January 29, 2006

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

Significant Truths for 2006--#4

 

Introduction: “The Reality of God’s Kingdom”

 

There are many significant truths in God’s Word.  We have been discussing some of them on Sunday mornings for this first month of the new year.  For the last in our series, I want to present “The Reality of the Kingdom of God.”  There is a spiritual kingdom that exists among men on earth.  This is a great truth that we should remember.  Many people relate only to that which they can see and touch.  Since the Kingdom of God is spiritual in nature, many question whether it exists.  They are not convinced of its reality.  If so, they will not participate in or be able to enjoy its fruits as long as they question its existence.

 

I know that there is a spiritual kingdom that has been brought down to earth.  I am convinced of it and I am not reluctant to spend my life promoting it.  I want to present the evidence for the existence of the Kingdom of God.

 

Physical Things Are Not Evidence:  Several passages indicate that physical things are not evidence of the Kingdom. Meat and drink are not, but joy, righteousness and peace in the Holy Spirit are evidence of it.  (Rom. 14:17.)  The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.  (1 Cor. 4:20.)  It is not just about words (sermons or messages), but it came in demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit.  It is not of this world.  (John 18:36.)  Church buildings are not evidence of its presence.

 

Words of Prophets and Preachers

 

There was a long period of preparation for the coming of the Kingdom of God among men.  This time was needed to prepare men to receive it.  In fact, physical things come first, then spiritual.  Just as children develop from the literal to symbolic in their understanding, so do adults.  “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual.”  (1 Cor. 15:46.)  The Bible often uses the words, types and shadows, to talk about that which preceded the coming spiritual Kingdom of God.  (Heb. 10:1.)  The Kingdom itself is referred to by words like truth (which means reality), the very image, and spiritual.  We now worship God in spirit and in truth.  (John 4:24.)  This means that we do not worship Him according to the types and shadows and carnal ordinances of the Old Testament, but according to true nature of God himself who is Spirit.  The passage first says God is Spirit.  Then we worship him in spirit and truth.

 

Daniel wrote, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”  (Dan. 2:44.)  This Messianic Kingdom was long anticipated by the Jews.  They knew many of the details about when it would come and what to expect.  The chief problem was that they failed to grow spiritually in their understanding during this developmental period.  They were still looking for something physical and political, like their little nation of Israel in Canaan under David and Solomon.

 

Men almost always misunderstand the fullness of the Kingdom of God.  Just as God is greater than man’s thoughts about Him; so also is His Kingdom greater than we most often imagine.  (Isaiah 55:8-9, Eph.3:19-21.)  We need to expand our thinking about the Kingdom of God.  It is greater than any other kingdom that has ever existed.  The Lord reigns over that Kingdom.  His reign is universal; he rules also in the kingdoms of men.  (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32.)  He rules over the entire creation, providing for even the plants and animals.  (Psalm 107.)  He is a father to the fatherless and judge of the widows.  (Psalm 68:5.)  In His Kingdom, we are delivered from the power of darkness and have redemption through his blood.  (Col. 1:13-14.)  We should see from this that the Kingdom of God is greater than the Church of God.  The Church is a part of the Kingdom, but the Kingdom is greater in scope.  The church is the assembly of God’s people to worship Him, but God rules over enemies and governments and the whole creation.  We could say that there has not been a time when the Kingdom of God did not exist because has always been King.  The Messianic Kingdom, though, refers to the Kingdom of the Messiah.  He rules in redemption over his people and in victory over his enemies. The book of Revelation shows the work of the Messiah as judge over the beast, the Roman Empire.

 

As time neared for the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ both proclaimed, “Repent ye for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”  (Matt. 3:2, Matt. 4:17.)  After Acts 2, the Bible always speaks of the Kingdom being in existence.  John wrote from Patmos, “I am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.”  (Rev. 1:9.)  The Bible writers affirm that the Kingdom of God is now among men.  This is a great truth for 2006.  Those who do not know or believe need to hear this great truth.  There are temporal and eternal blessings in this Kingdom of God.  Understanding the Good News of the Kingdom helps to keep one from being sectarian or denominational.

 

The World of Evil

 

How do we know that the Kingdom of God exists?  Is a spiritual kingdom possible?  Where is the proof of the reality of the Kingdom of God?  Outside the Bible itself, one of the greatest evidences of the reality of the spiritual Kingdom of God is the kingdom of evil about us.  Few in fact deny that such exists.  It manifests itself in many ways: in physical acts of cruelty and violence, in unspeakable acts of immorality, and in its antagonism against God.  The only valid explanation for the wicked things that men do is that there is a kingdom of evil.  Jesus called it “the kingdom of Satan.”  (Luke 11:18.)  This too is a spiritual kingdom, but of darkness and wickedness.  It is the opposite of the Kingdom of God.  Just as one can and does exist, so also does the other.  The spiritual kingdom also manifests its characteristics and nature.  There is ample fruit to observe that shows the spiritual kingdom is a reality.

 

Some mistakenly think that the world of evil about us is evidence that the Kingdom of God does not exist, or God himself!  Yet the opposite is true. One cannot speak of darkness without implying that light exists.  One cannot speak of evil without admitting that good exists.  They stand in bold contrast to one another.

 

The world of darkness and evil is not morally neutral.  It is aggressive and active.  It has a power of its own.  Jesus spoke of the power of darkness.  He said, “When I was with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me, but this is your hour and the power of darkness.”  (Luke 22:53.)  Paul wrote, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  (Eph. 6:12.)  “(God) who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”  (Col. 1:13-14.)

 

Every person is in one of the other of two spiritual kingdoms.  One is either in the Kingdom of darkness and evil, or in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.  There are no other.  One implies the existence of the other.  To say that the Kingdom of God does not exist is to say that the kingdom of darkness does not exist.  To refuse and reject one is to enter the other.

 

The Bible testifies and declares that there is a kingdom of evil and the Kingdom of God.  Our own experiences say that good and evil exist.

 

The Life of Jesus Christ

 

Another physical proof of the existence and reality of the Kingdom of God is the life of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to earth to establish the Kingdom by his death on the cross.  This is what makes it spiritual in nature.  In Him we have redemption through his blood.  (Col. 1:14, Rev. 1:5.)  His Kingdom is redemptive in nature.

 

The parables of Jesus all began by saying the kingdom of God is like unto.  The parables tell us what it is and how to recognize it.  Jesus necessarily used parables because of the spiritual nature of his kingdom.  Jesus spoke more often about the kingdom than he did the church.  There are only a few references to the church in the gospel accounts.  But references to the kingdom abound.

 

Even prior to this death, he demonstrated the power of the Kingdom of God among men by healing the sick and casting out demons.  Jesus showed that he had power over the Devil and his wicked deeds.  Jesus once said, “If I by the finger of God cast out demons, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you.”  (Luke 11:20.)  He told the apostles to say, “And heal the sick that are therein and say unto them, The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”  (Luke 10:9.)  The Kingdom of God was most clearly revealed in the presence and life of Jesus Christ.  God was working among men.

 

Someone might say that Jesus was despised and rejected by the Jews.  That is, he failed to become their physical king and now his followers simply claim that he is a spiritual king.  Such is not true because all the records of the Bible affirm that this was his intention for centuries before he came.  The prophets all spoke of his kingdom as being redemptive.  Isaiah wrote plainly that he would be “wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.”  (Isa. 53:5.)  He was made “an offering for sin.”  (Isa. 53:10.)

 

Jesus was asked by Pilate about the nature of his Kingdom.  He said plainly, “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.”  (John 18:36.)  Some among the Jews tried to force Jesus to become their king, but he refused.  (John 6:15.) 

 

What Jesus taught about his kingdom reveals that his kingdom is different from the kingdoms of the world.  He said: “You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be great among, let him be your minister.  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.  Even so the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.”  (Matt. 20:25-28.)  There is no other kingdom that operates on this principle!

 

Another great distinguishing principle of his kingdom is that it is ruled by love and not by force.  In this kingdom no one is compelled to be a part of it.  Only those who willingly enter are citizens in it.  No one is conquered at the point of the sword, as in Islam.  The sword of the Messianic Kingdom is the Word of God.  (Heb. 4:12, Rev. 19:13-15.)

 

The last book of the Bible declares Jesus to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  (Rev. 17:14.)  He is over all other kings and lords.  He is the Creator of the world and rules supreme over all his creation.

 

The Eternal Nature of the Kingdom

 

Another evidence of the reality of the Kingdom of God is its eternal existence.  All other kingdoms are limited to this world and life.  There has never been a kingdom or empire that claimed to transcend time. If man is going to be redeemed in a meaningful sense, he must be redeemed eternally and have eternal life.  The Kingdom of God is often called the Kingdom of heaven.  That is, it has its origin from heaven and its goal is heaven.

 

This is a great truth for 2006—the reality of the Kingdom of God.  Everyone needs to enter this Kingdom now and enjoy its blessings for eternity.  In Paul’s discussion of the resurrection of the dead, he often spoke of the kingdom.

 

“Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”  (1 Cor. 15:24.)

 

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”  (15:50.)  “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 1:11.)

 

Conclusion

 

The Kingdom of God is among men by faith.  Faith is described as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  (Heb. 11:6.)  Faith does not make spiritual things exist; they exist whether we believe in them or not.  But spiritual things live in our hearts by faith.  God lives in our hearts by faith.

 

Jesus was concerned about faith abiding among men.  He once said, “When the Son of man comes will he find faith on earth?”  (Luke 18:8.)  The Kingdom has been manifest among men.  We need to possess faith in God and in his work.