The Kingdom of God
Introduction
The kingdom of God is the holy sovereignty of God in the life of a believer. It is mentioned in both Testaments in the bible. It means God’s rule on the people and the blessings and the advantages that come from living under the rule of God and obeying his commands.
In Chronicles 28:5 (The New King James Version), the kingdom of God means that the kingdom belongs to the Lord and Solomon was to sit on the throne. In this picture, it meant that it is God’s realm. In 1st Kings 3-10, when Solomon became unfaithful and turned his heart to other gods, he is cursed by God and the kingdom is taken from him. In Mathew 6:33, the bible states that the kingdom of God and his righteousness should be sought first and then all the other things will be given to you. In this scripture, the kingdom of God represents the rules of God which means allowing him to guide and control your life and be under his rule.
According to Brannon (2015), in the Old Testament, the background aspect on the kingdom of God is seen in Genesis 1: 28 when God blesses and commands humans to multiply and have authority over the other animals. This command reaches the heart of the kingdom of God. God made man in his image and likeness and gives him authority to rule under him. He gives humans the responsibility to expand God’s reign all over the earth by multiplying his image. When Adam and Eve go against God’s will when they eat the fruit in the garden of Eden, it is written that rebellion and sin from humans must be resolved for God to ring his Kingdom to the world. In Exodus, God makes it known to all that the whole earth is his and if the people of Israel obey and live according to his commandments, they will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to him.
Brannon (2015) states that in the New Testament, God’s kingdom is represented today and the days to come. It shows that it begins since he first came to the world, it grows through the annunciation of the word of God and comes to be fulfilled in Christ’s second coming. In the book of Mark 1:15, Jesus urges people to repent and believe in the word of God because it is already time and God’s kingdom is present. In Mathew 4:23, it is written that Jesus healed the sick, cast out evil spirits, he taught and revealed the teachings of the kingdom. This shows the connection of the gospel of God and His kingdom which represents the fulfillment of the prophecies and promises given in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, attention has been drawn to the promised kingdom of God that has been initiated and is now in the first coming of Christ and is represented by his life, death, and resurrection. There is a connection between the ministry of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom. There is also a connection between the kingdom and Jesus dying and resurrecting from the dead.
Conclusion
The kingdom of God is represented differently throughout the bible. In the New Testament, it is one of the main components of the teachings of Jesus. The kingdom of God has been connected to his death and resurrection and by defeating them, Christians are made to be part of God’s kingdom. They should extend God’s sovereignty and accomplish his purposes all over the earth.
References
Brannon J.M. (2015). The Kingdom of God- Third Millennium Ministries: Retrieved from
https://thirdmill.org/magazine/article.asp/link/jef.Kingdomof God.html
Chronicles, Mathew, & Kings. Retrieved from: The New King James Version
