The Kingdom of God

From: The Christian Shepherd: 1998

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

The expression “kingdom of God” must be taken in its context to decide just what the Spirit of God has before Him in the passage of Scripture in which it is found. We have the setting up of the kingdom of God in its heavenly aspect in Luke 13:28²⁸There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13:28) and in its earthly aspect in Mark 15:43⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43). See also Luke 17:20; 19:11; 21:31²⁰And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (Luke 17:20)
¹¹And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. (Luke 19:11)
³¹So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. (Luke 21:31).

We have its moral character in Romans 14:17¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17). This moral character that began so blessedly at Pentecost has become corrupt. This the Lord alludes to in Luke 13:20-21²⁰And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? ²¹It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Luke 13:20‑21). In its true character, one must be “born again” to enter it (John 3:3³Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)).

Paul preached the “kingdom of God”; that is, Paul preached the moral character of the kingdom, exhorting those who believed the gospel to walk worthy of God who had called them to His kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12¹²That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)).

The eternal state will witness its true character in full display. “God... all in all” means that the true character of God will be seen in the whole of the new creation. How blessed and glorious that eternity of rest!

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11)).

H. E. Hayhoe

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