The Kingdom of God

Introduction

Last week we discussed the topic Wrestling with Worry, and in that lesson I began sharing with you a concept that was introduced in the Old Testament that basically stated

The quality of my life is a result of the sum total of the choices I have made. But the choices I make are the sum total of the thoughts, I think.

This idea is so simple, but perhaps, the most powerful principle for living a life of faith. It is perhaps, too simple to embrace for many. However, it is very thing that will grant us the life we are promised while here on earth.

As I introduced this idea, I wanted to focus our hearts on the kingdom of God, which is God’s activity in the world and our lives. This is the simple definition of the kingdom of God, we can live by. The kingdom of God is not the place we go to whenever we die. Neither is it a way to say, we have gained salvation. It is not our symbolic badge of honor for being accepted by God. The kingdom of God is Scripture’s way of saying, God has invaded and is invading the creation to impose His full control.

Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Second Edition (1.1. Initial Linguistic Considerations)

Statistically, what happens most frequently with respect to God’s kingdom is that it is entered (Mt 5:20; 7:21; 8:11; 19:23, 24; 21:31; 25:34; Mk 9:47; 10:23, 24, 25; Lk 18:17, 24, 25; Jn 3:5; cf. Mt 11:12; Luke 16:16 [forcibly entered]), with the result that people can be in (Mt 5:19; 11:11; 13:43; 18:1, 4; 20:21; 26:29; Mk 14:25; Lk 7:28; 13:28, 29; 14:15; 22:16; 22:30), not far from (Mk 12:34) or out of the kingdom (Mt 23:13). The second most pervasive usage identifies the kingdom as a message that can be proclaimed (Mt 4:23; 9:35; 10:7; 13:19; 24:14; Lk 4:43; 8:1; 9:2, 11, 60; 10:9, 11). The kingdom also appears as an object that can be desired (Mt 6:33; Lk 12:31) or anticipated (Mk 15:43; Lk 23:51). The kingdom is a possession (Mt 5:3, 10; 19:14; Mk 10:14; Lk 6:20; 18:16) or gift (Lk 12:32) that one can receive (Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17); it can be granted (Lk 22:29) or inherited (Matt 8:12; 25:34); or it can be taken from someone (Mt 21:43). One can become a *disciple for the kingdom (Mt 13:52), receive the keys to the kingdom (Mt 16:19) or suffer on account of the kingdom (Mt 19:12; Lk 18:29). The kingdom is mysterious (Mt 13:11; Mk 4:11; Lk 8:10), so it must be explained in parabolic terms; for example, it grows (Mt 13:24, 31; Mk 4:26, 30; Lk 13:18), permeates (Mt 13:33; Lk 13:20), can be found and purchased (Mt 13:44, 45); it involves sifting (Mt 13:47), the settling of accounts (Mt 18:23; 20:1), preparation (Mt 22:2; 23:1; cf. Lk 9:62) (see Parables). The kingdom also appears sometimes as the subject of verbs; thus, the kingdom comes, draws near, has come upon people, is among people and appears (Mt 3:2; 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; 12:28; 16:28; Mk 1:15; 9:1; 11:10; Lk 10:9–11; 11:2, 20; 17:20; 19:11; 21:31; 22:18; 23:42).

This means God is supposed to be in control of:

Our mind, body, and spirit.

Family

Finances

Health

Community

The Critical Mistake Protestants Have Made: There is an overemphasis on individual salvation at the expense of the Bible’s interest in cosmic restoration. When the Bible speaks of the kingdom, it speaks of Israel’s God invading creation to make the wrong things right. Accordingly, God’s very own people, while enduring suffering, are rescued to live in a divinely appointed kingdom that is led by God.

So there are two questions:

If we are saved, what are we saved for?

We are saved to live in the obedience of God, our Father and King who has in His own will divinely appointed the day in which He would rule the world.

Essentially, our salvation is not for us, but for God’s sovereign will and purpose!

If our salvation is granted by faith, by what means is my access into the kingdom of God granted?

We are granted access into the kingdom of God by [our] righteousness.

Tonight, I want to continue last week’s conversation. Because if my life is the sum total of the decisions I’ve made, and the decisions I’ve made are based on the thoughts I think, then the thoughts I think are based on the understanding I possess. Tonight, I want to talk briefly about the things that are informing our thoughts.

Righteousness For the Kingdom

Tonight, I want to refute the idea that the law is bad. The word law basically means instruction.

The longest chapter in the Bible is concerned with sharing how good the law is. Here are a few points it makes:

Psalm 119:1 “1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s [law] instruction!”

Psalm 119:18 “18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your [law] instruction.”

Psalm 119:72 “72 Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Psalm 119:92 “92 If your [law] instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction.”

Psalm 119:97 “97 How I love your [law] instruction! It is my meditation all day long.”

Psalm 119:113 “113 I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your [law] instruction.”

Psalm 119:174 “174 I long for your salvation, Lord, and your [law] instruction is my delight.”

Many of us have seen the law as the enemy of God and the believer. However, Paul said,

Romans 7:14 “14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin.”

Here’s the point—we are saved by our faith, so we get to spend eternity with God. That’s our benefit and our incentive. Yet, what is God’s desire in the salvation of His people? Why does He want us saved? God wants us saved, because He has plans for us which leads to His glory.

Our over personalization of individual salvation

Write this down: My faith in Jesus will lead to a life of moral conduct that prepares me for life in and possession of the kingdom of God.

Our over-personalization of individual salvation has caused us to place our eyes solely on heaven, when we should have been focusing on kingdom. So then, faith is used to get us to heaven, while bypassing the kingdom. And because Paul does state that we are not saved, by good works, he also states we are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Ephesians 2:8–10 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

So then, faith is supposed to lead us to a life that upholds

Romans 3:30–31 “30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold [establishes or assert the legal validity of] the law.”

So then, as kingdom people we are always informing our thoughts, which motivate our decisions with the law of God. The law of God is supposed to be the basis of our thinking, because it is the developer of our understanding.

Write this down: Faith gives me salvation. Righteousness gives me kingdom.

Remember: The quality of my life is a result of the sum total of the choices I have made. But the choices I make are the sum total of the thoughts, I think (Review Matthew 5:17-20).

Write this down: Everything God wants to give me in the kingdom is determined by my ability to responsibly steward what is given.

So, my salvation is freely given to me, but the things of the kingdom are given to those who are righteous (Ephesians 5:1-14).