What is the kingdom of God?

Irv,

When I first read your posting a few days ago, I wanted to reply but was unable to because of time constraints. I didn't want my reply to be a quick or unthoughtful one. The subject of the Kingdom of God is one I have studied to a limited point for some time.

I believe to understand what the Kingdom of God (or Heaven) is it is necessary to understand what a kingdom is in general. A kingdom presupposes a king or sovereign ruler. The kingdom extends to the point of the king's ability to impose his will upon others. The imposition of his will may be done through benevolence if the subjects are willing to acknowledge the king's rulership or through force, most often militarily, if the subjects are unwilling to acknowledge the king's rulership. In either case, speaking on a strictly earthly level, a kingdom extents to the point that a sovereign can control the bodies of people. (Thus, Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28 NASU).

If this definition is carried over into the spiritual realm the Kingdom of God would consist of spiritual (angels for instance) and human beings that acknowledge the Father's rulership and sovereignity. So, your thought that salvation is the kingdom of God has merit, but is not entirely correct. The angels have not experienced salvation in the sense fallen man has, but they are still part of the Kingdom of God. One important distinction that needs to be pointed out, however, is whereas an earthly king may impose his rulership upon unwilling subjects, the Father never does that.

Jesus also made clear that "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). The word "world" here is the Greek kosmos. It speaks of the current orderly arrangement of the physical universe. In other words the Kingdom of God transcends the physical creation which earthly rulers are limited to (the physical bodies or their subjects). Earthly kings extend their kingdoms by the physical (bodily) subjection of people. The Father's (and thus, Jesus') kingdom is expanded one soul at a time.

Before Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord they lived in the Kingdom of God; not because they lived in the Garden of Eden, but because their souls (will, emotions, intellect, the faculty that makes us self-conscious) were submitted to their spirits (conscious, intuition, center of communion with the Father, the faculty that makes us God-conscious) as their spirits were guided, directed, and anointed by the Holy Spirit. The result was the body carrying out physically what the Father willed.

But when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, their spirits died ("for in the day you eat from it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17)). God's will was usurped and replaced by Adam and Eve's will. That is, their souls had taken over the headship their being. (The radical feminist movement is a physical picture of this spiritual truth). They had freely choosen to enter the kingdom of evil and exit the Kingdom of God.

The Father's remedy for this is first revealed in Genesis 3:15 when He curses the serpent. "And I will put emnity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel." The "bruising" of the heel speaks of the crucifixion of Jesus. He died, but rose again having overcome death forever. The "bruising" of head was the fatal blow Jesus gave to Satan and by extension death and his kingdom.

Speaking of the heavenly Father, Paul says, "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." We are rescued when we are born again. (See John 3:1-8. Therefore, when one is born again (that happens when our dead spirit is made alive by our acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior and it assumes the position of headship within our being and our soul freely submits to the authority of our spirit as it is guided, directed, and anointed by the Holy Spirit) he enters into the Kingdom of God.

Therefore, the Kingdom of God is the realm where the heavenly Father's sovereinty and rulership are freely embraced by the living out of His will through the subjection of our will. Again, His Kingdom expands one heart at a time as the rebellion that began at the Fall is reversed by His grace given to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

I recommend a book called, "The Kingdom of God" by John Bright for further details. I have also written an article called "The Earth Belongs to the Lord" that explains that even though Adam and Eve fell into sin, the earth still belonged then and now to the Lord. The article can be accessed at www.articles.faithwriters.com/reprint-article-details.php?article=1845.

Blessings in Christ,

Terry L. Brown

Thank you Irv for posting such a nice question. Although I have limited knowledge of the Bible and I think that "Kingdom of God" is getting saved and becoming one with God.

In Christ

Thanks Spiritfilled for your comments, I was in hope that others would help me in this journey or quest; but I guess the true answer lies within. Thanks again have a blessed day. Irv

Dear Irv

I am sorry that I was not able to reply to your post. It is really a great post but due to short of time, I could not. Now I am just writing as a quick reply but later on I will write in detail.

Kingdom of God is not Salvation. Salvation allows us to enter the Kingdom of God. Kingdom of God is where there will be no more deception and there will be no fall of man. Salvation is getting us prepared to be in the presence of God washed with the blood of Jesus.

God bless you and your family

Don't you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. [/color]So I run-but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box-but not as if I were just shadow boxing. [/color]Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others. (1 Cornithians 9:24-27)

Dear Irv
As I said that blood of Jesus washes away our sins and Heavenly Father no more remembers them. However, once saved, we have to love and obey Jesus Christ Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23)

Dear Irv, as Paul says that we have to keep training like an athelete to win the crown. I agree that we are saved when we accept Jesus as our LORD and Savior and we get eligible for the Kingdom of God. When we will be raised up again in Jesus, we will be with Him in the Kingdom of God.

Sorry again that I am writing in a hurry, please forgive me. I will write in detail as soon as possible.