The Kingdom
The word translated kingdom is Basileia (strongs #932) and is primarily an abstract noun denoting sovereignty, royal power, dominion, it denotes the territory or people over whom a king rules. The entire spectrum of the kings authority is within his kingdom. Laws, rules, people, lands, territory and representatives of such.
The kingdom of God is noted as the sphere in which God rules. In a sense, everthing is in the realm of God's kingdom. However there is a more limited expression of this in the sense that those who subject themselves to this rulership, become members in this kingdom. By choice we enter the kingdom of God. By the process of application for citizenship and meeting the requirements for such can we be allowed into the kingdom.
Most of the time when we talk about the kingdom we are making reference to the realm of God's rulership. The Church is within the realm of God's rulership. Christ is within that realm. The Bible is within that realm.
Sometimes the use of the word is limited to temporal or physical things on this earth, but sometimes it is reserved to refer to Heaven and what will be there, when it comes.
Entrance into this kingdom is by the new birth. This is the meeting of the requirements. Only by obedience to the conditions set forth by God, can anyone enter into it.
Many times the phrase kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven can be interchangable along with the phrase kingdom of God's dear Son or as Christ said, "My kingdom". There are sometimes when the phrases are not interchangable.
The Church which is also shown to be the Kingdom is under the rulership and authority of Christ who receives His authority from God.
Therefore to be in the kingdom of Christ only reads as an extension by context to be in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God does not necessarily imply the kingdom of Christ.
Sometimes, the kingdom is spoken not in the physical sense but in the moral sense. To be in a right relationship with God will mean that they are a part of God's kingdom.
Let's look at some uses of these phrases in the scriptures.
Mt:3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt:4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt:5:3: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mt:5:10: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mt:5:19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mt:5:20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mt:6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mt:7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mt:10:7: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt:11:11: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mt:11:12: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mt:12:28: But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mt:13:11: He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mt:16:19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mt:18:3: And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mt:18:4: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mk:1:14: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mk:1:15: And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mk:4:11: And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mk:4:30: And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
(this is another lesson we shall see later)
Mk:9:1: And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Mk:9:47: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Mk:10:14: But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mk:10:15: Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Mk:12:34: And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Mk:14:25: Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Mk:15:43: Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Lk:4:43: And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Lk:6:20: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Lk:7:28: For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Lk:8:1: And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Lk:8:10: And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Lk:9:2: And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Lk:9:11: And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
Lk:9:27: But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Lk:9:60: Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Lk:9:62: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Lk:10:9: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Lk:11:20: But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Lk:12:31: But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Lk:16:16: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Lk:17:20: And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Lk:17:21: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Lk:18:29: And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
Lk:19:11: And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Lk:21:31: So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Lk:22:16: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Lk:22:18: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Jn:3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jn:3:5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts:1:3: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Acts:8:12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts:14:22: Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts:19:8: And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Acts:20:25: And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts:28:23: And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Acts:28:31: Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Rom:14:17: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1Cor:4:20: For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1Cor:6:9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Cor:6:10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Cor:15:50: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Gal:5:21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Eph:5:5: For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Col:1:13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col:4:11: And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
2Thes:1:5: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
2Pt:1:11: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The kingdom is many different things. We will discuss in a later sermon the comparisons of what the kingdom is and how it relates to us today.
by Carey Scott
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