“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21)

The Kingdom of God God planned the Kingdom of Heaven before the foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:34) God’s promise to establish His kingdom was associated with His promises to Abraham, and Abraham’s descendants through David. (Genesis 12, 2 Samuel 7) God’s prophets told of a kingdom that would never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44), and associated the kingdom with the Messiah (Isaiah 9:1-7).

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God God announced through Gabriel that Mary would bear a Son who would be given the throne of David. (Luke 1:31-33) Jesus, the promised Son of the Most High, taught regarding His kingdom. This kingdom was to be a spiritual kingdom existing in the hearts of men. (John 18:33- 37, Luke 17:20-21)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God The Kingdom Present and Future Church of Christ at Medina May 2014

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Exists Today The apostles spoke of the kingdom existing in the 1 st Century. “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Exists Today “…and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”(Revelation 1:5-9 ESV)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Exists Today “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:11-14 ESV)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Establishment of the Kingdom Just a few days after the ascension, the apostles were still gathered in Jerusalem as instructed by the Lord. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, which was a sign of the coming kingdom. (Mark 9:1-2, Acts 1:4-8) Guided now by the Holy Spirit, the apostles taught the Jews that they had killed the chosen one of God – the descendant of David – Jesus. Jesus though was not bound by death, but was resurrected and was now at the right hand of the throne of God reigning as both Lord and Christ. Those who heard and believed baptized and were added to the church.

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom and the Church “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.” (Matthew 16:13-20 ESV)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom and the Church The kingdom and the church are two different descriptions of the same group of people. The kingdom emphasizes being under the rule of King Jesus. (Acts 7:54-60, 1 Timothy 6:13-16) – Matthew 28:18-20: We have a king. We are His subjects. We have a spiritual realm. We have a law. The church – the body – emphasizes our relationship to Jesus as the head. (Eph. 1:22-23)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Kingdom Entrance We cannot enter the kingdom without being born again. “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.”(John 3:1-8 ESV)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Kingdom Entrance We will not be born again without the right attitude. – Humility (Matthew 18:1-6, Mark 10:13-16) – Complete Commitment (Matthew 13:44-46, Luke 18:18-30, 14:25-33) – Heavenly Character (Matt. 5) – Desire (Matthew 13:31-33)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Kingdom Entrance Specifics We must have faith in the gospel. (Mark 1:15, 16:15- 16) We must repent. (Mark 1:15, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) We must obey. (Matthew 7:21-23)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom Present and Future The Kingdom of Heaven does exist today, and it exists in earthly form through the people of God or the body of Christ. However, this is just the privilege that God has granted to His children to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom while on earth. If we are faithful while on earth, then we receive the eternal inheritance of the kingdom.

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom Present and Future “For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”(2 Peter 1:9-11 ESV)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom Present and Future We will receive this eternal inheritance when the Lord Jesus returns to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30), to destroy the earthly world around us (2 Peter 3:10-13), and to welcome home His faithful ones (Matthew 25:34-40). In order to receive this eternal portion of the inheritance, then we must put on an eternal body. (1 Corinthians 15:50-53, Philippians 3:20-21).

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom Present and Future Conclusion God’s Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It exists today just as God planned it. Everyone is invited to be part of the kingdom, but only a select few will be willing to commit. If you are born into the kingdom while on earth and then remain faithful, you have the hope of receiving the eternal inheritance of the kingdom as well.

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Explained by the King “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21 ESV)

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) Resources The Nature of the Kingdom – Notes on a Lesson by Sewell Hall in Florida College The Gospel of the Kingdom by Marc Copeland Multiple other lessons, articles, etc.

“…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) Image Resources – Google Images