The Church and The Kingdom of God

The Church (Assembly) and the Kingdom of God

Part 1 of a study - by Bob Allgood

We all use many terms and phrases NOT found in the Bible. Some cause less confusion than others, but most require defining and explanation. It is sometimes difficult enough to define Biblical terms without the added burden of having to define made-made terms which cannot be found in the Scriptures. Whenever man creates a “term” to express a doctrinal position, he is laden with the task of defining, explaining and proving what he created. This task may be easy or difficult. As examples, the English word “sovereign” cannot be found in the King James Bible, but most understand what is meant when one says God is sovereign. On the other hand the English word “control” cannot be found in the King James Bible, and we must define and explain what we mean when we say “God is in control of all things”. Does God’s control cause the wicked deeds of man as it is claimed by those who believe in the absolute predestination of all things? I think not.

The terms “militant church”, “invisible church” and “church kingdom” are other man-made terms which cannot be found in the Scriptures, and IMO, require defining and explanation, if indeed they can be defined and/or explained. Without using a common text for this subject, since the term Church and Kingdom do not appear together in a common verse in the Scriptures, I will begin by asking some questions, which I hope to answer from the Scriptures.

What is the Kingdom of God? Is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven one and the same thing? Since God (i.e. the Godhead) reigns over His sovereign domain, (kingdom), who or what is included IN the term “Kingdom of God”? What is the true Biblical meaning of the word Church? Is there any such thing as a “mystical or invisible Church” (i.e. assembly) taught in the Scriptures? Is the local NT Church and the (invisible) BODY of Christ one and the same thing? Has every member of a local Church, (i.e. assembly), necessarily been “translated into the kingdom of his dear Son”? Cannot a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” or a “tare” be assembled with the “saints” in an assembly of Christ.

FIRST let's establish some facts according to Scripture (i.e. King James Version). Please check me out, and let me know if I have erred. The terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God" are New Testament terms and they do not appear in the Old Testament. Jesus said "The Law and The Prophets" (i.e. Old Testament Scriptures) were until John (the Baptist); since that time the kingdom of God is preached ---" (Luke 16:16). The word "KINGDOM" appears in the New Testament 158 times in 150 verses, including the times it appears in the terms "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God". The Term "KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" appears 33 times in 32 verses - all in the Gospel of Matthew. The term "KINGDOM OF GOD" appears 70 times in 69 verses; 5 times in 5 verses in the Gospel of Matthew; 15 times in 15 verses in the Gospel of Mark; 33 times in 32 verses in the Gospel of Luke (the same as does the Kingdom of Heaven appear in Matthew); 2 times in 2 verses in John; and 15 times in Acts through Revelation.

The word KINGDOM appears in the Old Testament 184 times in 166 verses and is used to speak of "many kingdoms" of various nations. However the New Testament KINGDOM OF THE MESSIAH is foretold in prophecy many, many times in "The Law and the Prophets and the Psalms". If one studies this subject and “rightly divides the word of truth” they would have to look at several of these Old Testament prophesies, especially those in Isaiah 9:6-7 and Daniel, chapters 7 and 9. They would see that these were all "FULFILLED" in Christ according to God's sovereign will. Many of the Arminians have confused the FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S SOVEREIGN WILL concerning these O.T. prophesies with the "rejection of Christ the King by the natural unregenerate Jew". Doing this, they have tried to "reconcile" their confusion with "timely" prophecies about a "natural kingdom in a natural world". I know, I used to do this, and it was not until God opened my eyes to SOVEREIGN GRACE did I see His SOVEREIGN KINGDOM IN CHRIST. God has always been SOVEREIGN and always will be SOVEREIGN in heaven and on earth - none can stay his hand. The Kingdom of God (or of Heaven) is governed by God (i.e. the Godhead) of which Christ was the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and King eternal.

In the New Testament the word "Kingdom" and the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God" are often synonymous and interchangeable. Some have the "strange idea" that they are not, but the Scriptures proves this true. In our text it says "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came in- to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God". In Matthew 4:12 we read "Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee --". Matt. 4:17 says "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". These are the exact same events. Matt 4:23 adds, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom". A 3rd grade student would understand that both Matthew and Mark are speaking of the same thing, but using different terms.

The terms are interchanged in Matthew 19:23-24: Jesus says, "Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God". It is obvious that Jesus is talking about the same kingdom, but as strange as it may be, some preachers go to College to get some professor to help them to misunderstand this. We could go on and give several more examples, but I do not believe this point needs further proof.

God does not leave us in darkness to depend upon man's theories or ideas as to what is the Kingdom of God. GOD TELLS WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ! Jesus said "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation -- for behold the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). The word "observation" comes from the Greek word "parateresis" and means "inspection or ocular evidence". This teaches that the KINGDOM OF GOD can not be seen with the physical eye. Jesus then says "BEHOLD the kingdom of God is WITHIN you".

Paul, who certainly understood “the kingdom of God” better than any of us today “went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God” said very clearly that “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy IN the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:7).

If I was called on to illustrate the Dominion of God over his Creation and the Universe, The kingdom of God, and the Church of God – all in one drawing, I would first draw a large circle, and within that one another circle, and within that one another circle. If you please I would draw “a wheel in a wheel in a wheel”.

1. This first circle would represent God’s Sovereign Dominion over God’s creation of all things and the entirety of the universe. God reigns supreme over the beast of the field, the fowls of the air, angels and spirits, and the whole human race, both elect and non-elect.

God says, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil (i.e. judgment): I the LORD do all these things” (Isa. 45:5-7). God asked Job, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding” – let us read Job 38:4-41, and answer is we can. As converted Nebuchadnezzar lifted up his eyes unto heaven, and his understanding returned unto him, and he blessed the most High, and praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he (God) doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Dan. 4:34-35).

2. The second circle which is within the first circle, would represent “the kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of heaven” which is, IMO, the “kingdom of his dear Son”. This is the kingdom into which ALL who were chosen by God IN Christ before the foundation of the world, and who are born of God by His Spirit are “translated” in regeneration. This is conveyed by Paul in these words, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature —“ (Col. 1:12-15).

IMO, This is the “kingdom of Christ ” that Daniel saw when he wrote, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Dan 7:12-13). This is the kingdom received by Christ when he ascended into glory and sat down at the right hand of the Father, and God said unto our God, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (Heb 1:8-12).

IMO, This is the kingdom in which ALL of God’s elect shall dwell. One must be “born again” (from above) in order to see (perceive) and enter (spiritually) into this kingdom. This kingdom is the REALM of Christ, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God. Alexander Maclaren wrote, “The kingdom of God is realm in which God’s will is being done in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Luke 17:20-21 when Jesus says, The kingdom of God is within you (or in the midst of you) he is speaking of Himself constituting God’s kingdom at that time. He himself was the realm in which God’s will was being done in the power of the Holy Spirit”. This is “the kingdom of God that cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you”. It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. This is the “kingdom of God” that is “not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). This kingdom is INHERITED by all the elect of God.

3. The third circle (which is within the second circle, which is within the first circle) would represent the New Testament Church (i.e. Assembly) of born again, believers who have been properly baptized in water and added to the church by the Lord. And to this I will speak more in detail later in due course.

So as I presently see it (and I may be wrong and have to change my mind as this study progresses), the Sovereign Domain of God is over all his creation, over all the universe, over every creature, and over all the human race, both elect and non-elect. The kingdom of God pertains to the elect of God chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestinated unto eternal glory, called and justified by God and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Church of Christ is primarily speaking of a local assembly of born again believers, properly baptized in water and contending for the faith once delivered unto the Saints. The New Testament gospel church is not the Kingdom of God but IN the kingdom of God. The church is not inherited but entered into through obedience to God’s word.