Why Does the Bible Call the Church the Kingdom of God?
One of the most common themes in the teaching of Jesus is the Kingdom of God. He spoke about it in parables, announced that it was near, and taught His disciples to seek it first. But what is the Kingdom, and when did it begin?
The New Testament answers those questions by keeping our attention on Jesus Christ.
When Jesus began His ministry, He proclaimed,
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15)
The kingdom was not presented as a human government or an earthly empire. It was God's reign through His promised King.
After His resurrection, Jesus declared,
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)
The King had received His authority.
A few weeks later, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter announced that God had raised Jesus from the dead, exalted Him to His own right hand, and made Him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:32-36). Jesus was now reigning as the promised Son of David.
The apostles did not preach that Christ would someday become King.
They preached that He is King.
The New Testament describes Christians as people who are already living under His rule.
Paul wrote,
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13)
Notice the tense.
Paul does not say Christians will someday enter the kingdom.
He says God has transferred us into it.
The writer of Hebrews makes the same point:
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken..." (Hebrews 12:28)
Again, the kingdom is presented as a present reality for believers.
This helps explain why the New Testament uses several different names for the same people.
The church is called the body of Christ because Christ is its Head.
It is called the family of God because God is our Father.
It is called the kingdom of God because Christ is our King.
These are not different groups of people.
They are different ways of describing the same people from different perspectives.
The kingdom is not merely a place we hope to enter one day.
It is the present reign of Christ over those who gladly submit to His authority.
One day Christ will return, judge the world, and bring God's eternal purpose to its glorious completion.
Until then, His kingdom continues to grow as men and women hear the gospel, obey Christ, and are added to His people.
That is why Jesus could teach His disciples to pray,
"Your kingdom come."
And why the apostles could later speak of Christians as already living in that kingdom.
The promise became reality because the King came, conquered sin and death, and now reigns at the Father's right hand.
Continue Your Study
Why Does the Bible Call the Church the Temple of the Holy Spirit?
If God's people are now His temple, what happened to the old temple in Jerusalem?
Where does God dwell today?
And what does that mean for Christians?
Related Bible Studies
When Did the Church Begin?
Why Does the Bible Call the Church the Body of Christ?
Why Does Authority Matter?
The Temple Story
Companion Video
Why Does the Bible Call the Church the Kingdom of God?
Read First. Conclude Later.