The Kingdom of God

FROM LIFE in the SPIRIT 

STUDY BIBLE

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The Kingdom of God

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The Nature of the Kingdom. 

The kingdom of God (or heaven) carries the idea of God coming into the world to assert his power, glory and rights against Satan's dominion and the present course of this world. 

It is more than salvation or the church, it is God expressing himself power-fully in all his works

(1) 

The kingdom is primarily an assertion of God's power in action, God is beginning his spiritual rule on earth in the hearts of and among his people (in 14:23:20:22). He comes into the world with power (Isa 64-1; Mk 9:1; 1Co-4.20) We must not conceive of this power as material or political, but as spiritual. The kingdom is not a religio-political theocracy it is not a matter of social or political dominion over the kingdoms of this world (In 18:36). God does not intend this time to redeem and reform the world through social or political activism, or through violent ....

Mt 12:28

"But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon γου."

.... action (Mt 26:52; see In 18.36, note) The world through out this age will remain an enemy of God and his people (Jn 15:19; Ro 12:1-2; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-17, 4:4). God's rule by direct judgment and force will occur only at the end of this age (Rev 19:11-21). 

(2) 

Because God asserts himself with power, the world enters into a crisis. God's expression of power fills the devil's empire with alarm (Mt 4:3ff, 12:29, Mk 1:24), and everyone is copfrorited with the decision whether or not to submit to God'sirule (Mt 3:1-2: 4.17: Mk 1:14-15). The necessary and fundamental condition of entry into God's kingdom is, "Repent and believe the good news" (Mk 1:15)

(3) 

This reality of God's power breaking into the world involves: (a) spiritual authority over Satan's rule and dominion (Mt 12:28; In 18:36), the coming of the kingdom marks the beginning of the destruction of Satan's rule (Jn 12:31, 16:11) and of humanity's deliverance from the demonic (Mk 1:34,39; 3:14-15, Ac 26:18) and from sin (Ro 6); (b) power to work miracles and to heal the sick (Mt 4:23, 9:35; Ac 4:30; 8:7; see article on Divine Healing, p. 1436); (c) the preaching of the gospel, accompanied by conviction with regard to sin, righteousness and judg ment (Mt 11:5, Jn 16:8-11; Ac 4:33), (d) the salvation and sanctification of those who repent and believe the gospel (see Jn 3:3; 17:17, Ac 2:38-40; 200 6:14-18, see article on Spiritual Separation for Believers, p. 1821); and (e) the baptism in the Holy Spirit for power to witness for Christ (see Ac 1:8, notes: 2:4, notes).

(4) 

An essential evidence that one is experiencing God's kingdom is a life of "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Ro 14:17). (5) This kingdom has both a present and a future aspect. It is a present reality in the world today (Mk 1:15: Lk 18:16-17; Col 1:13; Heb 12:28), yet God's rule and power are not complete ly realized. The work and influence of Satan and evil people will continue until the end of the age (1Ti 4:1; 271 3:1-5; Rev 19:19-20:10). The future manifestation of God's glory, power and kingdom will occur when Jesus returns to judge the world (Mt 24:30; Lk 21:27: Rev 19.11-20 20:1-6). The ultimate fulfillment of the kingdom comes when Christ finally triumphs over all evil and opposition, and hands over the kingdom to God the Father (1Co 15:24-28; Rev 20:7-21:8; see also Mk 1:15, note concerning the various manifestations of the kingdom in redemp tive history)

Bacolod, Philippines The Role of Believers in the Kingdom. The NT has much to say about the role of believers in 2025/11/20 11:20

MATTHEW

(1) it is the responsibility of believers to persevere in Billigently seeking God's kingdom in all manifestations, hungering and thirsting for God's presence and power both in their own lives and within the Christian community (see Mt 5:10, notes, 6:33, note)

(2) In Mt. 11:12 Jesus gives additional information on the nature of kingdom people. There he indicates that the kingdom of heaven is taken hold of only by forceful people who are com mitted to breaking away from the sinful practices of the human race and who turn to Christ, his Word and his righteous ways. No matter what the cost may be, such people vigorously seek the kingdom in all its power. In other words, experiencing the kingdom of heaven with all its bless ings tequires earnest endeavor and diligent faith, spiritual warfare that includes the will to re sist Satan, sin and an often-corrupt society

(3) The kingdom of God is not for those wholseldom pray or who compromise with the neglect the Word and have little spiritual hunger. It is for men like Joseph (Ge 39:9), Nathan (25a 12:7), Elijah (1Ki 18:21), Daniel and his three friends (Da 1:8, 3:16-18), Mordecai (Est 3:4-5), Peter and John (Ac 4:19-20), Stephen (Ac 6:8, 7:51) and Paul (Php 3:13-14), it is for women like Deborah (Jdg 4:9), Ruth (Ru 1:16-18), Esther (Est 4:16), Mary (Lk 1:26-35), Anna (Lk 2:36-38) and Lydia (Ac 16:14-15,40)

world,

Jewish Sects

Pharisees

Their roots can be traced to the second century BC to the Hasidim.

1. Along with the Torah, they accepted as equally inspired and authoritative all material contained within the oral tradition.

2. On free will and determination, they held to a mediating view that made it impossible for either free will or the sovereignty of God to cancel out the other.

3. They accepted a rather developed hierarchy of angels and demons

4. They taught that there was a future for the dead.

5. They believed in the immortality of the soul and in reward and retribution after death.

6. They were champions of human equality.

7. The emphasis of their teaching was ethical rather than theological.

Sadducees

They probably had their beginning during the Hasmonean period (166-63 8.c.). Their demise occurred c. A.D. 70 with the fall of Jerusalem

1. They denied that the oral law was authoritative and binding.

2. They interpreted Mosaic law more literally than did the Pharisees.

3. They were very exacting in Levitical purity.

4. They attributed all to free will.

5. They argued there is neither resurrection of the dead nor a future life.

6. They rejected a belief in angels and demons.

7. They rejected the idea of a spiritual world.

8. Only the books of Moses were canonical Scriptures

Copyright © 1991 Zondervan

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Captured by JR