Marketplace Ministry Masterclassნიმუში

Gospel of Salvation versus Gospel of the Kingdom Perspective

There’s a vital distinction between the gospel of salvation and the gospel of the Kingdom. As Christians, we’re all familiar with the gospel as ‘good news.’ And it truly is good news – news of salvation, eternal life, and reconciliation with God. But the gospel we carry is more than just a message of personal salvation; it’s a declaration of the Kingdom of God breaking into our world. Jesus said, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ He wasn’t just offering an individual call to repentance; He was announcing the arrival of a new order: a Kingdom where God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

We should absolutely be passionate about seeing people coming to faith in Jesus. But God’s plan isn’t just to reconcile individual souls; it’s to reconcile all of creation. When Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,’ He’s inviting us to partner with Him in bringing heaven’s realities into every sphere of our influence, including our professional lives.

Paul reveals that the cross of Christ wasn’t just salvific (dealing with personal sin) but also cosmological in its implications. It was an event that reverberated across the universe, encompassing humankind and the created world and its societal systems, initiating the process of bringing all things back into alignment with God’s original intent. Living with the resurrection power of Jesus changes our relationships, the dynamic in our homes and at work, and indeed every part of life. Years ago, God used me to bring about organisation-wide change in the simplest of ways. He filled me with compassion for my employees, and all I did was start greeting them and thanking them at the end of every shift. From that small act, a toxic work environment morphed into a culture of dignity and mutual respect. God is powerful enough to bring about the transformation we need, and even to use us as agents of change. Ask Him to show you where and how you can add value in your workplace.

We tend to think of God’s Kingdom as a future reality we’re waiting for, but there’s an immediacy in Jesus’ words when He says, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ The Kingdom is a present dimension we’re called to experience and expand now. Our day-to-day marketplace endeavours are all opportunities to bring Kingdom principles into the world around us – on earth as it is in heaven.

When we understand the gospel of the Kingdom, we recognise that our work in the marketplace is part of God’s grand plan for reconciliation. It’s about seeing marketplace systems, structures, and cultures transformed to reflect God’s Kingdom values. Take a moment to reflect on how you can begin to view your work as an extension of God’s Kingdom, bringing reconciliation and serving as a Kingdom ambassador, right where you are.