Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Book Installment)
Living in the Kingdom of God
Chapter 8 – “…in…”
This is the third and final chapter focused on breaking down the title of this book. First, we examined “Living.” Then, “the Kingdom of God.” Finally, in this chapter, we’ll focus on the link between these two phrases: the preposition “in.”
When the kingdom of God came in the late 1st century, Jesus Christ inherited the throne of God and Father. In that role, Jesus became the judge of all humanity, judging not just our words and deeds, but the secrets of our hearts as well. There was a new heaven and new earth. I have explained all these things in previous books.
The kingdom of God has been the ruling reality of the universe ever since that point in time. It will rule forever. Because this kingdom is invisible, people have not always known about it. Even people who have heard the gospel preached have sometimes been unaware of it because the gospel of the kingdom has so often been preached as physical and future.
The kingdom of God was present and invisible in Jesus when He was on the earth, but would come to the whole universe and everything in it with the Second Coming of Jesus. Here’s how He made that point.
Luke 17:20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
Luke 17:21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Ever since it came, we’ve all been under it…but we’ve not all been in it. (Now you begin to see the importance of this preposition that sits between “Living…” and “…the Kingdom of God.”)
Recall from your Bible reading that a separation took place at the coming of the kingdom of God. We see it in parables and in prophecies. For example…
- In Matthew 3:12, “the wheat” is separated from “the chaff.”
- In Matthew 13:30, “the wheat” is separated from “the tares.”
- In Matthew 13:41-43, “stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness” are separated from “the righteous.”
- In Luke 17:35, “two women grinding at the same place” are separated, one from the other.
- In Matthew 25:32-33, “the sheep” are separated from “the goats.”
And you know there are even more examples I could give.
This separation is the difference between living in the kingdom of God and living outside it. When we are outside the kingdom we are still under it. We are just not enjoying the blessings of it because we are not living within its walls. Instead, we are living outside in the darkness, in the flames of judgment.
Living in the kingdom of God while in this world is like finding an oasis in the middle of a desert. The Bible is a map to that oasis. This book show you how and where in the Bible you can find those directions.
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