Title: THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON THE EARTH TODAY
1THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON THE EARTH TODAY
- Col. 113
- Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
of his dear Son
By Ron Halbrook
2Introduction
- Col. 113 The kingdom of God is on the earth
today people entered it. - The kingdom of God on the earth today is the
spiritual rule of Christ for our salvation
it is the church of
Christ.
33. False theories define the kingdom of God in
the N.T. as separate from the church.
- Generic for Gods rule over all things
- Christ to Rule 1,000 Years on Earthly Throne
(R.H. Boll, The Kingdom of God) - Fully Established by Fall of Jerusalem A.D. 70
(Max R. King, The Spirit of Prophecy) - Social Reform, Political Utopia
Are the church and the kingdom of God
coextensive? They are not!...The kingdom of
God encompasses everything and everyone over
whom God exercises dominion.Therefore the
kingdom is a larger concept than the Church
(Jim McGuiggan, The Reign of God,
p. 93).
44. The kingdom of God is defined by its usage
in the New Testament.
- Kingdom
- General realm, authority of a king (Dan. 237)
- Specific the kingdom of God, spiritual rule of
Christ for our salvation, the church of Christ
(Matt. 1618-19) - Church
- General the called-out, a group or assembly
(Acts 738 1939). - Specific church of Christ, realm or assembly of
those who are called out of sin united with
Christ in his kingdom (Matt. 1618-19)
5Words with general meaning more specific
application
- Saved
- General delivered from danger (Acts 2731)
- Specific forgiven of sin (Mk. 1616)
- Elder
- General anyone older in years (1 Tim. 51)
- Specific overseer in local church (Acts 1423)
- Servant
- General one who serves another, as all
followers of Christ serve him (Jn. 1226) - Specific deacon, official servant appointed by
local church (Acts 62-3 1 Tim. 3)
6Introduction
- The realm of the kingdom of God
- on the earth today
the realm of the church of Christ are the
same the
realm of spiritual unity fellowship with
Christ the relationship
necessary for our salvation.
7I. The Kingdom of God in Prophecy
- Gen. 123
- Seed of Abraham to Bless Men of All Nations
- Gen. 4910
- Gods Chosen King to Come from Judah
- Isa. 21-5
- In the Last Days God to Establish a New Kingdom
Invite Men of All Nations Into It - Dan. 244
- In the Time of the Romans God to Establish a New
Kingdom which Men Cannot Destroy
8II. When the Kingdom Was Near
- Matt. 31-3
- Preaching of John Repent ye for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand. - Matt. 4-7
- Preaching of Jesus Repent for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand (417).
9II. When the Kingdom Was Near
- Matt. 4-7 Jesus Preparing for the Kingdom
- 417-19 Preparing Men to Help Introduce the
Kingdom - 53-12 The Sermon on the Mount
- Attitudes Needed to Enter the Kingdom the
Reward of Heaven (53-12 619-20) - 633 Lifes 1st Priority To Enter the Kingdom
- 721 Many who Profess to Enter this Kingdom Not
Accepted into Heaven
10II. When the Kingdom Was Near
- Matt. 810-12
- Many Jews to be Lost Who Should Have Inherited or
Entered the Kingdom of GodMany Gentiles Will
Enter - Kingdom of Heaven Here the Final Reward
Outer Darkness the Final Punishment - Matt. 1222-30
- His Miracles Represented the Coming Kingdom of
God, Not the Kingdom of Satan! - If Kingdom Generic, Jesus Destroyed His Own
Kingdom by Fighting Satan!
11II. When the Kingdom Was Near
- Matt. 1324-30, 37-43
- Kingdom of God Planted in World Full of Tares
- Convert Not Remove Tares from the World
- Kingdom of heaven planted by Jesus
(vv. 24, 37) - The field is the world
his kingdom in very rare generic
senseChrists power to separate the wheat from
the tares in the end of this world (vv. 38,
40-41) - Final separation the righteous enter into
the kingdom of their Father (vs. 43)
12II. When the Kingdom Was Near
- Matt. 1616-18
- Christ Promised to Build His Church His
Apostles Ambassadors of the Kingdom - Jn. 33-5
- New Spiritual Birth to Enter His Kingdom
- Lk. 1720-21 Jn. 1836-37
- The Kingdom Emphatically Spiritual Not
Political, Civil, Military, Financial, Social - Lk. 2128-33
- The Kingdom IndestructibleSurvived Fall of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (vv. 28, 31)
13III. The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God on
the Earth Today
- Acts 2Apostles Proclaimed Christ on His Throne
Urged People to Enter His
Kingdom - Resurrection of Jesus Christ Proof he now sits
on his throne as King in the new kingdom of God
as both Lord Christ (vv. 30, 34-36) - Many obeyed the gospelthus entered the new
kingdom or church of Christ (vv. 37-41, 47) - Acts 85, 12Philip Preached Christ His
Authority, His Kingdom, His
Command of Baptism
14III. The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God on
the Earth Today.
- Eph. 13, 22-23 55Spiritual Realm of Unity
with Christ His Body, His
Church, His Kingdom - Enter this relationship learn to live new lives
(14 210 424) - Col. 112-14 315Realm of the Kingdom
Spiritual Realm of
Salvation, One Body, Church - Heb. 1222-29New Kingdom of God Superior to Old
Israel - The Church kingdom which cannot be moved
15III. The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God on
the Earth Today
- Rev. 15-6 59-10 1115-18 129-11Christs
Kingdom to Defeat Satans Kingdom
Kingdom of God Indestructible! - Carnal power used to attack the church
- Gods kingdom victorious by obedient faith in the
blood of Christ the gospel (1211) - 1 Cor. 1524-26 2 Pet. 111 Christs Rule in
the Kingdom on Earth Completed Its Citizens
Enter Everlasting Kingdom in Heaven
16Conclusion
- Truth is clarified confusion removed
The kingdom of God on the earth today is the
church of Christ, the spiritual rule of Christ
for the salvation of our souls. - Not generic for Gods rule over all things
- Col. 115-17 Christ creator, possessor, sustainer
of all things - Col. 113-14 The kingdom his spiritual rule
- Not a separate 1,000 year rule on an earthly
throne - Fully established on Pentecost not at the fall of
Jer. in A.D. 70 - Not social reforms or political utopia on earth
17Conclusion
- The citizens of the kingdom of God enter the
everlasting kingdom to be with God and all of the
saved of all ages in heaven! - Enter the kingdom of God now
(Acts 238-39). - If fallen back into a life of sin, return now
(Acts 822-24).