The Kingdom of God has been discussed and talked about all throughout history. Even before the Kingdom was established, the Old Testament prophets such as Hosea and Daniel prophesied about the coming of the Kingdom. These Old Testament prophets were given some details about the Kingdom, such as the eternal nature (Daniel 4:3) and even the time period in which it would come (Daniel 2:44); yet, even with all of these details, what they had was still a very vague and foggy picture. These prophets earnestly desired to know more about this coming “Kingdom”. They searched to know even more about the Kingdom, but it was revealed to them that it was not for them to know. This great Kingdom that they prophesied about was something that they would never see; rather, it was for a different time (1 Peter 1:10-12). Later when Christ came, even from the beginning of His ministry, He preached things concerning the Kingdom. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus said, “…the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. The beatitudes begin with (Matthew 5) Jesus teaching a great sermon covering many things concerning the Kingdom. Matthew 5:1 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Jesus closes out the sermon with Matthew 7:21, which says, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus begins so many parables with “the kingdom of heaven is likened unto…” (Matthew 25:1, 25:14; 18:23; etc.). Jesus spent the majority of His ministry teaching about the coming kingdom.
One would have thought that the apostles would have known what the kingdom was. One would have thought that Peter, Andrew, James, John, and the others (who were very close to Jesus and heard nearly every word that He preached) would have understood the Kingdom. However, it is evident by their actions that, even at the time of the crucifixion, the apostles didn’t understand the Kingdom. Judas betrayed Christ, yet Judas had seen the miracles that Christ had done. Judas had to know the power that Jesus had and that He was the son of God. Maybe, Judas thought that Jesus had enough power to escape crucifixion; yet, regardless of what Judas’ thinking was, He didn’t understand the Messiah or the Kingdom.
At the crucifixion, Peter denied even knowing Christ (Matthew 26:74). Yet, only a few hours earlier, Peter told Christ that he would die before he would deny Christ (Matthew 26:35). Peter apparently didn’t understand the nature of the Kingdom. I would imagine that Peter saw his “king” being killed and couldn’t see any way that a Kingdom could exist without a king. Regardless, it is very evident that even the apostles did not understand the nature of the Kingdom. One might think that the nature of the kingdom was very clear once Christ rose from the dead. Surely the apostles would have understood at this point that the kingdom is spiritual. Yet, even after Christ rose from the dead and just before His ascension, the apostles asked a question that shows that they still didn’t fully understand. In Acts 1:6 they ask, “Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Were the apostles still looking for a physical, earthly kingdom to be set up in Jerusalem? Did they think that Christ was going to be their physical, earthly king reigning on a physical throne? One can look at the apostles at this point and wonder how they still didn’t get it. It is no wonder that many today still struggle with the concept of the Kingdom.
There is a key verse in John 18:36. Jesus was on trial before Pilate and Pilate had been asking Jesus questions. One question that Pilate asked Jesus was, “Art thou King of the Jews?” Jesus’ final response to that question is found in John 18:36, which reads,
“My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Jesus was very clear that His Kingdom was not a physical, earthly Kingdom. Notice also what Christ said when the Pharisees questioned Him about the kingdom. Luke 17:20b-21 says, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” The Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom. Understanding this concept goes a long way towards answering the question, “What is the Kingdom?” The Kingdom has come, and, seeing as it is an eternal Kingdom, it continues in existence today. Christ told the group He was preaching to in Matthew 16 that there were some standing there that would not taste death until they saw the Kingdom (Matthew 16:28). In Acts 8, Philip preached things concerning the Kingdom (Acts 8:12) and the people of Samaria were baptized into the Kingdom. It is possible for one today to be in Christ’s Kingdom. It is God that makes one meet to be a partaker and translates them into the Kingdom (Colossians 1:13). The Kingdom and is the same thing as the church. Jesus used the words interchangeably in His preaching. Jesus had a conversation with His disciples in Matthew 16:13-19. He told Peter that he would build His “church” upon the rock and that He would give them the keys to the “Kingdom of Heaven”. The church is Christ’s Kingdom. Some have difficulty fully comprehending the truth that the Kingdom and the church are the same. Most view the church as the physical body where Christians worship before going to the spiritual kingdom up in heaven. However, this is not a biblical teaching at all. Christians are subjects in Christ’s Kingdom now, and, if they remain faithful, they will be for eternity. The church is the Kingdom. The church is spiritual as well. Too many times people have the idea that the church building is the church, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Some often say, “I am going to go to church” because they have the concept that the building is the church. Many feel closer to God when they are in the church building. Many feel like they must behave more correctly in the church building than anywhere else because it is a church building. Yet, the reality is, the church building is nothing more than a convenient place to meet. There is nothing “holy” or “special” about the meeting place. The church (the kingdom/the people) could meet at someone’s house (Romans 16:3-5). The church is spiritual, and, as such, it is not bound by the constraints by which physical kingdoms are bound. The Bible teaches that the Kingdom is eternal (Daniel 2:44), yet the church is often viewed as something that Christians are only a part of until they die. One who dies is usually removed from the “church directory” and, because they are no longer here physically, it is easy to feel that they are no longer a part of the church. However, if the Kingdom and the church are the same, then one who dies as a faithful Christian will remain a part of the kingdom (church) for eternity. This concept works the other way as well. If the Kingdom and the church are the same (and Christ said that they are), then one cannot be a part of the Kingdom without also being a part of His church. Many often want to separate Christ and His Kingdom and eternal blessings from the church, yet biblically they cannot be separated. This is why it is so important to be a part of Christ’s church and eternal Kingdom.
How then does one become a part of Christ’s Kingdom? As was mentioned earlier, one must be translated by God into the Kingdom (Colossians 1:13). It is Jesus and Jesus alone who adds people to the church/Kingdom (Acts 2:47). Christ as King has all authority and power (Matthew 28:18) and therefore has the right to decide how one enters His kingdom. Jesus has taught that one must be baptized into His kingdom (Matthew 28:19). There are many examples of this throughout the book of Acts, and, in each example, baptism is for the one who believes in Jesus, is willing to admit they believe, and is willing to turn from the sinful life that they were living. Jesus has given this plan, and when people through faith follow that plan, Jesus adds them to His kingdom (Galatians 3:26-27). That same pattern is seen in Romans 6 as well. Those who are baptized into Christ are baptized into His death (Romans 6:3). That includes being crucified with Him by dying to our sins and leaving them behind (Romans 6:6). That includes being buried with Him by baptism (Romans 6:4a). That includes being raised out of the water and living as a new man (Romans 6:4b). This is the form of doctrine that one must obey in order to be freed from servitude to sin and become God’s servant in His Kingdom (Romans 6:17). The Kingdom is here. The Kingdom is eternal. The Kingdom is attainable through Christ. When one submits to the will of Christ and follows Him, they become a part of the eternal kingdom and can live for eternity in His Kingdom.