Kingdom of God (Part 2)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

INTRODUCTION

In the Old Testament, the idea of God’s kingdom is often expressed through the concept of the reign of Yahweh, the God of Israel, over His people. The Israelites believed that God was their true king and that He would establish His kingdom on earth.

We bring you this week, the concluding part of the “KING­DOM OF GOD” as presented in the New Testament. Please enjoy and share with others!

NEW TESTAMENT

In the New Testament the fullest revelation of God’s divine rule is in the person of Jesus Christ. His birth was heralded as the birth of a king. “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!” – Luke 1:32-33.

The ministry of John the Baptist prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom. “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near – Matthew 3:2”

The crucifixion was perceived as the death of a king. “A sign an­nounced the charge against Him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” Two revolutionaries were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mock­ery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at Him. “You said you were go­ing to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save your­self and come down from the cross!” The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him!” Even the men who were cruci­fied with Jesus ridiculed Him.” – Mark 15:26-32.

Jesus preached that God’s King­dom was at hand (“And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and vio­lent people are attacking it.” – Mat­thew 11:12) His miracles, preaching, forgiving sins, and resurrecting are an in-breaking of God’s sovereign rule in this dark, evil age.

God’s Kingdom was manifested in the church. Jesus commissioned the making of disciples on the basis of His kingly authority. Peter’s sermon at Pentecost underscored that a descen­dant of David would occupy David’s throne forever, a promise fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ. Believers are transferred from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of God.

God’s Kingdom may be understood in terms of “reign” or “realm”. Reign conveys the fact that God exerts His divine authority over His subjects/ kingdom. Realm suggests location, and God’s realm is universal. God’s reign extends over all things. He is universally sovereign over the na­tions, humankind, the angels, the dominion of darkness and its inhabi­tants, and even the cosmos, individu­al believers, and the church.

In the Old Testament the Kingdom of God encom­passes the past, present, and future. The Kingdom of God had implications in the theocratic state. The king­dom of God is “already” present but “not yet” fully completed, both a present and future reality. The kingdom was inaugurated in the incarnation, life, ministry, death and res­urrection of Jesus. God’s Kingdom blessings are in some measure possessed now. People presently find and enter God’s Kingdom. God is now manifesting His authoritative rule in the lives of His people. God’s Kingdom, however, awaits its complete realisation. His people still endure sufferings and tribulations. When fully consummat­ed, hardships will cease. Kingdom citizens currently dwell alongside inhabitants of the Kingdom of dark­ness. God will eventually dispel all darkness. The final inheritance of the citizens of God’s Kingdom is yet to be fully realised. The resurrection body for life in the eschatological Kingdom is a blessing awaiting culmination.

God’s kingdom is soteriological in nature, expressed in the redemption of fallen persons. The reign of Christ instituted the destruc­tion of all evil powers hostile to the will of God. Satan, the “god of this age”, along with his demonic horde, seeks to hold the hearts of indi­viduals captive in darkness. Christ has defeated Satan and the powers of darkness and delivers believers. Although Satan still is active in this present darkness, his ultimate conquest and destruction are assured through Christ’s sacri­ficial death and resurrection. Sinners enter Christ’s kingdom through regeneration.

Many of Jesus’ parables emphasise the mysterious nature of God’s kingdom. For example, an insignificant mus­tard seed will grow a tree, as God’s kingdom will grow far beyond its inception, “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” – Matthew 13:31-32. The kingdom of God is like seed scattered on the ground. Some seed will fall on good soil, take root, and grow. Other seed, however, will fall on hard, rocky ground and will not grow. Likewise, the kingdom will take root in the hearts of some but will be rejected and unfruitful in others (Matthew 13:3-8). As wheat and tares grow side by side, indistinguishable from each other, so also the sons of the kingdom of God and the sons of the kingdom of darkness grow to­gether in the world until ultimately separated by God.

Although closely related, the kingdom and the church are distinct. George Eldon Ladd identified four elements in the relationship of the kingdom of God to the church. The kingdom of God creates the church. God’s redemptive rule is manifested over and through the church. The church is a “custodian” of the king­dom. The church again witnesses to God’s divine rule.

The kingdom of God is the work of God, not produced by human ingenuity. God brought it into the world through Christ, and it presently works through the church. The church preaches of the kingdom of God and anticipates the eventual consumma­tion.

STAY BLESSED!

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Website: saltandlightministriesgh. org

By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author