It’s my goal in this section to help each one of you to discover, develop and use the gifts that God has given you. What I want to help you accomplish is threefold.
Number one I want to help you practically live out what it means to be partakers of the kingdom of God. Number two I want to help you to become a functioning member of the body of Christ.
Number three I want you to discover and use the God-given gifts you have received to their full potential.
You know the truth is that most believers go to meetings week after week without ever truly understanding what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. It’s why a lot of people stop going to meetings, because it becomes a spectator sport, where you don’t ever get to play in the game and it's pretty boring a lot of times.
In the last section we learned that each person is a priest ministering before God. Did you also know that each one of us is also called to ministry? Each person is to identify, develop and put into practice the gifts that God has given them. No one is to be sitting around, because disciples should be diligently seeking the will of God for their lives. Jesus instructed us to seek first the kingdom of God, not second or third. The priority of our lives should be to know and do the will of God. The will of God for each of our lives can and should be realized. It’s not some abstract concept that can never be attained for God has made it possible for us to walk in His purposes.
Each of us has been uniquely created to fulfill a specific work that only we can do.
You should be encouraged to know that there is only one of you and only you can fulfill the purpose, which you were created to complete. Although we are each individual members in the body of Christ, we are not to be independent, but interdependent to one another. We started talking about this in Lesson 34: Relationships. To fulfill the calling of God on our lives we will have to work with others. To be able to work with others we will have to learn how to properly relate with them through trust and love.
The community of the faithful is built on relationships. As I’ve taught in this school of discipleship, the church isn’t a building, but a people and the community of the faithful as I like to call it, is only as strong as its relationships. In one of Jesus' parables, he said the kingdom of heaven is like a net.
A net is only as strong as the knots that hold it together and relationships are the knots that hold the community of the faithful together. Jesus is the head of the body and under His direction we are all fitted together. In Ephesians chapter 4 verse 16 Paul tells us that each part of the body has its own special work which helps the other parts grow. In the Phillips Bible it says that the church grows by the “proper functioning of the individual parts”.
It’s important that every member finds their proper place so that the entire body will be healthy, grow and reproduce. In this section it’s my goal to help you discover a New Testament pattern for the ministry that God has called you to accomplish. Before we begin to do that, let’s take a look at the kingdom of God, so we can see how the body of Christ and us as members of that body, fit into God’s redemptive story.
In the first four books of the New Testament, the gospels, the major theme that is spoken of is the kingdom of God.
The word spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the virgin who bore the Messiah, was that, He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom will have no end. At the time of Christ, many of the Jews were hoping for a political kingdom, a military and geographic realm from which the Jews, under a descendant of David, would rule. They looked back to the time of King David as a golden age in their history and they longed to return to that time with the promised Messiah as King. They thought a Messiah, referred to as the Son of Man as spoken of in Daniel chapter 7 verses 13 and 14, would usher in an eternal kingdom on earth.
The Old Testament prophets summarized this hope under the phrase the ‘day of the Lord’.
The ‘day of the Lord’ which the prophets spoke of was to be a time when the full restoration of Israel, the earth, the heavens and the resurrection of the dead would occur under a Messianic figure. It was also, to be a time when the nations of the earth would be judged and justice would reign under a messianic king like David. This was the dream the Zealots had of Jewish nationalism. The Jewish concept of the kingdom of God explains why the Jews tried to make Jesus king by force during the early part of his ministry because they wanted him to lead them out from Roman oppression and establish a political kingdom greater than David’s.
The Bible clearly teaches us that Jesus Christ was born ‘King of the Jews’ in the city of Bethlehem.
His birth took place in a manger because there was no room for him in the local inn. Though the rulers of this world did not recognize him, he came into this earth as a man and was born into King David’s royal family line: that’s in Matthew chapter 2 verse 2 and Paul confirms this in Romans chapter 1 verse 3. It was thirty years later in the wilderness of Judea that John the Baptist came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John was sent as a voice to prepare the way for the coming King and His kingdom. The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, ends with the prophecy concerning John the Baptist. Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible 'day of the Lord', that’s in Malachi chapter 3 verse 2 thru 3.
John fulfilled this prophecy and through the proclamation of the kingdom and water baptism, he prepared the nation of Israel for their King.
Another popular understanding of the kingdom of God arose among the Jews during what has come to be called the 400 silent years. The 400 silent years refers to the time period in Israel's history from the time of Malachi to John the Baptist. It was 400 years with no prophetic voice in Israel until John the Baptist began to prophesy and prepare the nation of Israel for its king.
During the 400 silent years, the Jews who went through a series of frightful persecutions and lost hope in an earthly kingdom.
They thought God had to destroy the evil present in this age before he could establish his kingdom bringing the 'day of the Lord'. They envisioned a new world in which all-evil, demons, sickness and death would be defeated and eradicated. By dividing history into two periods, evil and good, they set their hope in the age to come. John, who fulfilled his ministry in the spirit and power of Elijah, told the people to bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance. John said that the axe is already laid at the root of the trees, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Just as Elijah brought a separation between those who would serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or the idols of religion, politics, pleasure and power, so did John the Baptist.
His ministry was one that dealt with the very heart of man, to turn it away from the evil of this present age to the coming King. John, however, was just a preparer of the way for the King who had brought His kingdom to the earth. Once Jesus was baptized by John, empowered with the Holy Spirit and tested in the wilderness, He began to preach and say, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
G.H. Lang in his book ‘The Parabolic Teaching of Scriptures’ says that: Neither John nor Christ said that the kingdom ‘is at hand’, in the sense that the kingdom of glory or physical rule of Christ upon this earth could be ushered in at once. The Greek perfect tense cannot be translated by the English present tense. They said that ‘the kingdom has drawn near,’ in the sense that a king is the essence and embodiment of his kingdom. So, when the king visits a region then the kingdom and the authority the king represents, is present in the person of the king. This, then, was the inclusive theme of John and Christ.
All their teaching was concerned with this kingdom of God and heaven, which is the case with their pictures and parables. Only there were two aspects and periods of this kingdom, as foretold by the prophets and was the necessity of the case: an inward and an outward kingdom. The inward kingdom was spiritual in the hearts of men. The outward kingdom would deal in human affairs and the latter must wait for the former. Let me repeat the last two sentences because they are very important to remember.
There were two aspects and periods of this kingdom, as foretold by the prophets and was the necessity of the case: an inward and an outward kingdom. An inward kingdom in the hearts of men. Then an outward kingdom which will affect human affairs, when Christ judges and rules over the nations.
Jesus came into the world as the ‘King of the Jews’, was crucified as the ‘King of the Jews’ and through resurrection from the dead was raised to be seated on the throne of David, just as God had promised. As Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached that first message of the newly formed church, he speaks concerning the resurrection of Christ when he says in Acts chapter 2 verse 29 thru 30 that: brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ.
Jesus was raised from the dead, not only as the ‘king of the Jews,’ but also as the ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’, seated in the very presence of God, ruling from the very throne of God.
The book of Revelations pictures Jesus in many ways as the victorious king. Revelations 1:5 says He is, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth”. In Revelations 1:18 Jesus says, I was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelations 5:5 says that Jesus is “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David and has overcome...” Then in Revelations 19:11-16 it pictures the risen Christ coming to judge the nations. Jesus has been seated at the right hand of God not only as the great High Priest, but also as the ruling King.
In the last section of this school, I clearly showed you that Jesus is the high priest after the order of Melchizedec.
Melchizedec means, ‘king royal, to reign, to ascend the throne’. Jesus is both Priest and King. In the last section we thoroughly covered Jesus' priestly function. In this section we want to take a look at Jesus' kingly functions and the kingdom that he clearly taught, demonstrated and brought to the earth. I want to take a look at the kingdom as it pertains to the first coming of Christ and what He accomplished. I also want to show you the present reign of Christ from heaven through the church. In addition, I want to take a look at the final fulfillment of all the prophets foretold concerning the Second Coming of Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
As we have already seen, prior to the first coming of Christ, the Jewish people were looking for a coming Messiah, who would give them either political freedom from Rome or destroy the wicked and usher them immediately into the kingdom of God. Just like in the days of Christ first coming there were differing views of the kingdom of God and 'day of the Lord'.
You know for the common person listening to Jesus speak about these subjects it must have been quite hard to understand.
I find the church today pretty much in the same place which is a lot of differing voices along with confusion when it comes to the message of the kingdom, the end of the age, the 'day of the Lord', the second coming of Christ and the millennial reign of Christ upon this earth. My goal is to make a very complex subject as simple as possible. I understand there may be those who disagree with some of my views and you know what that’s okay. In my over 30 years of study these are the conclusions I have come to.
Now the defining event of redemptive history is what the prophets called the ‘day of the Lord’.
It’s the icing on the cake of all the prophets foretold. It’s the Jewish view of redemptive history with the arrival of the Messiah inaugurating the 'day of the Lord', splitting time between this age and the age to come. It’s the primary message that ties together the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles. It’s the cohesive message of God’s redemptive history spoken through the Hebrew prophets and understood through the apostles.
Revelation chapter 21 verse 14 in describing the heavenly city of Jerusalem says that the wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I do believe that there is an ongoing role of the apostolic ministry however the apostles of the lamb established the foundation of the church. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 19 thru 20 says you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
Jesus and his apostles were the interpreters of the Old Testament prophets on which the body of Christ has been established.
Paul when he was making his appeal before the Roman ruler Felix and the Jewish authorities that had arrested him, said I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men, the Jewish authorities, accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. The prophets of old and the apostles both taught salvation, inheriting the kingdom of God, a resurrection of the dead, the restoration of Israel and the glory of God filling the earth along with a final restoration of the heavens and the earth.
The prophets saw the ‘day of the Lord’ as a future event. The apostles taught that ‘the day’ had already started as a result of the Messiah suffering and entering into glory ascending to the right hand of the Father.
Peter started his first epistle saying, concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when they predicted number one the sufferings of Christ and number two the subsequent glories. Then in his sermon after the healing of the lame beggar Peter said, God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
As you are looking through the view of redemptive history the ‘day of the Lord’ gives you what I call double vision. What I mean is that the prophets saw the high points, but did not understand the valley and space of time between these two events.
The prophets saw them as one event. One mountain is the coming of Christ in a human body, his sacrificial death, his resurrection, ascension into the heavenly holy of holies and the outpouring of His Spirit bringing to birth his body, the church. Then we have the second mountain. It’s the direction that redemptive history is moving towards, which is the blessed hope, the second coming of Christ and the final consummation of this age taking us into the next.
In the middle of the two mountains, we have the present heavenly reign of Christ through His body upon the earth, the church.
It’s the mystery that we spoke about in Lesson 33: Stewardship. It was the apostles who accurately interpreted what the prophets had declared concerning the ‘day of the Lord’. Peter said, the prophets prophesied, but they did not understand the person or the timing of the events that were to take place. Paul whom I believe was the 12th apostle of the Lamb called this blind spot of the prophets, The Mystery.
The prophets could see the first mountain of the Messiah suffering and the second mountain of the glorified victorious Messiah, but they could not see the in-between the mystery of the church.
Paul used the term mystery to describe the gospel that had been revealed to him. The book of Romans was a theological masterpiece that Paul wrote. He ends this book saying, now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but has now been disclosed. Jesus taught in most of his parables about the kingdom of God. However, the one thing that the teachers of Israel failed to understand was that the Messiah first had to suffer as the 'Lamb of God' before He could deliver them from their enemies.
The Pharisees knew the scriptures, but could not see the truth. The Pharisees didn’t have the spiritual insight to understand their times. Prophecy can be complex. As I said in Lesson 6: Messiah:
Prophecy is like an onion that you peel off in layers.
Interpreting prophecy is not easy just go read the book of Revelation. Tread lightly because when you think you have it figured out, you might find yourself on the wrong side, just like many of the Pharisees did.
Prophecy is many times an enigma and it’s meant to be.
It’s mysterious, puzzling and many times difficult to understand, so you have to walk by faith. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse12 that now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. You have to be careful with prophecy because it’s in God's hand and he brings it to pass. His ways are not our ways therefore, humility of heart is a necessity to truly understand.
The main thing that blinded the Pharisees was their spiritual pride.
They were the expert interpreters of the law and as far as they were concerned their views were God’s view. God as usually had other plans. Walk lightly with prophecy and be flexible, because you are moving with the winds of the Spirit.
I say this because I know people who think they have our present times all figured out and can give you charts on everything that is going to happen in regard to Jesus' second coming. All I will say to you is the Pharisees probably had their own charts and they completely missed the Messiah. The Pharisees misinterpreted the prophets because they failed to see that the 'day of the Lord' would be inaugurated by the suffering servant. What the Pharisees could not understand was that Jesus, as the final fulfillment of the seed of the woman, did deliver Israel and the world as the prophets foretold. They just could not reconcile the fact that he first had to be the sacrificial lamb before he could be the ruling king.
The Sadducees and the Pharisees were mortal enemies, but they came into an agreement around the death of Jesus.
The Sadducees embodied pure lawlessness and the Pharisees embodied pure legalism. The god of this age, the serpent of old used them and their lust for power to kill the king of the Jews.
What the serpent failed to understand was that it was through the death of the Lamb of God that his power was actually destroyed. It destroyed his power over not just the children of Abraham, but all humanity through the blood that was poured out on the cross.
Jesus' first coming was not to destroy the Roman government, but the government or power of sin.
Through the resurrection, Jesus was raised up and seated at the right hand of the Father. He is the ruling king priest as I clearly showed you in the last section. Jesus was born and died as the king of the Jews inaugurating the 'day of the Lord'. The next phase of the 'day of the Lord' will be the fulfillment of the prophets’ predictions, concerning the Messiah ruling the earth. What I want to show you in this lesson, is that the 'day of the Lord' was inaugurated through Christ first coming.
John the Baptist and Peter both quoted the prophets concerning the great and terrible ‘day of the Lord’. I like to think of it like this. The great ‘day of the Lord’ was the free gift of Christ upon the cross. The terrible ‘day of the Lord’ will be when Christ returns as the ruling king taking vengeance upon his enemies. The great ‘day of the Lord’ has already happened. The death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ to the right hand of the Father then the outpouring of the Spirit opened up the ‘day of the Lord’.
Christ has begun his rule from the heavenlies through his body the church making the kingdom of God a present reality in the heart of man.
In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 19 thru 23 Paul says, what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. It’s the first stages of Christ bringing in the restoration of all things to the earth. However, as Christ taught in many of his parables the kingdom was first to be an inward kingdom of the heart.
In this period or age, it’s all about the mystery that was hidden from the prophets which is the body of Christ upon the earth, the church and it’s all about change from the inside out. At the second coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead we will step over into the age to come.
Right now we are living in the inauguration of the ‘day of the Lord’, but we live between two ages.
The author of Hebrews in chapter 6 verses 4 thru 5 talks of those who have tasted the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.
In this age before the second coming of Christ we are only getting to taste of the age to come. It’s the conflict that you feel and experience on a daily basis.
It’s why what I taught you in Lesson 10 Part II: A Lifestyle of Repentance is so important. By taking a look at the Bible, we will see what Jesus and His apostles taught concerning the ‘day of the Lord’ and the kingdom of God. Jesus taught that there were two aspects and periods of the kingdom, an inward and an outward.
The inward kingdom is spiritual and deals with Christ ruling over individual lives through his body on the earth. The outward kingdom which happens at Christ second coming has to do with Christ ruling in human affairs.
It deals with Christ ruling over the entire earth and the nations of the world from the city of Jerusalem. George Ladd sums it up by saying the kingdom of God is basically the rule of God. It’s God’s reign, the divine rule in action. God’s reign, however, is manifested in several realms and the Gospels speak of entering into the Kingdom of God both today and tomorrow. God’s reign manifests itself both in the present and more fully in the future. Jesus did say that the kingdom of God had come in Him and it was a present reality.
The purpose of the coming of the king was to destroy the works of Satan.
As Peter stood up to preach that first message to a group of Gentiles in Acts chapter 10 verse 38. He said, you know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him. Jesus did more than just announce the kingdom, but He demonstrated the kingdom by healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead, which convinced His listeners that He was the Messiah in whom the kingdom had come.
The word kingdom is translated from the Greek word basileia found in the New Testament. The word implies an exercise of kingly rule or authority to reign. Jesus demonstrated this kingly rule by delivering men from the bondage and authority of Satan. It was with kingdom power that he commanded unclean spirits to leave people. Jesus came to the earth for the sole purpose of restoring man and by delivering him from Satan’s power. However, the plan of the Father was that the Son would first die for the sins of the world.
It was a man who gave Satan his authority in the garden and it was the Last Adam who took that authority back.
In Hebrews chapter 2 verse14 we see that it’s Jesus’ death on the cross, which has ‘rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil’. In what ways did the cross render powerless the devil? To make it simple, I will say that the devil has no power or right to rule over those who have come under the rule of King Jesus. Those who receive the message of the kingdom of God, have been rescued from the rule of Satan and have been put under the rule of Jesus Christ.
Paul said in Colossians chapter 1 verse 13 thru 14 that we have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Satan’s power has been bound or rendered powerless over those who have become children of the King and his kingdom. This does not mean evil, sickness, disease or death has been removed from the world, but it does mean that as sons and daughters of God we no longer have to be subjects to the ‘god of this age’.
It’s the conflict between this age and the age to come. In this age we are continually at war against spiritual darkness.
As Peter said in chapter 5 verse 8 thru 9 of his first epistle to be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
In this age the kingdom of God is offered as a spiritual gift that can be accepted or rejected. If you accept the spiritual rule of the King into your heart, then his power will deliver you from the power of Satan and the power of sin. However, the kingdom of God in its full manifestation has not been ushered in at once, but it’s developing in stages.
The first stage or period of the kingdom has been established through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
To the natural eye, it seems as if the world continues on as it always has and it seems as if the kingdom of Satan remains unshaken. Yet the kingdom of God has come however, for now it can only be entered through spiritual rebirth.
Jesus taught this truth to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 verse 1 thru 8. It says, now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born of water and the spirit to enter the kingdom of God. I already address this text in Lesson 3: The Seed of the Woman. In looking at the entire context of this discussion I conclude that Jesus is talking about natural childbirth which is the breaking of the woman’s water or being born into this world of flesh and spiritual new birth being born of the spirit of God. New birth into the kingdom of God is bloody and messy just like the natural birthing process. Ask any woman about the life changing experience of having a baby naturally.
It’s about abandoning our former manner of life and identifying with the cross. This is not a physical place, but it is the place of spiritual blessings, which have been poured out upon us through what Christ has done for us.
To make Jesus Christ our Lord is to enter into Him the very person of Christ where we receive the blessing of His kingdom. The kingdom of God is not just a future experience, but something we can enter now. The kingdom of God is here, but instead of making changes in the external, political order of things, it’s making changes in the spiritual order and in the lives of men and women. As I’ve already quoted Hebrews chapter 6 verse 5 which says that we can taste of the ‘powers of the age to come’ now though we still live in this present evil age.
It’s why we have such conflict in this age because we are living between the two mountains of Christ first coming and Christ second coming.
We still live in this age where Satan, sin, corruption, temptation, hardship and death are a reality. However, we are also tasting and experiencing the age to come. As I said, the ‘day of Lord’ has two mountain tops. Christ first coming which is this age and Christ second coming which inaugurates the age to come. We enter this stage of the kingdom through the new birth of the spirit, yet we enter the next stage of the kingdom age with a new resurrection body.
To receive Jesus Christ as our Lord is the same as receiving eternal life and entering the kingdom now.
However, what we partake of now is the power of the Holy Spirit or the ‘powers of the age to come’, which is the first stage of the kingdom and is the spiritual life of the resurrected Christ in our hearts. Paul says in Romans chapter 14 verse 17 that, the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The spiritual kingdom is changing the inward man of the heart to produce the fruit of the Spirit demonstrating God’s kingdom life in an evil age. When you enter the kingdom of God there are no outward changes, which will take place, because it’s an inner change of the heart. If you were in bondage to drugs, the deliverance of addiction leaves you and God’s Spirit will enter your heart, but it will still be you as far as your natural man is concerned.
In this age we are temporary residents.
1 Peter chapter 1 verse 17 says if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your temporary residence. Peter tells us we are not only temporary residents, but that we will also suffer in this age. 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 13 thru 14 tells us to rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 2 says in this age we groan in our earthly bodies, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.
In this age though we have the spirit of God, we can still feel pain in our bodies, we are decaying or aging and our bodies will perish. Galatians chapter 6 verse 8 Paul tells us the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Then in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17 it says the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other.
In the age to come we will be ruling with Christ.
Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 8 thru 12 tells his spiritual son to remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for If we have died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him.
In the age to come we will be glorified.
Romans chapter 8 verse 18 Paul says, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. In this age we are mortal, but in the age to come we will be immortal. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 42 thru 44 says concerning the resurrection that what is sown is perishable is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body.
In Luke chapter 17 verse 20 thru 21 the Pharisees who were looking for a political kingdom, were asking Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with observation nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Jesus was not speaking of the future outward kingdom as He was in Matthew 24, which will be preceded by the ‘signs of the times’ and the second coming of Christ to the earth. He was speaking of the spiritual kingdom that had come to change the heart of man from the inside out. It’s impossible to see the kingdom of God in the heart of man with your eyes. It does not mean that the kingdom of God has not come into our hearts, it simply means that the natural man cannot see the spiritual kingdom, for it is a realm which can only be seen and entered by faith.
Can you see the wind? As I’ve said in previous lessons you can’t see radio waves or Wi-Fi running through your house? You can’t see 5g transmissions because it moves by the power of the air beyond what we see with our eyes.
Do you see the wind? No. Now you can feel and see the effects of the wind, but you can’t see the wind. The wind can produce an enormous amount of energy and power if it’s harnessed and channeled correctly. We live in a spiritual world, but we are trapped in a physical body tied to this earthly realm during this age. Experiencing eternal life means that we have already been brought into a personal relationship with God here and now. This means that Christ has become our King and we have become His people under His reign.
We have begun to share a fellowship with Him through sharing in the resurrection life of His kingdom.
It’s reassuring to know that we can experience the kingdom of God now through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is not a physical outward relationship. Jesus Himself said, blessed are they who did not see and yet believe. In this passage of the Bible the apostle Thomas had to touch and see the risen Christ to believe. We do not base our belief on our five senses, but on the ‘gospel of the kingdom’, which has opened the eyes of our hearts to see and know the risen Christ.
Jesus’ kingdom has come into this present evil age, in this age however, it is not an outward political kingdom over and through the nation of Israel, but a spiritual kingdom over the hearts of those who believe from all nations.
Jesus broke Satan’s power in His earthly ministry and by His death and resurrection, was raised up to the throne of David as the ruling king-priest, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. In the last section of this discipleship course book, we saw Jesus as the great high priest over the new temple, which is His church.
In Hebrews chapter 12 verses 18 thru 29 the author was showing these Jewish Christians that the kingdom of God is not a physical place, but it is coming underneath the heavenly reign of Christ. To come under the victory of Jesus’ resurrection is to enter into the kingdom of God. There is still, however, a future shaking of the created world at the Second Coming of Christ when He brings the kingdom of Glory in outward manifestation to rule the nations of the world.
In part two of this introduction, we look at the church and I will show you that it’s a further development of the first stage of the kingdom of God in this age expanding God’s kingdom rule. Then we will look at the final hope of our faith, which is the second coming of Christ consummating the 'day of the Lord'.
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