Gene Holman
Special to The R-C
The Kingdom of God was the keyword in all the teaching of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament and the comprehensive term He used, for the whole body of His teaching. Jesus uses this phrase more than a hundred times in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Even in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13) He used this phrase twice. In verse ten He said, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” In verse 13 he said, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”.
Yet it is also true and shocking that many readers of the Bible scarcely notice this important phrase often ignoring the fact that it is even there. The reason for this is probably that it is overshadowed by the astonishing things that Jesus said and the amazing miracles which accompanied His teaching.
But the fact is that to fully and correctly understand the doctrines of Christ, some knowledge of the significance of this term is essential. After all, it is the Gospel of the Kingdom which His servants were commanded to preach. St. Luke 9:2, “And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.”
In a closer look at the use of the phrase in the teachings of Jesus we will notice some interesting statements of the Lord to His disciples regarding it. For example He said to His disciples. “The kingdom of God is within you. Later in His ministry when He began to teach by parables He usually prefaced them with these words, “The kingdom of God is like –“By parables Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God would continues to grow and would ultimately be visually and materially manifested on earth as it is in heaven. Hundreds of prophetic scriptures in the Bible speak of the manifestation of Kingdom of God ruling over all nations. Ps 72:8-11 is one example, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; and all nations shall serve Him”.
The Bible clearly teaches that the visible kingdom of God begins with a second coming of Christ to earth when He shall be established as the Eternal King over all nations and remove from society, Satan’s evil powers, and Godless and wicked men, who are the root of all human misery. Preparation for this event is simply explained in many places of the New Testament. Jesus emphasized simple faith and trust. He said in Mark 10:15-16, “I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Humility, truth, and righteousness are the most important qualifications to enter the kingdom of God and be established as a citizen of His eternal kingdom.
Pastor Gene Holman of Living Word Fellowship in Gardnerville is a member of Carson Valley Ministers’ Association