ARE WE IN THE KINGDOM OF G-D NOW? Some verses, like Colossians 1:13, seem to imply that Christians are now in the Kingdom of G-d. Is this true? Part of the confusion for some is caused by the meaning of the word kingdom. Colossians 1:13 shows that G-ds royal sovereignty and power begins in the life of the Christian at conversion. The Bible explains that in this verse the word for kingdom, basileia, does not here refer to a territory but to the authority, rule or sovereign power of a king. Here it means that the Christian is no longer under the dominion of evil (darkness) but under the benevolent rule of G-ds Son. Virtually all other occurrences of kingdom refer to the global dominion that Christ will establish at His return. - check Matt 6:33; Rev 11:15 As heirs of G-d in training to inherit it that future Kingdom - check Romans 8:15-16; Matt 25:34; Rev 20:4,6 -, Christians are thus subject to the sovereignty and authority of that Kingdom now. Jesus Christ, ruler of the coming Kingdom, is the Lord and Master of Christians now. - check Philippians 2:9-11 G-d rules the lives of converted Christians who voluntarily obey Him and His laws. They submit themselves to G-ds basileia - His royal sovereignty and power. They individually are part of the Church, the Body of Christ, which G-d also rules. But the Church collectively looks to G-ds coming world rule when the basileia will be fully established. Likewise the Kingdom does not reside in the hearts of men, as some assume from Christs words that the Kingdom of G-d is within you. - Luke 17:21 Some think that the Church is the Kingdom of G-d. Although there is a connection between the two, they are not identical. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church - check Ephesians 1:22 -, which is the group of believers called by G-d to prepare for the coming Kingdom. Christ rules His Church and in that sense it is under His sovereignty and royal power. We might say that the Church is the precursor of the coming Kingdom of G-d. Indeed, its members will later constitute the Kingdom, but the Bible never uses the term kingdom to apply directly to the Church. Instead the Kingdom of G-d refers to a coming world-ruling government.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:07:11 +0000
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