Matthew 3:1-2: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2. And saying, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Bible teaches us about the kingdom of heaven. It presents this kingdom in two parts: there is a future kingdom, which will last for eternity and there is a present kingdom that is here and now. It is this present kingdom that Jesus’ disciples lived in and that we presently live in. Both John the Baptist and Jesus presented a “kingdom of heaven that is at hand.” What they both meant was that Jesus is here and that where He is, is where the kingdom is. Specifically, Jesus said “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What He meant was that the king is here. The kingdom had not revealed itself in believers at that time, but the king was present. We look forward to living, worshipping and serving in the future kingdom, but at the present time we are living, worshipping and serving in the present kingdom, where Jesus rules and reigns in the lives of believers. Jesus spoke of the kingdom in a present sense when He said in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” If the kingdom is not a present reality, why seek it? In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus spoke of His kingdom as being “within you.” “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, He answered and said, The Kingdom of God does not come with observation. 21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or lo there! For behold the kingdom of God is within you.” Again, the kingdom is portrayed as present reality in His people. There are many more examples but I think that those given above are sufficient to prove the point. Where is the present kingdom? Though Jesus spoke of the present kingdom before Pentecost in Acts 2, we see a powerful manifestation of it on that day when the Holy Spirit began His work within believers. As far as believers were concerned, the kingdom came with power that day. The present kingdom is within believers and reveals itself through the indwelling Holy Spirit. All true believers make up the present kingdom. This kingdom is contained within churches, which are made up of believers. What are signs of the present kingdom? The first sign is the king’s presence – the presence of Jesus. This presence was certainly revealed on the day of Pentecost. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is certainly a sign of the present kingdom. The indwelling Spirit is necessary for an individual to enter the kingdom and to advance the kingdom. After all, the Holy Spirit does not glorify Himself, but He glorifies Jesus. The second sign is the king’s rule. The kingdom is present wherever Christ is ruling and reigning in the lives of believers. This rule is evident when one has accepted Jesus as Savior, received the Holy Spirit and his or her life is changed. They are still subject to the world’s laws, but not the world’s rule. That is why Paul wrote to Roman Christians that they should not be“conformed to the world,” but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds The third sign of the present kingdom is the King’s power. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:20: “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” The book of acts gives evidence that where the kingdom of God is, God’s power is revealed. There is a coming kingdom when all other rule and authority will be put down, and only God’s kingdom will stand. Until then, we are His kingdom, because, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is present in our lives. Meanwhile, He has put us about His kingdom’s work. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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September 2021
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