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| FOUR ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
OF A KINGDOM |
#305
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There are a few basic, essential elements which we would
expect to find in any “Kingdom.” For instance, there must
be a King, a Territory, a Law, and a
Citizenship. We expect to find no less in the “Kingdom of
God.” However, Jesus said His Kingdom is “not of this world.” He
said, “My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). In
a physical kingdom, we expect to find a visible king
sitting on a literal throne reigning over a territory made of
rocks and dirt. But what about a spiritual kingdom? Will we find
a King, a Territory, a Law, and a Citizenship in the Kingdom of
God? The scriptures say “Yes.” Let's take a look at the
scriptural evidence.
1. Jesus is the King of God’s Kingdom. Even
before His birth, His mother was told that He would be a king
(Luke 1:32-33). Just before His death, Pontius Pilate asked
about His kingship. Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am
a king” (John 18:37). In Matthew’s account of this conversation,
Pilate asked, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to
him, “It is as you say” (Matthew 27:11). In Matthew 26:63 we
find the high priest also asking Him if He is the Christ; to
which Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself” (vs 64).
Because He did not deny His identity as Christ and King, Jesus
was sentenced to death. Nevertheless, after He was resurrected
and had ascended to heaven, His disciples defended His spiritual
reign. The apostles boldly preached that God had raised Him up
and that Jesus had been “exalted to the right hand of
God” and that He had “received from the Father the promise of
the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:33). Paul wrote that God had seated the
Christ at His own right hand in the heavenly places, “far above
all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every
name that is named . . .” (Ephesians 1:20-21). Jesus put it very
simply. He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven
and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is the King of God’s
Kingdom.
2. The Heart of Man is the Territory of God’s
Kingdom. One day, the Pharisees were questioning Jesus about
the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not
come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here
it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is
within you" (Luke 17:20-21 NIV). In this verse, the word
rendered “within” is the Greek word entos. According to
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, this word means: “within; inside; within
. . . your soul.” The translators of the King James Version, the
New King James Version, the American Standard Version, the New
International Version, and others render this passage the same:
“the kingdom of God is within you.” You see, when Jesus
taught about the Kingdom of God, He said that God’s word is the
seed of the Kingdom (Luke 8:10-12). He said that when that word
is planted in a good and honest heart, much fruit will be
produced (vs 15). The Territory of God’s Kingdom is the Heart of
Man. Anywhere a heart is found where Jesus is allowed to reign
as King -- the Kingdom of God exists within that heart.
3. The Word of Christ is the Law in God’s Kingdom.
This is what we would expect in a true monarchy -- the word of
the King is law. Judicial matters are settled by the provisions
of the law. Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive
My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what
will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). The word of Christ
is the law in God’s kingdom. Just because a person refers to
Jesus as Lord and Christ does not make that person a part of the
Kingdom. This king demands obedience to God’s word. In Matthew
7:21, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will
enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My
Father who is in heaven.”
4. Christians are the Citizens of God’s Kingdom.
When Paul wrote to the Christians who lived in Philippi, he
said, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). The
kingdom of which we are citizens is “The Kingdom of Heaven.” The
apostle Peter said that we are aliens and strangers in this
physical world (I Peter 2:11). We sing a song with this same
sentiment. It says:
“This world is not my home, I’m just a passing
thro’,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond
the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world
anymore.”
Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in
and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break
in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also” (Matt 6:19-21). Our citizenship is in heaven and so is
our King, reigning at the right hand of God. Our heart is in
heaven too, for it is the territory of our Heavenly King.
Perhaps we are beginning to see how the New Testament
develops the idea of a “spiritual kingdom.” In our next study, #306, we shall explore this idea further. We shall look
at some of the Teachings about the Kingdom of God in the pages
of the New Testament.
| Bible
Probe |
FOUR ESSENTIAL
ELEMENTS OF A KINGDOM |
305
|
1. Name four basic, essential elements we would expect to find
in any Kingdom:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
2. How does each of these scriptures help to show that Jesus is
the King of God’s Kingdom?
Luke 1:32-33
______________________________________________________
John 18:37
________________________________________________________
Matthew 27:11
_____________________________________________________
Matthew 26:63-64
__________________________________________________
Acts 2:33
_________________________________________________________
Ephesians 1:20-21
_________________________________________________
Matthew 28:18
_____________________________________________________
3. From Luke 17:20-21 and Luke 8:10-15, over what territory
does Christ reign?
Explain your answer:
4. What is the “Law” in the Kingdom of Christ? (John 12:48)
5. What did Jesus teach in Matthew 7:21 about entering the
Kingdom of Heaven?
6. Where does the Christian have his citizenship? (Philippians
3:20)
7. How does the statement of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-20 explain I
Peter 2:11?
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Your Bible questions answered here.