The whole of Jesus’ teaching ministry centers in these words: “The kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). His constant message, “preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God,” defines the heartbeat of His passion for human deliverance as He came, the Savior-Lamb, to rescue humankind from sin’s destructive loss and to redeem mankind—to make possible a restoration to his original estate in the divine order (Matt. 4.23; Luke 19:10; I John 3:8). The dynamic of Christian life and ministry is found in understanding the Kingdom of God, which is “not in eating and drinking” (that is, in rituals or performance) but rather is “in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
The Kingdom of God is at Hand
The Kingdom of God is the essence of the church’s message and life. We are called to the Kingdom’s life and power in the present, while still anticipating its final fullness and consummation in the future. This brief study is intended for practical application and offered in the hope that it will inspire the reader to seek deeper insight and a full-orbed perspective on the Kingdom of God. Truly, the kingdom of God is at hand.
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The Kingdom Within You
“The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)
Foundational to New Testament truth is that the Kingdom of God is the spiritual reality and dynamic available to each person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. To receive Him—the King—is to receive His kingly rule, not only in your life and over your affairs, but through your life and by your service and love. “The kingdom of God is within you,” Jesus said. The significance of this is that it signals a restoration—a wonderful potential for each believer—reinstating something of the “rulership” (dominion) originally intended for humankind (see Gen. 2:26, 28). It is what the Apostle Paul is describing as our “reigning in life through Christ Jesus” (Rom. 5:17, 21).
