The Kingdom of God is not general in its content. It is not creation or the human race as a whole. Of course God is the Sovereign King of the universe, but the Kingdom of God is more specific in its meaning. Unfolding throughout the Bible, we often find it across the pages of scripture. Like pieces of a divine puzzle only to be revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, God reveals His plan of redemption and thus we clearly see the Kingdom of God. It must be noted that the Kingdom of God is not the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven refers to the Gospel age ultimately coming to a glorious climax with the millennial reign of Christ.
    If there is a kingdom there must be a king. From our position in this dispensation we can look to the Old Testament and find the promise of this King, the Lord Jesus Christ. We find in Second Samuel chapter seven that from the seed of David God would eternally establish the kingdom of His Son. And that chilly Christmas evening in Bethlehem this promised King was born. The way paved by John the Baptist. And in the fullness of time Jesus came saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark1:15). From this verse we see from the very beginning of the ministry of Christ that the Kingdom of God is obtained through repentance and faith. Of course this King was “despised and rejected of men” (Isaiah 53:3). Consequently beaten and crucified for the message He preached. Even His accusation read “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Matthew27:37). And for this God “hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:10). Now we have our King, but a king must have subjects.
    As read from above, entrance into this Kingdom requires repentance and faith. In almost all cases in the New Testament where the Kingdom of God is mentioned it refers to salvation. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). We also find in First Corinthians, “Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (vs50). The Lord’s subjects are those who have came to Him in repentance and faith. He saves and regenerates the sinner. He is their Lord and King. Christ liberates and sanctifies the subject to conform him or her to His own image. The subjects talk like Him, act like Him, and love like Him, they are born from above. They claim for themselves all the privileges of divine favor that are given at conversion. They enjoy the security, protection, and liberty that this conquering monarch has provided. He rules to defeat their enemies and silence their fears. We read in First Corinthians, “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (vss25-26).
    In conclusion the Kingdom of God is revealed in Christ, in which He is the “Way” and the “Door” of entrance. However not only the entrance, but the substance and the grounds of citizenship in which all present and future promises are obtained.
 
                                                                                                                                                                 Josh Greene
                                                                                                                                                                   10-11-09