Kingdom
the
Kingdom of God
What is the kingdom of God?
Answer:
The kingdom
of God is referenced often in the gospels (e.g., Mark 1:15; 10:15;
15:43; Luke 17:20) and other places in the New Testament (e.g., Acts
28:31; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50). The kingdom of God
is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven. The concept of the kingdom of
God takes on various shades of meaning in different passages of Scripture.
Broadly
speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all
the universe. Several passages of Scripture show that God is the undeniable
Monarch of all creation: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and
his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). And, as King Nebuchadnezzar
declared, “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom” (Daniel 4:3). Every
authority that exists has been established by God (Romans 13:1). So, in
one sense, the kingdom of God incorporates everything that is.
More
narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of
those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority
and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast,
those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule
in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God. In this sense, the kingdom of
God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36),
and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God
(Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere
of salvation is evident in John 3:5–7, where Jesus says the kingdom of
God must be entered into by being born again. See also 1 Corinthians 6:9.
There
is another sense in which the kingdom of God is used in Scripture: the literal
rule of Christ on the earth during the millennium. Daniel said that “the
God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel
2:44; cf. 7:13–14), and many of the other prophets predicted the
same thing (e.g., Obadiah 1:21; Habakkuk 2:14; Micah 4:2; Zechariah
14:9). Some theologians refer to the future, open manifestation of the
kingdom of God as the “kingdom of glory” and the present, hidden manifestation
of the kingdom of God as the “kingdom of grace.” But both manifestations are
connected; Christ has set up His spiritual reign in the church on earth, and He
will one day set up His physical reign in Jerusalem.
The
kingdom of God has several aspects. The Lord is the Sovereign of the universe,
and so in that sense His kingdom is universal (1 Timothy 6:15). At the
same time, the kingdom of God involves repentance and the new birth, as God
rules in the hearts of His children in this world in preparation for the next.
The work begun on earth will find its consummation in heaven (see Philippians
1:6).
Matthew
6;33
But
above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well.
2
Kings 19;19
Now,
O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so that all the kingdoms
of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.”
2
Chronicles 20;6
He
prayed: “O Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who
lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the
nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you.
Psalm
45;6
Your
throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
Isaiah
37;16
“O
Lord who commands armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on
the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of
the earth. You made the sky and the earth.
Isaiah
37;20
Now,
O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms
of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”
Daniel
2;44
In
the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an
everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom
that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring
about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand
forever.