THE CHURCH IS THE KINGDOM.

A great deal OF CONFUSION exists because various religious groups do not understand this simple, straightforward, elementary constituent of God’s plan. Salvation is in the church built by Christ. The saved are in the church and absolutely nowhere else. It is the church Jesus built and is a spiritual church, it is the body of Christ, it is what Jesus came speaking of and continued throughout His ministry and He referred to as the kingdom.

The Church is the Kingdom and without this knowledge there are many serious false doctrines and indeed costly to your soul! In the theological world the doctrines such as the kingdom of God are twisted in various ways to fit with more fundamental of a groups beliefs. The beliefs at a high level either teach the kingdom is in existence currently or it is yet to come, or it came but is only partially in existence as it lacks full disclosure. A popular Protestant view was that the kingdom does not yet exist since it did not begin in the first century as God planned. Somehow God was wrong – that is quite a doctrine. Anyway for some when Christ comes to reign for a thousand years (a fabrication) the kingdom will be established. These things are relative to the timing for the kingdom but also the meaning of the kingdom is in question. Is the kingdom, heaven?
So what is so devastating about having an incorrect understanding of the kingdom and/or the church? There will be a myriad of false teachings as a result but the most serious will be seeing the kingdom, the church as being in some way physical. In the various physical scenario’s the doctrines in relation to salvation can be and are typically corrupted. Suddenly things like the church being a building and the acceptability of humankind making “church rules” are common outcomes of misunderstanding the church, the kingdom.
Catholics hold that the kingdom of God on earth is the Catholic church. Thus it is easy to see the problems of such a misconception on the salvation of souls. It is necessary for Catholics to see the kingdom and the church as being different. They teach many different things about the kingdom and generally encompass a heavenly element, but the church of the scriptures according to Catholicism is uniquely the Catholic church.
As you will see the kingdom is not difficult to understand and God provides great clarity. Interestingly, few realize that false teaching regarding the kingdom is the backbone of a series of damaging doctrines.

Clarifying: Men/Women think of the church as an organization of people under one name meeting in a particular location. Such a place does exist in scripture and is the local church defined in terms of organization and purpose. Those in the Body of Christ (spiritual church) would participate with a local group consisting of others who have also obeyed the gospel. This is the local “physical” church. Their mission is to evangelize, carry on Christ’s purpose of seeking and saving the lost. The church, the kingdom referred to on this page is as Jesus said Not Of THIS World whereas the local church is physical (of this world) having members that are “in Christ’s spiritual body.” Together they participate in spiritually authorized activities such as worship in spirit and truth – everything they do in serving God is “spiritual.” People today automatically hear church and think of some building, some earthy organization. The church being the kingdom is not understood largely because of spiritual values versus physical misconceptions relative to salvation. The churches, even those who teach the truth have people who are members that may or may not be in the kingdom at any one moment. So, when Jesus hands over the kingdom (His spiritual body) to the Father at the end of the world He is not handing over some building, some local group but handing over those in His spiritual body – the kingdom/His church.

Understanding this should help us to realize that not just any church that says it is Christian is acceptable. Salvation occurred due to breaking down the wall of sin that exists between God and man, specifically between God and you as we talk about YOUR salvation. It occurs by having past sins forgiven according to God’s instructions. This is possible because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Salvation occurs when the Lord adds you to His body (the church Jesus is building) making you a child of God, bringing the hope of heaven and the responsibilities associated with the blessing.

Also very importantly, we are in the last age. There is no other kingdom to come other than our final destination, which will be either heaven or the place of the lost. At some point in time and only the Father knows the time, The End Will Come. There will be no rapture (as used by premillennialists), no tribulation and no one-thousand-year reign of Christ on earth; but Jesus will be handing over the kingdom to the Father or, as we are discussing here, Jesus handing over the church to God the Father. Those whom Jesus hands over will have attained eternal life (heaven).

1 Corinthians 15.24
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father

The kingdom has been in existence since Acts 2 and now in the end of time the church is delivered to God.

Now we will see why the Kingdom has come and that it is the church

First, Jesus came of age and began His preaching. Jesus initiated His public ministry in Galilee. We see Him immediately preaching as recorded in:

• Matthew 4.17: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,”
• Mark 1.15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand . . .”
• Later in Mark 9.1, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
• After Christ’s death and just before He ascended into heaven, He speaks of the kingdom and the apostles receiving power (Acts 1.3-8).
• The kingdom indeed comes with power in Acts 2. Later Paul, writing to the Christians at Colosse, says, “He [God] has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

God was very careful in preparing for the coming of the church, essentially from Genesis. What follows in the table below is a very brief summary of prophecy regarding the church as the kingdom and its fulfillment in the New Testament. It provides the indicated time and place for the kingdom and thus the respective fulfillment during Roman rule and in the city of Jerusalem. There was to be a king, who is, of course, Jesus Christ. We see the King receiving/building His kingdom/church and ruling over it at the right hand of God. There is a new covenant, and the promise of the Spirit coming with power is central to the events of Acts 2. To have a good understanding of the kingdom, we need to see it as God would, that is, in terms of its spiritual nature. The Jews were unable to see the kingdom in a spiritual sense since they were looking for a worldly kingdom. Today many, who would like to be Christians fail to see the church as the kingdom and, like the Jews, continue to wait for the kingdom instead of becoming a part of the kingdom by obeying the King. Throughout the time of the old covenant there were prophecies / promises of the kingdom and we can see how they were fulfilled in the first century and in terms of the church.

Therefore, do we have a kingdom today and ever since Acts 2? If we had a kingdom, it would have the following characteristics:

1. A KING: That king is Jesus, the Son of God per Luke 1.33. Jesus at the end of the age will deliver the kingdom to God the Father. Jesus must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet.

2. A TERRITORY: It is a spiritual territory, a spiritual kingdom. John 18.36, Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world,” and Luke 17.31, Jesus says, “For indeed the kingdom of God is within you”

3. SUBJECTS: Everyone should be a subject. Jesus died for all (Acts 28.20); Philippians 2.9-11 says every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and Romans 5.8 says God’s love was shown while we were still sinners. Christ died for everyone. But only those who obey (Hebrews 5.8, 9) and this includes being baptized (Galatians 3.26, 27). Indeed those who obeyed from the heart (Romans 6. 16, 17), and were called by the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 2.14), were begotten (born) through the Gospel (1 Corinthians 4.15) are the ones that will be added to the kingdom, the church by the Lord Himself. These are the subjects of the kingdom.

4. A LAW: The New Testament: Hebrews 9.15-17 says the New Covenant is in effect since Jesus’ death:
The Law of Christ: Galatians 6.2
Laws on their hearts: Hebrews 10.16: “I will put My laws into their hearts.”
Gospel/scripture: Romans 16.25, 26: “For obedience to the faith”

There most certainly is a law and it might be referred to as the law of Christ or the doctrine of Christ. It is essential for success or as the scriptures indicate to have Jesus and the Father.
2 John 1.9
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

The law in these last days (last age) is the new covenant of Christ which is perfect in every way as it fulfills God’s purpose.
Hebrews 1.1,2
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Those who want to achieve heaven need to be in subjection to the doctrine of Christ and being faithful to God’s way they will succeed. Those who will not be in subjection to God in pride will choose to reject the kingdom. In this way God’s purpose is also served since they represent those God does not want to share His Divine Nature.

From the introduction of the kingdom to its fulfillment

Beginning with Jesus’ preaching the kingdom, the series of events below culminate in the establishment of the kingdom, the church:

• Jesus preaches the kingdom of God is at hand.
• Jesus is crucified.
• Jesus dies, is buried, and is resurrected.
• Jesus appears to the disciples after His death and, shortly thereafter, ascends before them into heaven. Jesus on that occasion provides the apostles instructions in preparation for the coming of the kingdom.
• The apostles wait for the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.
• The fulfillment of Joel 2.28-32 occurs in Acts 2.
• The truth is preached and obeyed for the first time.
• Those obedient to the Gospel are added by the Lord to the church, the kingdom.

The following scriptures allow you to follow the events from the appearance of Jesus after His Death to the kingdom’s establishment. After Jesus’ death, in Luke 24.44-49, Jesus appears to the disciples. All that God has planned in Christ was completed. He has opened the doors. God has done His part. What will be man’s response? What are men being asked to do?

Luke 24.44-49: Jesus opens their understanding

44  Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47 “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem
48 “And you are witnesses of these things
49 “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high”

Then in Acts 1.3: About the kingdom of God

(This is a continuance of Luke 24.44-49)

3 To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering
by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Now in Acts 1.8: Power received when Holy Spirit comes Jesus is more specific relative to the power from on high mentioned in Luke 24.49.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 2.1-13: Power from on High

The events of Acts 2 begin with the apostles gathered together on the day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit coming as promised with power.
The power included the ability to speak in various languages or tongues. The apostles spoke the languages of the various Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. They were speaking the truth. This was the long-awaited message from God and on this first day of the kingdom, it was to be delivered with power. The apostles before this time did not know what to say or what God was going to require.

Verse 36 is the conclusion of verses 14-35. Peter over these verses describes the part this day plays in God’s plan. He explains that what is happening right then is the fulfillment of Joel 2.28-32. Peter tells in detail how Jesus was the Messiah, ending by saying:

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Acts 2.37-39: What shall we do?
Those hearing this were “cut to the heart.” Peter and the apostles are asked, what shall we do? Those asking are told to:

38 repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2.40-47: People obey; God adds them to the church

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized.
47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

These are the basics. Every person ought to understand how God unfolded His plan for man. This is what Christ died for, for you! He suffered terribly and died so you could have the opportunity to be obedient to the Gospel. The power God promised came miraculously providing the apostles with the ability to speak in different languages known to the listeners and accurately deliver the truth.
Now for the first time people knew exactly what to do. Men did not invent the process, but it was what God planned from the beginning for your salvation. If you do not become part of the kingdom, the church belonging to Christ while you are alive in the body, you will not be part of the kingdom that Jesus will deliver in the end to His Father.
Note: If the kingdom is the church why do we have two different names for the same thing. Ultimately, the church and the kingdom are the same thing in terms of the residence for a person who has obeyed the gospel. There needed to be a differentiation between the kingdom and the church. Jesus began preaching the kingdom that was coming and especially its characteristics. Late in His ministry He introduces the church He will build. Those added to the church by the Lord are then in the kingdom. That is the church, which is the spiritual body of Christ, the spiritual kingdom. Jesus would be the king over a kingdom (spiritual), and He would be the head of the church (spiritual).
The kingdom was a word understood by those listening to Jesus preaching. The church or the “called out” would involve how people were to be added to the kingdom – to the church. The “calling out” has to do with the gospel message and would be something only possible after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Thus to this writer, the use of two different words with the same ultimate meaning is logical in consideration of the timing for their use by Jesus. The first use of the word (translated) church was in Matthew 16.18 and was referring to Jesus building His church which would begin after His death in Acts 2.