Bryant Wright, Founder

“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” Mark 1:14-15

When Jesus stepped onto the scene in Galilee, He announced something the world had never heard before: “The kingdom of God has come near.” With those words, the long-awaited promise of God’s reign breaking into human history began to unfold– not in political power, but in the person of Jesus Christ.

Luke gives us a clear picture of what that dawning kingdom looked like. In Luke 4:31-44, Jesus enters Capernaum teaching with authority, casting out demons, healing the sick, and bringing hope to the broken. Everywhere He went, darkness fled. The spiritual world trembled. People marveled.

And the demons? They recognized exactly who He is.

They cried out, “You are the Holy One of God!” (Luke 4:34). Think about that. They had perfect theology. They knew Jesus’ identity better than the crowds did. They had all the head knowledge in the world– but they lacked the one thing that separates saving faith from mere awareness: a repentant heart.

That’s why Jesus’ first message wasn’t simply “believe.” It was “Repent and believe the good news.“

Repentance and faith always go hand-in-hand. You cannot cling to Christ without letting go of sin. You cannot believe the truth without turning from the lies. You cannot embrace the kingdom of God while holding on to the kingdom of self.

The demons believed facts about Jesus, but they never bowed to Him. Many people today sin in that same dangerous place– knowing the right answers, being familiar with Jesus’ teachings, maybe even involved in leadership– yet never surrendering their hearts.

Saving faith is more than an agreement. It is an allegiance. It is submission.

The dawning of God’s kingdom in Jesus’ early ministry shows us what true faith looks like: trusting Jesus enough to turn from anything that keeps us from Him. Repentance is not a harsh demand; it is an invitation into freedom, healing, and life under the loving rule of the perfect King.

The kingdom has drawn near. Jesus still calls: Repent. Believe. Follow.

Because when His kingdom breaks into your life, everything changes– from the inside out.

DIG DEEPER:
Read “Revealing God’s Kingdom in a Turbulent World” also by Bryant Wright