Question: Dear Mr. McLemore, I heard a preacher say that Jesus failed to set up his kingdom at his first coming because of his rejection by the Jews. Is this true?

Answer: Such statements are at the foundation of the view that Christ will come again and establish his kingdom and reign on earth for a thousand years. Sadly, such statements reflect a failure to appreciate the manner in which the purpose of God was fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. The whole point of the gospel story is that God’s purpose was FULFILLED, rather than failed, in the death of Christ. See Luke 24:44-47; Acts 2:23; 3:18; 13:27. In Luke 22:69 (in reference to Psalm 110:1), Jesus said, "But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Christ’s death and resurrection were not a failure to set up his kingdom, but a triumphant exaltation to the throne! A truly remarkable thing about the God revealed in the Christ event is his power to use human rejection to bring about a saving purpose to which human beings are blind! Whereas statements such as you heard diminish faith in God and have no basis in scripture.