The Gospel is not about a law you must keep. It is about receiving a life that will keep you. It is not about living this life out of fear. It is about living a life of faith. It is not about rules. It is about a relationship with the father.

The message of John the Baptist and of Jesus is simply this: repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom of God is one paradigm shift away. One of the meanings of the word repent is to change your mind. It also means to change one's bent, or to turn about. Many times, when we preach repentance, we preach what we turn from, but we never emphasize what we turn toward. Many have turned from law and religion, only to turn toward the bondage of sin. Or they have turned from the bondage of sin, only to trade it for the bondage of religion.

The message of this book is primarily to help you turn toward the present reality of the kingdom of God. The Gospel of the kingdom is not just about a ticket to heaven someday. It is about receiving the Holy Spirit that will allow you to live the abundant life as a citizen of the kingdom of God right now. The message that John the Baptist was declaring was that of another form of government called the kingdom. It was coming on the scene, and would replace the government of the law.

The Message Bible, in II Corinthians 3:7-9 calls the old covenant the government of death and condemnation. It was a constitution chiseled on stone tablets. The new covenant is the constitution of the kingdom and is a government of affirmation. It is written on the fleshly tablets of our heart. It is the government of the living spirit.This book will help you turn toward the Lord. When our heart turns toward the Lord, the veil will be taken away. This book will help you make the paradigm shift from law to grace.