Harry Pitts argues Jesus came to restore God's authority on earth through a community of kingdom citizens, not just to get people to heaven. The cross and resurrection were a restoration plan, not an exit strategy. Believers should seek the Kingdom of God as their primary allegiance.
The goal of the cross was not simply to get people into heaven when they die. The goal was to restore the original design— heaven's governing authority operating through kingdom citizens living on the earth. I'm sorry, but Jesus did not come for church members. Jesus came for kingdom citizens. This is why he said, repent. For the kingdom. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heaven's governing authority operating through kingdom citizens living on the earth. The resurrection was the King reclaiming the territory. So, we love the church. We love the faith. It is the word ecclesia. An ecclesia is the governing body He left behind to continue that reestablishment. Listen to Matthew 6:33, is the standing order. Seek what? What does God say to seek first? The Kingdom of God. He didn't say seek religion. He said to seek what? The Kingdom of God, not as a religious pursuit, but as the primary governing allegiance of your life. He didn't come to rescue you from earth. He came to restore the earth to its original purpose through you. The cross was not an exit strategy, not at all. It was a restoration plan.
