The Kingdom of God

At its height, the Roman Empire was a huge realm that kept getting larger. The Caesars continually sent out their armies to take new territories.  When a new territory came under Roman control, the Romans would make that new territory as much like Rome as possible. They would build Roman temples and institute the worship of Roman gods, Roman education, arts, and culture. They would do everything they could do to make the new territory just like Rome.  They did it so that if the Caesar ever came there, he would feel right at home because the territory was just like Rome.

That is what the Kingdom of God is like. The Kingdom of God is when everything in Heaven is instituted on the earth, so that God’s government, teaching, worship, glory, and power are manifested here on earth.  After all, the King is returning one day. When He comes, we want Him to feel at home, just as if He were still in Heaven.

That’s why Jesus taught us to pray

“Thy kingdom come! Thy will: be done on earth as it is in Heaven!”

How will this come about?  It is surely by persuading people that God is real and has appeared as Jesus the Christ.  People enter the Kingdom of God by submitting to the rule of Christ.  People need to be told that there is no greater priority in life than to enter into God’s kingdom.  Jesus said,

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33:

A major theme that runs through the whole Bible is the ‘Kingdom of God’ which means God’s rule over all of his creation.  People can either accept his reign in their lives or reject him. Those taking the latter course are repeatedly warned of the dire consequences that this decision will result in.

Old Testament

When God first called Abraham to leave his homeland and move to Canaan he promised Abraham that a great kingdom would come from him and that this kingdom would benefit the whole world,

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you, . . . and all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3

When the Lord first called Moses to lead his people he said to him,

“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:7

After the Lord had freed his people from captivity in Egypt Moses sang a song to the Lord in which he said,

“Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?  Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? . . . The LORD will reign for ever and ever.” Exodus 15:11, 18

God’s people would be a people of his own making who would both be blessed by God but also have responsibilities to him.  This covenant is a repeated theme throughout the Bible:

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” Leviticus 26:12

“Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:23

God has repeatedly promised that those who belong to his Kingdom will be blessed by him but this close relationship is dependant on the people remaining faithful to their Lord.

When God’s people were exiled in Babylon the prophet Ezekiel reminded them of God’s promise:

“You will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:28

Note that it is God who has always taken the initiative.

New Testament

When Jesus came to this earth he repeatedly reminded people that the establishment of God’s Kingdom was his priority and this was to be the main means by which he would work in his world.  Those who are committed to leading God’s people must understand that they are committed to achieving their Lord’s ambitions.  We are here to establish God’s kingdom.

John the Baptist called on God’s people to turn back to God:

“Make straight the way for the Lord.” John 1:23

The Baptist saw himself as being relatively insignificant, it was the Lord he wanted to point people to.

“ . . . among you stands one you do not know.  He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27

The following day John the Baptist introduced people to Jesus with some astounding words:

“Look. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. . . . I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29

This has remained the message of all Christians and therefore must be the central message of the church’s trainers, the elder/ministers.  John then urged his followers to become disciples of Jesus.  Jesus is God’s Messiah, God’s Chosen King and now his Kingdom was being established under his rule.

:“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew 3:1-2

Then Jesus began his three year teaching programme that was especially centred on training his disciples, the future church leaders.  His message was similar to that of the Old Testament and that of John::

“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 is near, Repent and believe the goddess news.” Mark 1:14-15

God’s King had come and with him came his Kingdom.  To enter God’s kingdom everybody needs to have a deep seated change of mind and allow God’s King to rule their life.  This again remains the core message of God’s church.

This has always been God’s message to humanity.  Paul was later to quote the Old Testament when writing to a church that was struggling with wrong priorities, emphasising that God wants us to have a personal walk with him:

“For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’” 2 Corinthians 6:16

Some theologians have suggested that Paul’s message differed from that of Jesus.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  When he met up with the elders of the church in Ephesus at Miletus he reminded them what his emphasis had always been, he always focused on Jesus and his Kingdom:

“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.” Acts 20:20

This still remains the priority of elder/ministers today.  Paul makes it very clear what his message was:

“I have declared to both Jews and Gentiles that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:21

This essential message from God about Jesus, his rule, his death to pay for our sin and the possibility that all can enter God’s Kingdom is summarised as the message of the Kingdom.  Paul finishes this speech with the words:

“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.” Acts 20:25

All people need to be warned that unless we allow the Lord to live amongst us, directing our paths, then we are not true believers.  The apostle John reminds his readers that it is a personal obedient relationship with the King that saves us:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” Revelation 21:3

Church membership and involvement in church is no substitute to accepting Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour.  Martin Luther often reminded his listeners,

“Many say ‘Jesus is Lord’ but only the Christian says, ‘Jesus is my Lord.’”

What a disaster it is that many church leaders have moved away from this core message.  Too many fail to centre what they teach in homes and in pulpits on Jesus and his word.  Many church people are now Biblically illiterate and responsibility for this must lie with their elder/ministers.

We held an inter church youth service one evening and a lady came from a small local church that focussed on social care in the community.  Its minister was not known for teaching the Bible.  The two youngsters she brought with her went to sit with other young people so this lady sat at the back on her own.  Went up to welcome her and sat down next to her.  I was astonished at her opening words:

“The trouble with your church is that you talk too much about Jesus!”

I replied by showing here the opening 10 verses Paul wrote to the troubled church at Corinth.  This begins:

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours.  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank God for you because of the grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him . . . because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. . . . as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”.  God who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with one another . . .  ‘I follow Christ.’  Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you? . . . For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

We could have looked at the opening 14 verses of Ephesians chapter 1.  The lesson is the same.  The church’s message has always centred on Jesus and his kingdom.  All the activities of churches should be centred on him.  The apostolic faith is all about Jesus and the Kingdom of God that is open to all who turn to Jesus the Christ.

At the close of a service a stranger came up to the preacher and said,

“I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasising the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example."

The preacher replied replied,

“If I presented Christ in that way, as the teacher and example, would you be willing to follow Him?”

“I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation.

“All right then,” said the preacher, “Let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself? Have you followed his example?”

The man looked confused and somewhat surprised.

“Why, no,” he said. “I acknowledge that I do sin.”

The preacher replied,

“Then your greatest need is to have a Saviour, not an example!”

What comfort this gives to those people who are members of God’s Kingdom.  Our God reigns, he is sovereign.  The great Victorian Bible teacher, C.H Spurgeon has said,

“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation--the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands - the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne . . . for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust.”

What a privilege it is to be accepted as a member of God’s Kingdom.

BVP