THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Knowledge about the Kingdom of God is essential for every Christian who desires to live the life of the Kingdom, for one can only impart what he possesses, and can only share what he truly understands. As highlighted in the previous episode, the Kingdom of God was first instituted during creation, when man was formed in Genesis 1:26–28 and entrusted with dominion over God’s creation. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Sadly, this authority was lost to Satan in the Garden of Eden. Yet, Jesus Christ came to restore the Kingdom to mankind and reconcile him back to God.

The Kingdom of God and the reign of Jesus Christ were predicted in the Old Testament of the Bible in the books of Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever”; 7:14 “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed”; 7:27 “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him”; Isaiah 2:2–4; Isaiah 9:6-7; Habakkuk 2:14; Obadiah 1:21 “And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s” and in the New Testament Luke 1:31–33 “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end”; 1:68–78. God promised to destroy the rebellious rule of Satan (1 Corinthians 15:24–28 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all”), depose him of his power, and inaugurate His (God’s) Kingdom to cover the whole earth as seen in Habakkuk 2:14 and Obadiah 1:21. The fulfillment can be found in John 1:1–5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”; 1:11–18; Matthew 3:2 “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”; 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”; 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people”; Mark 1:15 “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”; Luke 4:43 “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent”.

Becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of God can only be through Jesus according to John 14 (RSV) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. This is only possible after a man has accepted the gospel and acknowledged Jesus as his Saviour and Lord in total submission, not partial. It is only then that the Spirit of God, which is the seed of God, the life of Christ, and the Holy Spirit will come and abide in the heart of such an individual. And such a person will have grace to mortify the flesh (the body) daily and be able to showcase a life of the Kingdom of God. These categories of people are regenerated and have had a circumcision of the heart, and can please God.

There is a certain set of people in the Kingdom of God. They assumed citizenship when they are only immigrants or visitors. These people are not regenerated and have an uncircumcised heart. They hold on to the form of religion but deny its power. These are the carnal Christians who refused to submit totally to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They only exhibit partial submission. Hence, they find it difficult to do the will of God except where God allows it through His sovereignty. The seed of God is yet to be established in their hearts because they are yet to be broken down and the work of the cross completed in their life. Jesus described their fate in Matthew 7:21–23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”.

1. They live a Christ-like life – Hebrews 12:1–2; Acts 11:26
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2)

2. They live a life showing the fruits of the Spirit for the world to see – Galatians 5:22–23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

3. They live as sojourners, believing that this world is a transitional home – Philippians 3:20
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

4. They live a life devoid of self-aggrandizement – Colossians 3:23-24; John 13:13–15

5. They live a sacrificial life – 1 John 3:16
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)

6. They live a life of servanthood – Matthew 20:25–28

7. They live a life of sympathetic service and hospitality – Matthew 25:31-46

8. They live a consecrated life and a life separated from the world – 2 Corinthians 6:14–18

9. They live in peace with all men and in holiness unto God – Hebrews 12:14
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

10. They live a life of self-denial and perseverance – Matthew 10:37-39; Luke 14:26-27

11. They live a life of love, reverence, and obedience to God – John 14:23
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

12. They live a life of obedience and loyalty to constituted authority in line with the will of God – Romans 13:1; Hebrews 13:17

13. They live a life of daily mortification of the flesh (the body) – Colossians 3:5–10

14. They live a life that renounces the world and the things of the world – 1 John 2:15–17; John 4:45

15. They live a life that is heavenly focused – Colossians 3:1–2
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1–2)

16. They live a life full of hope for the future glory – Revelation 21:1–4; Hebrews 11:15-16

17. They live an evangelistic life and a life of devotion to God – Matthew 28:19–20

18. They live a victorious life by demonstrating the power of the Kingdom over Satan – Mark 16:17–18
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:17–18)

Kingdom life is the life that the Church is expected to live while awaiting the rapture and the millennial reign of Christ. It is in deep contrast to the life being lived in the contemporary world.

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