The Coming Kingdom of God

Back to The Awesome Potential of Man

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ said, “But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). A Christian must always strive toward these two inseparable goals. Notice that the FIRST priority is seeking the kingdom of God. But he must also develop His (God’s) righteousness—His divine character. Most of this sermon is an emphasis on CHARACTER-BUILDING through obedience to God’s Law.

John recorded Christ’s words: “In My Father’s house are many mansions [offices] … I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). This bears examination.

First, there are many “offices” in God’s “house” (kingdom). Second, Christ is preparing these positions before He “comes again.” Third, Christians are not going where He is to be with Him—in heaven or anywhere else—because Jesus said, “I will come again.” (By now, you realize that heaven has never been the reward of the saved.) The Christian is offered an inheritance of rulership over the earth (Matt. 5:5).

One chapter later (John 15:1-2), Christ continues, “I am the true Vine.… Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” In verse 5, He says again, “bring forth much fruit,” and, in verse 8, “Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:5, 8). Finally, He says, “I have chosen you … that you should go and bring forth fruit” (John 15:16).

This is all-important! A Christian is to bear fruit in his life! Verse 8 goes on to explain that by doing this, “so shall you be My disciples” (John 15:8). Christ identifies you as one of His disciples (and God’s begotten sons) by whether or not you bear fruit in this life!

We have learned that the book of Revelation records several places where Christ, through John, offers the kingdom to those who overcome. Let’s review: “And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev. 2:26-27), and “to him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne” (Rev. 3:21).

When coupled with Revelation 5:10, it is clear that the resurrected saints become both “kings and priests” who “reign on the earth” with Christ, but only if they are overcomers in this life.

This knowledge is truly special—and precious. The world does not know about God’s coming kingdom. The “god of this world” has been able to completely delude an unsuspecting and unwitting mankind.

But Christians recognize that they are in daily training for RULERSHIP. They are no longer blinded to God’s purpose. Therefore, it is critical that they understand their “training regimen.”

Faith and Repentance

We have explained that God gives His Spirit at baptism, which takes place after repentance. But how is repentance achieved? Does one just declare, by simple assertion, “I have repented”? Is this all there is to it? The answer is an emphatic NO! It is not that simple.

Repentance is a GIFT from God just as much as is one’s initial calling. When speaking of Gentiles coming to conversion, Acts 11:18 states, “Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

II Timothy 2:25 speaks of circumstances where “God … will give … repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” Finally, Romans 2:4 explains that it is God’s “goodness” that “leads to repentance.” People do not “work up” repentance in order to require God to give them His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

People must seek God and ask for the gift of repentance. It is not automatic and should never be treated as such. But God grants repentance to all those who seek it with their whole heart, as David did in Psalm 51:1-19. (Possibly take a moment to read this entire, moving, eye-opening psalm.) But exactly what does one repent of? Recall that the Bible says, “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). What is sin? Again, 1 John 3:4 states, “Sin is the transgression of the law.” This refers to the Law of God.

Remember, the normal, fleshly, or carnal mind is hostile to the Law of God (Rom. 8:7). People do not naturally obey God. Human nature disobeys—breaks—God’s Law, and does so naturally! (We will learn much more about human nature in the next chapter.) A Christian keeps His Law. He does not just hear it or talk about it: “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Rom. 2:13).

Therefore, God will only give His Spirit to one that He has conquered—one who is willing to obey Him (Acts 5:32).

The world depicts God’s Law as harsh and burdensome. But John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). (Also Romans 13:10.) God’s Law is holy, just, good, and spiritual (Rom. 7:12, 14) and it is through God’s Spirit that one is able to obey God and thereby practice the love of God. Romans 5:5 stated, “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5).

A repentant mind has turned from its own way. It wants to follow God. It is yielded to God—yielded to His government, His authority in its life. Such a mind strives to copy Jesus Christ and produce the “fruits of the Spirit.” Remember, Christ talked about “bearing much fruit.” He later inspired Paul to LIST the “fruits of the Spirit”—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (self-control)—in Galatians 5:22-23. These become evident in the conduct of the Spirit-led—the converted—person.

The repentant mind has turned from the selfish “get” way of life, to the way of “give.” A Christian’s entire thinking becomes transformed—CHANGED completely—to a whole new way of looking at life.

The Christian lives by faith (Heb. 10:38; Hab. 2:4). But the faith of Christ (Rev. 14:12), not human faith, is what makes it possible for a person to obey God. Yet, the person must demonstrate an initial faith that Christ has forgiven him at baptism (Acts 2:38). It is at this moment that a Christian’s prior slate of conduct has been wiped completely clean. It has become as white as snow—cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). This first human faith is then replaced by CHRIST’S faith in the now converted person (Rom. 1:17). We have seen that faith is one of the fruits of God’s Spirit, which has entered into the Christian’s mind at begettal—at conversion and baptism.

Do not misunderstand! God does not owe you His Spirit because you have exercised faith and repented. It is a gift (Acts 2:38), as is repentance itself. The Holy Spirit is not something that you can earn by your works, anymore than salvation can be earned by works (Eph. 2:8-9).

The Bible teaches that “repentance is toward God” and that “faith is toward … Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Conversion is a personal private matter between the Father and Christ, and each individual. If God is truly calling you, make certain of your calling (2 Pet. 1:10). It is most precious!

This is the only way to approach the marvellous gift you are being given!

Next Part True Conversion Explained

Back to The Awesome Potential of Man

Back to By David C. Pack