THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

 

Chapter 7

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The Church, A Kingdom

From 'Temple Worship' to 'Throne Room Authority'​

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Matt. 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

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If the Christian Church is a kingdom, the citizens being the Christians on earth, it means that the kingdom (government) of God is in the world already. If the Christian Church has a King (head) over her, it also means that the Church is a Kingdom. Furthermore, if the Christian Church is a Kingdom, it equally means there is power since there can be no kingdom without power with which to run its affairs. But, indeed, the Church (God’s people) is the Kingdom of God on earth.

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The word for ‘kingdom’ is synonymous with ‘rule’, ‘government’, ‘dominion’, ‘reign’ etc. After the Genesis account of the  disobedience of the head of God’s Kingdom in the flesh (the first Adam), there is no reference in Scripture to the phrase, ‘Kingdom of God’ or ‘Kingdom of heaven’ until its reintroduction by John the Baptist. God withdrew His Kingdom from being destroyed by sin, pending the eternal cleansing which is being done by the Lamb of God, Jesus, His Christ (John 1:29). Although many predicted this regime under Christ, there had been no use of the phrase ‘Kingdom of God / Heaven’ (1 Pet. 1:10-12). God, in His original intent, was to base His Kingdom on a spiritual foundation as warranted by His nature. That He illustrated with the first Adam in the physical, to pave the way in His appointed time for the perfect Kingdom (rule, government) in the Spirit through Christ. In John 18:36, Jesus confirms this by saying that His Kingdom does not belong to this world. See also Col. 1:13.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​So where is the seat of power of Jesus’s Kingdom? There is a response Jesus gave to the Pharisees about the Kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-21 in which He said His Kingdom is resident in His believers. That shows that it is the reign of God in peoples’ hearts by His Word. It cannot be materialized except in its fruits.

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In conclusion, it could be said that the head of, say, Nigeria, as other nations, is God indirectly; whereas the head of the Kingdom (government) of God – the Christian Church – is God directly through Christ, or Christ in God.

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Scripture (Rom. 14:17) says that God’s Kingdom is not made real in eating and drinking to refresh the body (an earthly welfare state) but that, far beyond that, it is about the righteousness, joy and peace that God’s Spirit gives; it is for receiving inheritance that we are drafted to be members of God’s Kingdom (Eph. 5:5). But no one receives an inheritance from a parent not willed to him. Our salvation and blessings stand because they are under God’s oath in Christ. They cannot be overturned by Satan, sin or doubt. This is the reason that we are under ‘the will of God in Christ’, so that it becomes possible for us to access our inheritance from God unhindered (Rom. 12:2). God willed everything He had to Jesus, and, because Jesus is generous like the Father, He re-willed the same to us. Thank you, Jesus!

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But, we cannot also take possession if Jesus, the Testator or writer of the will is not confirmed to be dead (Heb. 9:15-18). The Kingdom’s door, therefore, was not opened for anybody to inherit anything except until after Jesus died. God was pleased with Jesus’s multi-purpose self-sacrifice on the tree and authorized His resurrection and re-enthronement as King of kings, Lord of lords, Master of masters, Commander-in-chief and head of His Kingdom (Church).

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The prayer point, “Let Thy Kingdom come” had its answer when Jesus died and resurrected as head over God’s Kingdom. This same event condemned His enemy, the Devil, awaiting the ‘fire’ prepared for him (Matt. 25:41). For now, he is defeated but still prowling, bound from stopping the Gospel.

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In a kingdom such as Christ reigns over, there must be a constitution to regulate the business of those involved, which is present in the ‘New Will’ (covenant) of God in Christ, and, of course, there must be subjects who obey (we, who have believed in Christ). Christians are, therefore, those who are under the reign (Kingdom) of Christ on earth since they live not as people of the world driven by fleshly passions, but they live in the spirit of their King, Jesus, the Christ (Gal. 5:25-26, John 17:11-15, Rom. 8:9).

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Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. Which words are synonymous with ‘Kingdom’?

   • Rule, government, dominion, reign, authority, sovereignty. In Greek, Basileia – “royal power; kingship, rule.” Not a realm first, but a reign. Where the King rules, there is a Kingdom.

2. What are the characteristics of Jesus’s Kingdom (reign) now, according to John 18:36? What does the answer imply?

   • Not of this world: Origin: heaven; Nature: spiritual; Weapons: not carnal (2. Cor. 10:4).

   • Not by force: Servants do not fight to install it; they die to reveal it (John 18:36).

   • Now: Present reality, not just future (Rev. 1:6: “has made us kings”).

   • The implications: We do not advance the Kingdom by power play – politics, guns, coups. We advance it by service delivery – washing feet (John 13:14), laying down lives (1 John 3:16). If your ‘kingdom work’ needs a police escort, it is not of His Kingdom. The King reigns from the tree, not a palace.

3. In a Kingdom such as Jesus claims He has, there must be subjects and law to regulate the activities of those involved. Who are the subjects and where is the constitution?

   • Subjects: “We who have believed in Christ”. “He has delivered us… and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son.” (Col. 1:13)

   • “A royal priesthood.” (1 Pet. 2:9)

   • Constitution: The New Will / Covenant of God in Christ – The New Testament. “He is the Mediator of the new covenant.” (Heb. 9:15)

   • Specifically: The doctrine of Christ (2 John 9); the law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2); the word of His grace (Acts 20:32). Not Moses. Not culture. Christ.

4. Which concept enjoys Jesus’s endorsement in His Kingdom, ‘power play’ or ‘service delivery’? See Matt. 20:20-28.

   • Service delivery: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them… Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let  him be your servant… just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Matt. 20:25-28)

   • Kingdom rule:  The greatest is the slave to all (Mark 10:44). Power play is Gentile government. Service is God’s government. If you campaign for ‘title’ but not for ‘towels’ (John 13:4-5), you are in the wrong kingdom.

5. To become a citizen in the Kingdom of God is to receive inheritance (Eph. 5:5). Who enlists the citizens?

   • The Holy Spirit. “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:3)

   • “In Him you also trusted… were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.” (Eph. 1:13-14)

   • Process: The Father wills it (Eph. 1:5), the Son died to activate His will (Heb. 9:16-17), the Spirit enlists and seals (Eph. 1:13), drafting us into the Kingdom (Col. 1:13).

   • You do not apply for citizenship. You are born into it – drawn by the Father (John 6:44), redeemed by the Son, sealed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:13). When He calls, you come through repentance and faith (Luke 13:3, John 3:16), and He will not turn you away (John 6:37). Then you are taught by the Constitution, the Word.

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Declaration

I believe that no one physically fights to install God’s kingdom but one spiritually dies in service delivery to reveal it. So I declare before the heavens and principalities. Amen.

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Prayer

Lord, as we stop praying, “Let Thy kingdom come” as though your kingdom is absent, lead us to pray with revelation, “Let Thy kingdom be manifested through us”, because You (Our King) have been enthroned. Amen.

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