Kingdom of God Explained

Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness…” If you seek something first in your life, you had better know what you seek. This chapter contains what many call “The Lord’s Prayer” (Mt 6:10). Christ instructs Christians to pray, “Thy kingdom come.” To properly do this, you must know what you are praying for.

The main purpose here is not to explain in detail the kingdom of God. It is to explain the definition of the true gospel and mankind’s incredible future. (To learn much more, read our free booklet What Is the Kingdom of God?)

So let’s understand. The word “kingdom” simply means government. Of course, you cannot have a government without a nation to govern. Therefore, a kingdom is at least one nation with a government.

There are four necessary components to any kingdom: (1) Land, property or territory—however large or small. In other words, one must have a specific and definite set of boundaries constituting the size of the kingdom; (2) a ruler, king, monarch or governor leading the government; (3) people or subjects living within the territory; and (4) a system of laws and rules along with a basic structure of government. No kingdom is complete without all of these fundamental elements.

But how does this apply to God’s kingdom? Most do not understand the most basic elements of the kingdom of God. Is it a literal, physical place on earth, with people and laws, presided over by a ruler? Some believe that the kingdom is merely something in the hearts of men. Others believe that it is wherever you find a particular church. Still others believe that it is Jesus Christ Himself. Many believe that it is here now and others believe that it is yet to come, but do not understand how this will occur. We may ask: How does one actually enter the kingdom of God?

One Must Be Born Again to Enter the Kingdom

Paul wrote that Christ is “the firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18), and also “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). When connected, these verses show that Jesus is merely the firstborn from the dead, with many others to follow. But when, and into what, will they be born?

In John 3:3, Christ said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily [this means truly, truly], I say unto you, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In Jn 3:6, Christ continues, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Simply believe the plain meaning of this verse. One must become spirit to SEE the kingdom of God. (Read our free booklet What Does “Born Again” Mean?)

Paul taught, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 15:50). The next two verses explain that the resurrection will occur at the Seventh (last) Trumpet, when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Christ returns when the Seventh Trumpet (of Revelation 11:1-19) blows. This is when the resurrection of the dead will occur. Do not misunderstand this climactic event. People who were once fleshly human beings will be changed into spirit—will be born again—and enter into the kingdom of God. No physical people can enter this kingdom.

John 4:24 states, “God is a Spirit.” Under the Father, Christ leads His kingdom, which is composed of spirit beings. At His Return, Christ, as a member of the God Family, will have many younger “brothers and sisters,” who will have qualified to rule with Him. Think of it this way: There is a plant kingdom, an animal kingdom, human kingdoms and an angelic kingdom. There is also the kingdom of God.

Now notice Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.” When referring to themselves, the One speaking says, “Us,” “Our” and “Our.” This is proof that there is more than one Being in the Godhead—there are presently two! In this scripture, the Hebrew word for God is Elohim. This is a uniplural term like group, team, committee or family. All of these represent one entity, comprised of several members or persons.

Thus, the Bible teaches there is one God, composed of two Persons—the Father and Christ—with many more persons to be added later. The first great time when God will add more sons to His Family is when Christ’s kingdom is established. But entering God’s kingdom will not be automatic for anyone.

There Are Conditions to Entering the Kingdom

We read several places where Christ said only those who overcome will inherit the kingdom and rule with Him. There is more to being in the kingdom of God than just desiring it. There are qualifying CONDITIONS that must be met.

Jesus said to a young rich man who inquired about eternal life, “…if you will enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matt. 19:17). He explained one must keep the Ten Commandments to be saved, and specifically cited five of them.

Now what is sin? Since committing it results in death (Rom. 6:23), should you not know what it is? I John 3:4 records, “sin is the transgression of the law.” This is the same law that the young rich man was told he must obey to inherit eternal life.

Many claim to be Christian—to be followers of Christ. They claim to “believe on Christ” and claim to be “seekers of truth,” when they do not want the real truth of the Bible at all. Notice this long exchange Christ had with the Pharisees: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If you continue in MY WORD, then are you My disciples indeed; and you shall know THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH shall make you free…but you seek to kill Me, because MY WORD has no place in you…But now you seek to kill Me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God…If God were your Father, you would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God…Why do you not understand My speech? Even because you cannot hear MY WORD…And because I tell you THE TRUTH, you believe Me not [yet it says they believed “on” Him]…And if I say THE TRUTH, why do you not believe Me?” (John 8:31-32, 37, 40, 42-46). Christ continues in the account by bluntly indicting those who would claim to be Christians when they are really “of (their) father the devil.”

Many assert that they “know Jesus” when they know nothing of the true Christ of the Bible. As He said, they literally “cannot hear” Christ’s words—the TRUTH—though they may think that they do: “He that says, I KNOW HIM, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and THE TRUTH is not in him” (I John 2:4). The world is filled with hundreds of millions of such “Christians,” professing a Jesus, but ignorant of the truth.

Many who are not practicing Christianity find their way into the true Church. But eventually they all leave. John continued, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (I Jn 2:19). I have seen this many times. Many seem to only believe “on” Christ, not really believing Him—that is believing what He said, and said to DO!

Recall Christ’s words in Mark 1:15: “REPENT you, and believe the gospel.” Repentance is from sin (Acts 3:19). A Christian is one who has turned from—repented of—his sins, and been baptized (Ac 2:38) and converted (Ac 3:19). Through a lifetime of overcoming sin, the Christian qualifies for (though he cannot earn) salvation and spiritual birth into the kingdom of God.

Your Incredible Future

Recall that God said that He made human beings in His “image” and “likeness.” This verse means what it says. God created you to become “like” Him in every way. Through His Spirit entering the mind of each of His newly converted children, a literal, brand new spirit life is begotten. At that moment, a tiny spirit-begotten “embryo” comes into existence. Just as little children grow up to look like their physical parents, so also do God’s children slowly take on the SPIRITUAL likeness of God (their Parent), in nature and character, as much as in image and form (II Pet. 1:4).

Both the Old and New Testaments make this point absolutely plain! While many have some vague understanding that Christians might, in some way, be “sons of God,” none ever consider this: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be LIKE Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2). Comprehend this staggering knowledge! We will one day have the very likeness of Jesus. Romans 8:16 states we are “children” of God and “heirs” with Christ.

King David also understood this a thousand years earlier when he wrote, “As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with YOUR LIKENESS” (Psa. 17:15). Incidentally, this verse dispels the delusion of the popular “beatific vision” idea—that people will not actually see God’s face in the afterlife. David understood that we will see God—and face to face. So did John. Both knew that at the Resurrection—when we “awake”—we will be exactly like God, in form and character.

So then, God is actually reproducing Himself in people who have received His Holy Spirit. He is creating children that will look and be just like Himself!

It is the very Spirit of God in us that will allow us to awake in the Resurrection. Notice Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies BY His Spirit that dwells in you” (also I Cor. 15:1-58 and I Thes. 4:13-18). Christ was raised to return to His position alongside God the Father. He had fulfilled His task of becoming Saviour.

Now, understand! The same Spirit, dwelling in us from the moment of conversion, will raise us (all those begotten of God) to join God in His kingdom.

Like the newly begotten baby grows in its mother’s womb, the Christian must also grow before he can leave the womb. Peter wrote, “But GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 3:18). Christians are to grow in this lifetime. In order to be given divine authority and power, as joint-heirs with Christ, they must qualify, through the building of God’s holy, righteous character in their lives.

Paul explained that the role of faithful ministers in the Church is to feed the flock. Jesus said, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18). It is the Church—THAT Church—which is “Jerusalem above…the mother of us all” (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22-23). Like any mother, the Church nurtures and feeds her children—and she has been doing this for 2,000 years.