Where, when and what is the kingdom of God?
The gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the King.
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
From the beginning they preached the gospel of a coming kingdom. Jesus is the King. He gave a requirement to be in the kingdom, repent and seek God with a humble heart.
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We cannot rely on ourselves, but our strength and reliance is of God.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
They kept the outward laws but their hearts were evil. They refused Jesus as their Lord and savior. Jesus is the King and the kingdom, apart from him no man shall see God. It is not by works, but by faith in Jesus.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The kingdom is through Jesus; by faith we receive His grace.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Where is the kingdom?
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It must be available now.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The kingdom is the presence and power of God.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
The kingdom is where the Spirit of God is, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
There are true people of the kingdom and a false people. A cult claims to be the true, but they are not. The kingdom comes through trusting Jesus as Lord and savior.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
No other way to God and His kingdom. but through His son, Jesus. We cannot go around Jesus, the Pharisees did that and were rejected.
Mat 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Mat 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
A little faith in Jesus grows as we follow him and learn of him. The birds in the tree are the false ones who come to take away the word (seed).
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus gives his disciples the power of the kingdom and returns dominion to us over the things on earth, including power from above to bind satan.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
God loves the humble who trust in his son. We must trust as children trust.
John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
John 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
The kingdom is wherever Jesus abides. If he abides in your heart, the kingdom is within.
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Jesus will return and be king on earth for a thousand years, and then will satan be cast into the lake of fire and those who follow him.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Sin and death are removed forever...Praise God...Then comes the eternal kingdom.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Thank you Jesus!
Where is the kingdom?
The kingdom of God now is within our hearts. The kingdom is the presence of Jesus, His Spirit and God the Father. All dwell in the believer through His Spirit. We are to work the works of the kingdom outwardly. His power goes forth with his word, the fruit of the Spirit and through the Spiritual gifts.
When is the kingdom?
It is now in the spiritual, not yet come in the physical. Where Jesus is, is the kingdom. Our Spirit connects us to him in "heavenly places," by being connected through his Spirit we are with him. A kingdom will be coming with Jesus to earth for a thousand years. Then comes the judgment, only those written in the book of life will continue to the eternal kingdom. There will be an actual spiritual dwelling place. Jesus is preparing a place for us. This New Jerusalem will be our heavenly dwelling place where God the Father and God the Son are the light.
What is the kingdom?
Jesus and John the Baptist preached the gospel that it was near, calling all to repentance. When Jesus preached that the kingdom was near, he showed forth the kingdom through his word and his miracles. We preach the gospel of Jesus who died on the cross and has risen from the dead. It is the same gospel. We become new spiritual creations through faith in Jesus Christ. By faith we receive the grace of God. Jesus is the way, he is the presence of the kingdom. Wherever his presence is, is the kingdom. Now he dwells in our hearts. The kingdom is a spiritual dwelling place. There will be an eternal kingdom of God after the Judgment and removal of all sin and death.
A question for you?
If the kingdom is within, what should be our response? Do we walk apart from Jesus in this world , relying only in our own abilities? Do we battle satan only in the flesh? Of course not. We go to the dwelling place of God and commune with God. We fellowship with his people. We read his word and pray and do his works. We are children of the kingdom, and must dwell with him in this life and forever. We are to show the works of the kingdom in a sin darkened world, until that day we are with the Lord. Are you aware right now that you are in the kingdom? Draw closer to God.
Gary
Superragman@aol.com
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