What is the Kingdom of God?

Lesson 1

What is the Kingdom of God?

When we pause to reflect upon such a word like ‘Kingdom’, images of old pervade our thinking: medieval castles poised on lush green hillsides which are blanketed with a palpable mist; knights brandishing gilded swords, riding upon mighty steeds whose thunderous movements shake the timid ground beneath. Again, as we ponder on this word, we can’t help to think of such noble subjects as honor, valor, duty, chivalry; concepts which are unfortunately foreign to most people’s thinking in this day and age. But of all the words and concepts that come into view in this mental exercise, the word from which all others find their significance is that word “King:” a monarch who exercises absolute power; a ruler who answers to no mortal; an emperor who is sovereign and most to be revered. These images are helpful in our examination of God’s Kingdom.

When we analyze the phrase “Kingdom of God,” broken down to its bear constituent parts, this phrase simply refers to the domain of God, who is rightly called king. Seeing that this phrase is repeated many times in Scripture, it is important to grasp what such a recurrent concept encompasses. With this in mind, we must ask this question: What is God’s domain? In other words, to what extent does he reign? In answering this question, we must distinguish between at least two forms in which God’s Kingdom is manifested: God’s reign of power in creation, and his reign of power in redemption

I. God’s Reign of Power in Creation:

2Ch 20:6 "O LORD, the God of our fathers, art Thou not God in the heavens? And art Thou not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee.”Ps 22:28, “For the kingdom is the LORD'S, And He rules over the nations.”

Boundaries of God’s Kingdom in Creation

His reign is physical
His reign is unlimited
His reign is sovereign

Is there one particle in creation that God’s governing hand does not grasp? Is there one “maverick molecule” over which God fails to exercise dominion? When we speak of God’s reign of power in creation, we mean that God exercises total and complete control over the universe. In this sense, God’s reign is physical in that he brought matter into being and continually sustains that matter he has created. Therefore, in respect to creation, his reign is unlimited. It is extensive in that it covers the range of non-personal activities like the rotation of celestial bodies as well as the personal activities like the operations of earthly nations. Are there such entities like rogue nations within God’s purview? Is there a nation whose rebellion limits God’s mastery? No!. As such, his reign is sovereign. Nebucadnezzar aptly describes God’s total control when he utters these words in Dan 4:34 & 35,

“¶ "But at the end of that period I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 "And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?'”

The psalmist echoes this theme when he states,

“our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” (Psalm 115:3)

II. Christ’s Reign of Power in Redemption:

Boundaries of God’s Kingdom in Redemption

His reign is spiritual
His reign is limited
His reign is sovereign

It is with reference to this second aspect of God’s Kingdom that this study is primarily concerned with. Note, whereas God’s Kingdom is seen as being executed in all of Creation, we also find in Scripture that Christ’s reign also includes redemption. In the words of Berkof,

“the primary idea of the Kingdom of God in Scripture is that of the rule of God established and acknowledged in the hearts of sinners by the powerful regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, insuring them of the inestimable blessings of salvation, -a rule that is realized in principle on earth, but will not reach its culmination until the visible and glorious return of Jesus Christ” (Berkof 568).

With this in mind, the Kingdom of God is seen as being primarily spiritual:

John 18:36, “Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

Matt 21:43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.”

Luke 17:20-21,¶ Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

Also, Christ’s reign is seen as being ‘limited’ in the sense that he is the King of the Church; he is the Head of the Body. He rules and reigns over regenerated people. It would be improper to say that Christ’s gracious and salvific rule extends to those for whom grace and salvation are not extended. Therefore, the reign of redemption includes only those for whom redemption is a reality.

Furthermore, his reign is sovereign. Just as the physical world finds its origin and sustenance in God, so likewise the origin, sustenance, and completion of our salvation rests not upon us, but on Christ. He is properly called the “author and perfecter of our faith.” (Heb 12:2) Therefore, in respect to redemption, Christ exercises complete sovereignty. We can no more resist His will with reference to our ultimate salvation than Nebucadnezzar could resist God’s will with reference to temporal matters. In connections with our personal redemption, we can no more resist His ruling guide in our salvation than creation could resist God’s effectual call to come into existence. Paul rightly connects the two when he stated in 2 Cor. 4:6,

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

III. Conclusion

In the years 1014-1035 there ruled over England a Danish king named Canute. King Canute grew tired of hearing his retainers flatter him with extravagant praises of his greatness, power and invincibility. He ordered his chair to be set down on the seashore, where he commanded the waves not to come in and wet him. No matter how forcefully he ordered the tide not to come in, however, his order was not obeyed. Soon the waves lapped around his chair. One historian tells us that, therefore, he never wore his crown again, but hung it on a statue of the crucified Christ. This was where the crown belonged. It is at the bidding of Jesus that the oceans are tamed into submission. Heaven is his throne, and earth his footstool. As we engage in this study of Christ’s Kingdom, let us lay aside our own kingdom and cast our crowns at the feet of our mighty creator and redeemer.

****Possible Discussion Questions?

1. Is God really in control of everything? What about the wicked actions of men? See Luke22:22; Acts 2:23-24; 4:27-28

2. In what sense is the Kingdom of God primarily spiritual?

3. What are the similarities between God’s reign in Creation & Redemption?

4. What are the differences?

5. How is God’s Sovereignty in Creation like God’s Sovereignty in Salvation?

6. There are some passages in which Christ seems not to rule everything (e.g. Satan’s offer to give Christ the kingdoms of this world-Matt 4:8-9). Yet, Scripture also attests to the fact that “The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1) How does the two-fold delineation of God’s Kingdom explain these apparently conflicting statements?

Works Cited

Berkhof L. Systematic Theology Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids Michigan 1941.