kingdom pervades our live
(Full review at SpoiledMilks, 6/8/20)
What matters most to us is what we think of and talk about the most. What Jesus talked about more than anything else was the kingdom of God. "The kingdom is God's reign through God's people over God's place" (15). God is the king who rules and reigns over his people and through his people to those around them. We are saved by the death and resurrection of Christ for life, glory, and freedom to follow our savior in the kingdom of light (17).
There are three sections to Treat's book:
1. Kingdom Perspective: we live in a grand narrative. Treat briefly covers the Bible�s story, what Jesus did, and how we participate in Christ's and in his kingdom, even in the most mundane acts of life.
2. Kingdom Purpose: we learn that disciples remain with, learn from, and become like Christ (87). With the gospel as the center, we aim to stop sinning because we love Jesus. Jesus comes to us through his Spirit, and shows us that we are complete in him. We develop our character in every-day mundane acts. We look for a community to whom we can contribute. We both receive and give. We aim for justice for all people along with the proclamation of the gospel.
3. Kingdom People: we see how we are sons and daughters who have been adopted by the good and wise King who is now our loving and gracious Father through our union with Christ, his eternal Son. We are sojourners and exiles waiting for the return of our king. We are to faithfully proclaim the kingdom gospel amongst many who are ambivalent or malicious against Christianity. There is tension and struggle even within ourselves, but God is at work.
Recommended?
Treat fills his book with clear thinking and cultural references to create a bridge between what the Bible teaches and the very familiar culture we live in. He shows how the kingdom of God really changes everything for us.
This book would be good for students, teachers, and in Bible studies.
