The Kingdom and the Church
The Term “Church’ is not synonymous with the terms “Kingdom of God” or “ Kingdom of Heaven.” These two terms cannot be used interchangeably in the New Testament. The Kingdom of God is greater than the church. The church is a mystery of God and is involved the eternal purpose of God in the earth. The apostle Paul was given an understanding and a revelation of what God was moving toward in the church in bringing forth His’ will in the earth through the church. The Kingdom is clearly another domain, as we shall study in details later.
We must clear our thinking and understanding about the Kingdom and the Church! The kingdom and the church are at the very center of God ultimate purpose and plan in the earth. In others words, we must consider that the eternal ages attest that GOD ETERNAL PURPOSE IN THE EARTH is preparations of His church and kingdom to be ONE. Many of us at this point will have to re-think and re-evaluate our views about dispensational truths and the questions of debate between the relationships of the Church to the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God
Jesus declared, preached and taught the “ GOSPEL of the KINGDOM.” Matthews 4:23; “ And Jesus went about all Galilee, “teaching in their synagogues, preaching the ‘gospel of the kingdom”…The Kingdom of God is “THE REIGN and RULE OF GOD.” The word ‘kingdom’ in it truest meaning is “ a royal reign.” God is a king and therefore he must have a realm or domain to rule. The kingdom of God is the domain of God’s rule and when we pray for His kingdom to come; we are praying for His reign and rule to be in the earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9,10).
The Kingdom of God according to scripture is the same as the Kingdom of Heaven. The word ‘kingdom’ appears over 150 times in the New Testament alone. In every case the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same and sometimes used interchangeably. Jesus speaking in Matthew 19:23,24 says;
“Then said Jesus unto the disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Here our Master makes no differences between the ‘kingdom of God’ and the kingdom of heaven.’ He uses the terms interchangeably. Others references may be found in comparison in the gospel books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Matthew 5:3 says,…”Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” as Luke 6:20 says, “Yours is the Kingdom of God.” Matthew 13:31 “The Kingdom of heaven is like a grain” while Luke 13; 8,9 says, “kingdom of God ….is like a grain.” Matthew of times wrote the kingdom of heaven in These terms perhaps to the Jews …as indication of His view of the kingdom ‘at hand ‘ perhaps as John the Baptist had preached, an earthly, physical kingdom was at hand. Jesus introduces the present Kingdom of God. This message largely was to the Jews at that time regarding their expectation of the coming kingdom.
The Gospel of The Kingdom
Jesus declared that the gospel of the kingdom was to be preached into all the earth then shall the end come (Matthew 16:14). What is this Gospel of Kingdom? This commission given by our Lord begins with the fact that Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1) is Kingdom’s gospel. It is building the Kingdom of God in the New Testament Church. Paul the Apostle makes it clear in Colossians 4:11 that he considers himself as a master builder of the New Testament Church and a laborer in the Kingdom of God. The entrance into the kingdom is by the new birth (1Tessalonians 2:12; Galatians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28).
The Church and the Kingdom is not identical
The Kingdom of God is an everlasting kingdom. It is from eternity to eternity. It is a total rule and reign of God (Psalms 145:10,13; Exodus 15:18; Psalms 102; 19). There is the rule of God in His Kingdom in heaven and a present demonstration of His reign and rule in the earth through the church. God is the king of His kingdom. The bible says the kingdom is the Lord’s and ‘He is governor among the nations’ (Psalm 22:28,29). God as King declares everything under his authority and rule. Therefore, we must conclude that God sovereign will cover the earth and heaven and there will be no rule and reign of a King but one King, The Lord God Almighty. The Moslem is correct when he give credence to Allah (God), the Supreme…. God is the Supreme ruler of heaven and earth. God is concern about fulfilling His original plan, purpose and goal. The kingdom realized and fulfilled in heaven and earth is the purpose of the Almighty. God will use whatever entity, instrument or tool available to accomplish His purpose. It is His Kingdom at state.
We must understand that there are two division of the kingdom of GOD. There is the kingdom of God where God’s throne resides and the `host of angels.’ Angels called Seraphims (Isaiah chapter 6) – Seraphim are the praising angels…there are angels called Cherubims (Hebrews 9:5). The home for angels is heaven; all indicate a place where God’s throne dwells. While the church is an earthly visible expression of the kingdom of God in the earth, the Kingdom of God is much greater than the church. Again, the point stands clear that the church is a mystery form of the Kingdom. In the next chapter, we will discuss Eschatology. This study will teach the manifest form of the Kingdom of God yet to come to the earth. Christ will reign in this Kingdom Himself. The angels of God, the redeemed and the entire heavenly host will be there. This will be the manifest “Kingdom” in the earth. But, presently the Kingdom of God is in church. The church is used as an instrument in the earth for the expression of God’s Kingdom. It can be said that the Church is God’s plan and purpose for bringing the kingdom unto mankind.
The Kingdom is greater than the Church. The Kingdom cannot be considered to be the same as the church. They are not identical nor or the terms interchangeable.
The Kingdom is Spiritual and is not of this world
In John 18:36, Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world (this world system), If my kingdom was of this world, my servant fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now my kingdom is not from here.” In St. Luke 17: 20,21, Jesus answers the Pharisees “…. Now when the Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “ The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, see here! Or See there! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you!” The Kingdom of God can only be entered by a spiritual experience. There must be a spiritual re-birth. Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews in St. John the third chapter, verse five …” Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus describes in verse 6, that which is born of the natural is natural, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Verse 7, “Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again (before you can enter the kingdom of God).”
The Kingdom is a spiritual reality. It is inhabited and belongs to those of spiritual virtues and qualities (Matthew 5:10; Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20). It is a spiritual kingdom with meat and drink in the Holy Spirit. It is filled with joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. One may have many natural qualities in ministry and yet fail in the kingdom because he lacks the qualities and principles of the Kingdom of God (Mark 4:11). The connections of the kingdom and the church are based upon the ‘church spirituality’ in the things of the Kingdom. Jesus said prior to His crucifixion, that He would not eat and drink with the disciples again until He did so in His kingdom. Christ great feast with the church in the “marriage supper of the Lamb” will be an important fellowship between the Kingdom and the church.
God’s prophetic timetable
Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God is at hand. He was preparing the church and the world for the entrance of His kingdom into the world through the church! Jesus stated, “upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).” Christ taught he had come to bring and ushered in the Kingdom. He came as the Head of the church and was the first born of all His brethren. The most amazing fact is that Jesus Christ, the head of the church, declared His faith in the church to accomplished His purpose and plan through the Kingdom; that He would give the Keys of the Kingdom to the Church (Matthew 16:19). Here Jesus makes it very clear in His departure that He entrusted the administration of the kingdom in the earth to the church. The fact of the keys being given indicates the government and authority of the church in the earth with Kingdom’s authority and government.
If we understand anything regarding Christ’s Kingdom message, it is this fact; Christ gives to the church His Authority in the earth. There is relationship between the kingdom and the church. Christ earthy walk and ministry was to build the church. Therefore, the church is the present body, instrument and tool God is using to demonstrate His reign and rule in the earth. It is the church that God is working through to bring His purpose to pass in the earth. It is the church that will bruise the head of Satan in the earth and storm the gates of hell (Romans 16:20). The church will triumph and will not fail. It will be the church that mock at the enemy and become the very bride of Christ at the marriage supper.
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