People often ask, what is the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, an eternal kingdom. The kingdom of God as we know it now is not a physical place. It's not a physical kingdom somewhere in the world with borders like the United States.
This is a kingdom prophesied about in the old testament and revealed in the new testament. It is the realm of God's sovereignty, presence, and influence in our lives, where God reigns and rules over us with love, justice, mercy, and grace. In the kingdom, we find hope, peace, joy, and purpose that can only be found through living under God's rule.
Although God's kingdom is an invisible kingdom it can be manifested on earth through the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. In this blog post, we will explore: what is the kingdom of God, who lives in the kingdom of God, what we can expect from the Kingdom of God, and much more!
Is the King in the Kingdom of God Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the king of the kingdom of God! He is the Messiah, the one who has been prophesied about in the old testament and revealed in the new testament.
He established God's reign on earth and in partnership with his church, he fulfilled God's purpose for the earth.
Jesus is an amazing king because of the love and compassion he has for his people. His kingly rule is not like the kings of the earth. Jesus showed us new glory, new salvation, and a new future, and has brought a new meaning to our lives. He works with God the Father to do all these things.
Jesus Christ walked on earth in Israel declaring "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Jesus preached this gospel of the kingdom of God from the position of king.
Who Can Enter the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God includes all those who declare Jesus Christ Lord and Savior, regardless of race, gender, or background. It is not just for those who live in Jerusalem or Israel as a whole but Jesus tells Nicodemus in the book of John 3:5, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Those who are born of the Spirit become a new creation and are called to live under kingdom rules set by the risen king, Jesus Christ.
We repent, leave our old life, and enter into a completely different lifestyle, a different authority under God as we allow him to rule and reign. Later in verse six, Jesus continues, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Flesh is different than the Spirit. Our flesh because of sin can not be a part of the kingdom of God and that's why we need to be born of the Spirit. We repent or turn away from our old fleshly lead lives and live by the Spirit.
How Do We Live Life in the Kingdom of God?
Since the kingdom of God is not a physical kingdom and is in the spiritual realm, we take the kingdom of God by faith. We live under the kingly rule and reign of Jesus Christ and under God's authority by the Holy Spirit. We live from above to below, from heaven to earth.
This is something Jesus taught his disciples to pray when they asked him how to pray. Jesus answered them with the Lord's prayer and part of the prayer found in scripture, Matthew 6, says, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We partner with heaven in bringing the kingdom of God down to all the earth.
Our service in the kingdom of God consists of preaching the gospel or good news of the kingdom, healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the leper, casting out demons, and as we have freely received, we freely give. This can be found in Matthew 10.
Even the standard of living for a person is raised in the kingdom of God. Jesus calls Christians and the church to a higher standard and in Matthew 5 we see that standard rise.
But the Father is good and because of Jesus Christ it is possible to live by that standard when we submit ourselves to God's authority and understand it cannot be by our righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ and function under that.
As members of the kingdom we must transform our minds like Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
How does the Second Coming of Jesus Affect the Kingdom of God?
The second coming of Jesus is the future return of the risen Christ to all creation where he will establish God's kingdom on earth once and for all. John foretold this moment in the Bible in the book of Revelation.
Jesus is bringing the kingdom of God from heaven to the world where he will overcome Satan and the kingdom of darkness and take his rightful place as Lord over all the earth.
Blessed are those who are a part of the kingdom of God during this time.
Commonly Asked Questions About the Kingdom of God
What Does Kingdom Mean Biblically?
The biblical definition of the word kingdom is the supreme rulership of the Lord.
What Does The Bible Say About The Kingdom Of God?
In Luke 17:20-21 the Bible says, "Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!'' for behold the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
What Are The 3 Characteristics Of God's Kingdom?
3 characteristics of the kingdom of God are: God's spiritual reign over his people which is the church, Jesus is and is coming as king and lord over the kingdom of God and will rule for eternity, God's kingdom is established by fulfilling God's will from heaven to earth.
What Does The Kingdom Of God Look Like?
In Matthew chapter 13, we read about Jesus describing what the kingdom of heaven will look like. He gives seven different parables.
The parable of the hidden treasure in verse 44 is one example, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
The central theme or meaning, of this parable, is the kingdom of heaven is priceless. It is worth more than anything that this world has to offer.
Another parable Jesus used to describe the kingdom of God is, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
This parable talks about the growth and expansion of the kingdom of God. We know from the Bible that the kingdom of God started with Jesus and his 12 disciples. This is the mustard seed. As time goes on, with the gospel of the kingdom being preached and the will of God being established, the kingdom grows and becomes the mustard tree which is now millions to billions of Christians.
How Do You Seek The Kingdom Of God?
Scripture tells us in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" and this means to go after the will of God for your life and to align yourself with God's character.
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