新约几乎每一卷书都说到国度
在新约里，当施浸者约翰来传道时，他的头一句话乃是，‘你们要悔改，因为诸天的国已经临近了’（太三2）。当主耶稣出来传道时，祂也说同样的话：‘你们要悔改，因为诸天的国已经临近了’（四17）。主耶稣在路加九章差遣十二门徒，并在十章差遣七十门徒出去时，告诉他们去传扬国度。最后，启示录，圣经末了一卷告诉我们，‘世上的国，成了我主和祂基督的国，祂要作王，直到永永远远’（十一15）。主要与祂所有得胜的圣徒一同作王掌权。因此，在圣经的末了我们能看见，神至终要得着一个国度，在其中祂能完完全全施行祂的权柄，以完成祂永远的定旨。你知道圣经里有这样一条线么？只有藉着国度，神才能施行祂的权柄，完成祂永远的定旨。新约从马太福音到启示录，几乎每一卷书都说到国度。主耶稣复活以后，四十天之久，与使徒们讲说国度的事。（徒一3）。
为着国度悔改
新约所传扬的头一项乃是国度。新约的头一个传道人是施浸者约翰，他口中所出的头一句话乃是，‘你们要悔改，因为诸天的国已经临近了’（太三1-2）。这不仅是犯罪、下地狱、或者得着平安喜乐的事；这也不仅是悔改，好使我们得救的事。我们必须为着国度悔改。悔改这辞的意思是改变你的心思，在你的想法上有改变。悔改的意思是，改变你的推理方式，改变你的观念、想法、哲学、甚至你的神学。我们都需要悔改。从你老旧的观念悔改，从哲学和系统神学悔改；从老旧的圣经知识，从对圣经老旧的解释、解说悔改。
为什么我们必须为着国度悔改？因为，不管我们坚持的观念是什么，我们都不是为着国度的。你也许是为着教育或为着宗教；你也许是为着基督教，或者为着所谓的教会；你也许是为着传福音，或为着差会工场；你也许是为着作善事。你也许热心于属灵的恩赐，或者寻求神的能力。我不知道你是为着什么，但我恐怕你也许不是为着国度。你必须悔改。你要悔改脱开你的所是，脱开你所在之处，脱开你所作的、所想的，脱开你一切的观念。神也不管你的观念是好是坏，那是无意义的。只要你不是为着国度，那就没有分别。我们都必须为着国度悔改。新约乃是为着国度。当新约时代来临时，国度就来临了。如果你不在国度里，如果你不是为国度而活，你就需要悔改。
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Repent for the Kingdom – Matt. 3:2
Almost Every Book in the New Testament Talking About the Kingdom
In the New Testament, when John the Baptist came to preach, his first words were, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near” (Matt. 3:2). When the Lord Jesus came out to preach, He also said the same thing: “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near” (Matt. 4:17). When the Lord Jesus sent out the twelve disciples in Luke 9 and the seventy disciples in Luke 10, he told them to go and proclaim the kingdom. Finally, In the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, tells us, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). The Lord will reign with all His victorious saints. Therefore, at the end of the Bible we can see that God will eventually gain a kingdom in which He can fully exercise His authority to fulfill His eternal purpose. Do you know there is such a line in the Bible? Only through the kingdom can God exercise His authority and fulfill His eternal purpose. Almost every book in the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation talks about the kingdom. After the Lord Jesus was resurrected, he spoke to the apostles about the kingdom for forty days (Acts 1:3).
Repent for the Kingdom
The first item proclaimed in the New Testament is the kingdom. The first preacher of the New Testament was John the Baptist, and the first words out of his mouth were, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near” (Matt. 3:1-2). This is not just a matter of sinning, going to hell, or finding peace and joy; it is not just a matter of repenting so that we can be saved. We must repent for the sake of the kingdom. The word “repent” means to change your mind, your thinking. To repent means to change the way you reason, to change your concepts, thoughts, philosophy and even your theology. We all need to repent. Repent from your old concepts, repent from your philosophy and systematic theology; repent from your old knowledge of the Bible, and repent from your old interpretations and explanations of the Bible.
Why must we repent for the sake of the kingdom? No matter what concept we hold on to, we are not for the kingdom. You may do it for education or religion; you may do it for Christianity, or for the so-called church; you may do it for evangelism, or for the mission, or for charity. You may be passionate about spiritual gifts or seeking God’s power. Regardless of what you are for, but I am afraid that you may not be for the kingdom. You have to repent. You need to repent and get rid of who you are, where you are, what you do and think, and get rid of all your concepts. God doesn’t care whether your concepts are good or bad, that’s meaningless. As long as you are not for the kingdom, there is no difference. We all must repent for the sake of the kingdom. The New Covenant is for the kingdom. When the New Testament dispensation comes, the kingdom comes. If you are not in the kingdom, if you are not living for the kingdom, you need to repent.