The Kingdom of God is within you; The Kingdom of God is at hand;

Greetings, dear readers.

I would like to touch on the topic of the Kingdom of God, because we need to seek it in this life, and not in the future. In fact, whether we find this Kingdom on earth will determine where we spend eternity. That is why it is so important for us to understand what the Kingdom of God means and where to look for it.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

Some Christians believe that God's Kingdom is in heaven, an unattainable reality that they will encounter only after death. When their soul departs to heaven, an angel in a white robe will meet them at the heavenly gates and joyfully escort them to the monastery prepared for them by Christ.

Some believers are diligently building the Kingdom of Heaven on earth: for this they spend all their time, energy and money. If you look around, you will see many temples that they built and appreciate their noble work.

Many Christians do not spread the good news of the salvation of souls in Christ, but rather promote their denomination: be it Catholicism, Orthodoxy or Protestantism. They establish the Church in this world, like communists who built heaven on earth and dreamed of a bright future.

The only problem is that many sincere believers have not understood the basic teaching of Christianity, that “the Kingdom of God is within you.”

In the Gospels, Christ teaches us to pray for the Kingdom of God to come. And this Kingdom is the Lord Himself in all His fullness and glory. Through faith, God dwells in our hearts, Who promised to come to us and create His abode. His name is glorified when He builds a temple in our souls for His dwelling. And He will shine in us as the sun of righteousness, performing His deeds through us. Then His will is accomplished in our lives: both in the inner man and in all everyday affairs.

Where is the Kingdom of God

“For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus is saying that our heart is the battleground between God and Satan. And each of them lays claim to our heart and wants to establish their kingdom within us. If God wins, it means that the Holy Spirit—the Kingdom of God—settles in our hearts.

Jesus and the Pharisees

This question was asked by the Pharisees and here the following misunderstanding arises: did Jesus really mean that the Kingdom of God is within the Pharisees?

Seek first the Kingdom of God

Let's look at the Gospel of Matthew chapter 6. Christ pointed to the birds of the air, and through their example he opened the way for us to have peace of faith: not to worry about anything, because God knows all our needs.

None of us can serve two masters: God and earthly wealth. If we love money, social status, expensive trinkets, then we give up the search for spiritual life. Think about how much effort and time we spend every day to serve our self. And how much is insignificant is what brings us closer to God.

How much hope do we have in Him for whom nothing is impossible, and who works everything according to the good pleasure of His will?

Rather, it gives us more pleasure to spin like a squirrel in a wheel, as if our existence depends on us and will last forever. And all this happens because of our egocentrism.

It is very sad for me to see how many feverishly seek only their own benefit in everything. In thoughts, words and deeds, they seek only their own, and not what pleases Jesus Christ. Pleasure or benefit, financial profit or career advancement - always only for your well-being.

This self-obsession and acquisitiveness have penetrated so deeply into our lives that not only our outer, but also our inner man has become obsessed with the search for happiness. We are like the hunchbacked woman described in the Gospel, who was bent to the ground and could not look up to heaven.

We do not rely on God, who has given us so much mercy and showered us with incredible amounts of blessings. How it pains me to see that even Christians use all their love and strength only to improve their lives. They no longer seek God's face. And at the same time, they do not feel the desire to care about the eternal while earthly affairs are going well.

But excessive concern for well-being harms a person. Worries fetter the mind and feelings, extinguish the fire of love for the Heavenly Father and block the path to the depths of the soul, which leads us to the Lord. Therefore, it is so important to monitor where we direct our attention and energy, what our skills and abilities are aimed at.

It is necessary to put an end to sensual passion for everything earthly. But this is easier to say than to put into practice. If our thoughts and emotions are constantly occupied with visible objects, then we are more susceptible to all temptations and enticements. They prevent us from finding our true essence within. The hidden person of the heart remains closed to us - like something beautiful and infinitely distant. Then we become alien to ourselves, and the purpose and meaning of our life dissolves in fog and uncertainty.

The Kingdom of God must be sought where it is hidden: in the depths of our spirit. True, this will require great effort from us, internal discipline and spiritual practice. But we will not find Him unless we give up attachments to our self and the external world. We need to become like a merchant looking for good pearls. When he found the pearl of great price, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

I think it is impossible to love this world and at the same time love God. It will not be possible to save our soul if we do not lose it for the sake of the Lord. We can even acquire the blessings of the whole world, but we will harm ourselves and our own soul.

The Kingdom of Heaven Has Drawn Near

(Matthew 3:1-2) In those days John the Baptist comes and preaches in the wilderness of Judea and says, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach and say: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

A lot of texts are devoted to this topic. The entire Sermon on the Mount is, in fact, the rules of the Heavenly Kingdom. When Jesus Christ speaks about the Kingdom of God, he uses one interesting phrase - “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” In the Greek translation it sounds like an action that has already been completed and the main emphasis is on the result of the action.

It has come closer - close, practically here, that is, the result is already visible, it can be felt.

Why does the Church of Christ still exist?

Photo: Kazansky-hram.ru
It was precisely because the Lord, in His coming, approached the apostles and introduced them into the Kingdom of God, that is, into Himself, that these, essentially simple people, founded our Church.

They themselves became subjects of the Kingdom of God, and therefore, through persecution, torment, persecution, and opposition from the authorities, they were able to found a Church that exists to this day. It is impossible to explain its existence by other reasons.

They became imitators of Christ, lived and were inspired by intimacy with Him, and acted as He acted. The apostles and other followers of Christ began to think the way he thought and wanted the same thing that He was striving for - closeness to the Heavenly Father.

When will the Kingdom of Heaven come

But we know that the Kingdom of God must come when Jesus Christ comes to our earth for the second time.

Thus, when Jesus Christ announced that the Kingdom of God was at hand, He announced the beginning of a new eschatological era.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God will not come in a visible or visible, noticeable way. However, in other places of scripture, He Himself speaks of signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God. And here a contradiction arises. To understand this, you need to understand what the Kingdom of Heaven is?

What will life be like in the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Bible describes only general terms or concepts of human life. And it’s very difficult to detail anything. But the Kingdom of Heaven has one important characteristic - the presence of God Himself.

The Kingdom of Heaven is the place where God is and without God the Kingdom of Heaven is impossible.

When the people of Israel came out of Egypt, they committed a sin - they worshiped the golden calf. God was very angry with them, and Moses interceded for the Israelites. God relented and said that he would lead the people into the promised land, but he himself would not be with them, but would send an angel. Moses did not like the answer and continued to intercede for God's people. Moses said to God: If You do not go with us, then do not lead us out of here. (Exodus 33:15)

Moses understood that without God the promised land is not a promised land. He understood that the Kingdom of God is impossible without God.

Why the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The four Gospels use different expressions in relation to the Kingdom.

The most common phrase from Matthew is the Kingdom of Heaven.

From Mark and Luke - the Kingdom of God.

Matthew writes his Gospel, addressing mainly the Jews. As we know, the Jews were very sensitive to the name of God and tried not to pronounce It again.

This is why Matthew replaces the phrase Kingdom of God with the phrase Kingdom of Heaven.

But both phrases are identical or synonymous.

The Jews had a special idea about the coming of the Kingdom of God. They associated Him with the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah was to free them from the yoke of the Romans and establish this Kingdom. Jesus tells them that the Kingdom of God will not come in the way they expect, but in a completely different way.

KINGDOM OF GOD

The Kingdom of God (Heavenly) is the reign and dominion of God (Heaven), the manifestation of His holy properties.
It was predicted in the Old Testament (Dan 2.44; 7.14), revealed in Jesus Christ (Luke 1.33) and was the basis of His teaching (mentioned 50 times in the Gospel of Matthew alone). Some people think that it is the equivalent of the Church. What is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven according to the Bible?

What is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven according to the Bible?

CONCEPT - KINGDOM OF GOD

Words used in the Bible to convey the concept of "kingdom" [Heb. Malchut; Greek basileia] mean: “royal power”, royal dominion.” The word “kingdom” has two meanings: “rule of a king” and “territory subject to a king” (cf. Ps 144:13; Matt 25:34).

In the Gospel of Matthew, another phrase is used more often - “Kingdom of Heaven” (32 times; “Kingdom of God” - only in Matthew 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31, 43), but these expressions are synonymous.

The Kingdom of God means, first of all, the unlimited power of the Lord over the world - over the kingdom of nature and Spirit (Ps 103:19)

19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. (Ps. 103:19)

But besides this, something else is implied, namely: the dominion of God, to whom we submit ourselves and whom we willingly and joyfully serve.

Jesus teaches to pray for the coming of this Kingdom, this royal power of God (Matthew 6:10)

10 Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; (Matt. 6:10)

The Kingdom of God is simultaneously in the present and in the future!

Its nature cannot be called either purely earthly, or purely unearthly, or purely spiritual (1 Chronicles 29:11); a one-sided interpretation would lead to a narrowing of this biblical concept.

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the splendor, and all [that] is in heaven and on earth, [Yours]: Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and You are above all, as the Sovereign. (1 Chronicles 29:11)

BIBLE ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Kingdom of God, partially manifested in the present, will come in all its fullness in the future.

The Old Testament tells about the birth of the Kingdom of God, what opposes it on earth, and sets out prophetic promises concerning this Kingdom and its future.

The New Testament shows the One in whom the “Kingdom of God” is manifested on earth: Jesus Christ. Where Christ is, there the Kingdom of God comes. But only with the Second Coming of Jesus in glory will the Kingdom of God find its perfection on earth:

The Old Testament proclamation of the Kingdom of God and its expectation

When speaking about the Old Testament history of the Kingdom of God, we must first of all keep in mind the mission of Israel. To establish His Kingdom on earth, God chose a people whom He began to lead in a special way, so that through them God’s essence would be revealed to all other peoples.

5 Therefore, if you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you will be My possession above all nations, for all the earth is Mine, 6 and you will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation; These are the words that you will speak to the children of Israel. (Ex.19:5,6)

To equip Israel for the fulfillment of a high commission, God sent him His prophets, through whose mouths He gave instructions to the people.

25 From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent all My servants the prophets to you, every day I have sent them from early in the morning; (Jer.7:25)

But the people of Israel resisted God's leading and hindered the progress of God's kingdom on earth (see Nehemiah 9:6-37).

The prophets came out with sharp denunciations of the Israelites, announcing judgment against God's chosen people. And the punishment came. Palestine was conquered by enemies, and the people were taken into captivity. But God did not give up His plan.

The predictions of the prophets about the coming Kingdom, in which God's plans would be fulfilled, were to be fulfilled. From Israel the confession of God must spread to all the nations of the world. Weapons intended for war will be reforged into tools.

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many nations will go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths; For out of Zion will come the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And he will judge the nations, and rebuke many nations; And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isa.2:2-4)
1 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and the nations shall flock to it. 2 And many nations will go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths, for out of Zion will go out the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 And he will judge many nations, and rebuke many nations in distant countries; and they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not raise sword against nation, and they will no longer learn to fight. 4 But each one will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken it. 5 For all nations walk, every one in the name of his god; but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. (Mic. 4:1-5)

Israel will be a blessing “in the midst of the earth” (Isaiah 19:24). This kingdom on earth will be established by a King from the line of David. He will “execute judgment and righteousness on earth” (Isaiah 11:1,2; Jeremiah 33:15). While earthly kingdoms are characterized by bestial characteristics (see Daniel 7), the coming Kingdom of God is filled with human characteristics.

He is represented “as the Son of man” (Dan 7:13). It will replace all previous earthly kingdoms and take their place (Dan 2:44). In the coming Kingdom of God, life will be subject to new regulations consistent with God's will (Jer 31:33; Eze 36:25 et seq.).

The Kingdom of God in the Modern World

John the Baptist and Jesus declared that the Kingdom of God was “at hand”:

2 and says: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 3:2)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17)

John said that this Kingdom will be established by the One who comes after him. The entire sermon of Jesus is filled with intense expectation: the Kingdom of God is already on the threshold, it has already arrived in Jesus, but one should still pray for the coming of the Kingdom.

10 Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; (Matt. 6:10)
7 As you go, preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand; (Matt. 10:7)
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has certainly come upon you. (Matt. 12:28)

In His parables (Matthew 13) Jesus speaks of the growth of this Kingdom; this process will be completed by the powerful intervention of God (parable of the net, vv. 47-50).

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of all kinds, 48 which, when it was full, they pulled ashore and sat down, collecting the good in vessels, and throwing out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come out and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 13:47-50)

King of this Kingdom

The King of this Kingdom is Jesus Himself, sent by God! His Kingdom is spiritual in nature, it is “not of this world”

36 Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world; If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight for Me, so that I would not be betrayed to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here. (John 18:36)

It cannot be established by human effort or weapons (vv. 33-37).

Related article: How are people born again?

Anyone who wishes to “see” the Kingdom of God and waits for its “coming” must be born “from above,” i.e. "from the Spirit":

1 Among the Pharisees there was a certain man named Nicodemus, [one of] the leaders of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to Him: Rabbi! we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do such miracles as You do unless God is with him. 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Can he really enter his mother’s womb another time and be born? 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised at what I said to you: you must be born again. 8 The Spirit breathes where it wills, and you hear its voice, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes: this is the case with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:1-8)

The Kingdom of God cannot

The Kingdom of God cannot be considered to belong only to the Jews. It is available to everyone who is in right relationship with God

11 But I tell you that many will come from the east and the west and will lie down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; (Matt. 8:11)

The “fundamental law” of the kingdom of God’s power is rightfully considered the Sermon on the Mount, which lists the basic rules in force in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus' sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension created the spiritual conditions for the ancient promises of the Kingdom of God on earth and the mission of Israel to be realized. Apparently this is what Jesus' disciples expected before His ascension:

6 Therefore they came together and asked Him, saying, “Are You at this time, O Lord, restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

Related Article: Feast of Pentecost - Citizenship into the Kingdom of God

Answering this question, the Risen One did not refute the assumption made, but said that the right to set times and dates belongs only to the Father. The disciples themselves had the opportunity to experience an event that was extremely important in the history of the Kingdom of God, when the apostles “were filled ... with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2).

From that day, the day of Pentecost, the Kingdom of God embraces all who believe in Christ, in the great, universal Church of Christ, which is represented on earth by local churches, but is not limited to them.

The Kingdom of God is incarnate

Related Article: Keys of Peter Matthew 16:17-19

In the Church, which is the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of God is embodied. All national, religious and social differences disappear within it

28 There is no longer Jew nor Gentile; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal.3:28)

Since Christ is the God-appointed King of the Kingdom of God, this Kingdom is rightly called the Kingdom of Christ

11 For in this way free entry into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be opened for you. (2 Peter 1:11)

The believer in Christ is brought into His Kingdom:

13 who delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son (Col. 1:13)

where “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” triumph:

17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17)

The subjects of this Kingdom still live in peace:

15 I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from evil. (John 17:15)

but they can already communicate with God; they are involved in the Kingdom of Heaven:

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, from where we wait for a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20)
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God; 2 Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col.3:1-3)

The Coming Fullness of the Kingdom of God

The presence of the Kingdom of God is still hidden from people and is known only by faith. But with the Second Coming of the Lord, the Kingdom of God will be established in power and glory. Two aspects must be distinguished here.

The kingdom will first be earthly

the coming Kingdom will first be earthly; then many prophetic predictions will come true (eg, Isa 2:2-4; 11:6-9; Zech 8:13,20-23).

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many nations will go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths; For out of Zion will come the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And he will judge the nations, and rebuke many nations; And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isa.2:2-4)
6 Then the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the ox will be together, and a little child will lead them. 7 And the cow shall feed with the she bear, and their cubs shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the child will play in the asp’s hole, and the child will stretch out his hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will not harm or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Isa.11:6-9)
13 And it shall come to pass: just as ye, the house of Judah, and the house of Israel, were a curse among the nations, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing; do not be afraid; may your hands be strengthened! (Zechariah 8:13)
20 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Nations and inhabitants of many cities will still come; 21 And the inhabitants of one city will go to the inhabitants of another and say: Let us go and pray to the face of the Lord, and let us seek the Lord of hosts; [and everyone] [will say]: I will go too. 22 And many nations and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray to the face of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: It will come to pass in those days that ten men from all the nations of many tongues will take hold of the half of Judah and say, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:20-23)

Based on the Holy Scriptures, we can talk about the millennial kingdom (Rev 20:1-6).

In this the prophecy about the calling of Israel will be fulfilled. Jesus, coming to earth a second time, will judge the nations, deciding who is worthy to “inherit” His Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46).

It is impossible to attribute biblical statements about the earthly Kingdom of Christ only to the spiritual sphere, thereby devaluing them. One day it will be announced from heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15).

Earthly Kingdom of Christ

The earthly Kingdom of Christ must, however, be distinguished from the final perfection of all created things, when Christ will transfer His royal authority into the hands of the Father, and all authority and power will be abolished (1 Cor. 15:24)

24 And then the end, when He will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father, when He will abolish all rule and all authority and power. (1 Cor. 15:24)

Then the Kingdom of God will reach its fullness. When all the enemies of God are defeated, and the last of them is death (v. 26), Jesus will fulfill the purpose of His kingship.

Mention in the Bible

A. Commented topic

KINGDOM as a theme:

2 Samuel => 2 Samuel 5:12
third Kings => 1 Kings 4:21

B. Earthly kingdoms

Major Kingdoms of Biblical History
— Amorite Kingdom => Numbers 32:33
— Syrian (Aramaic) kingdom => 1 Chronicles 18:6
— Kingdom of Babylon => Dan 1:20; Dan 4:33
- kingdom of the Medes and Persians => Esther 1:2-4; Dan 5:28,30
- four kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzar's dream => Dan 2:36-43
- all the kingdoms of the earth => Deuteronomy 28:25; 2 Kings 19:15,19; Jer 15:4; Matthew 4:8
Kingdom of Israel and Judah
- united kingdom under David => 2 Samuel 5:1-5,12
- expansion of the kingdom under David => 2 Samuel 8:11-14
- the kingdom was given to Solomon => 1 Kings 1:28-40
- prediction of the division of the kingdom after Solomon => 1 Kings 11:9-13
- division of the kingdom under Rehoboam => 1 Kings 12:16-24
- destruction of the kingdom of Israel => 2 Kings 17:7-23
- destruction of the kingdom of Judah => 2 Kings 25:1-21

B. Kingdom of God

When will this kingdom come and where?
— Jesus preached about its coming => Mark 1:15
— Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom => Matthew 4:23
- several parables describe him => Matthew 13:11-52
- the miracles performed by Jesus proved his truth => Luke 7:18-22
- casting out demons proved this => Luke 11:20 {C}
— “The kingdom of God is within you” => Luke 17:20,21
- it comes with the death of Jesus => Luke 23:42,43
- it comes with the resurrection of Jesus => 1 Cor 15:20-25
- the apostles preached the Kingdom => Acts 8:12; Acts 19:8; Acts 28:23,28
— Christ leads us into His Kingdom => Col 1:12,13
b. Kingdom is coming
- some parables describe it in the future => Matthew 25:1-34
- it will come with the return of Christ => 2 Timothy 4:1
- this is our heritage => Matthew 25:34; 1 Cor 15:50; James 2:5
- this is the Kingdom of Heaven => 2 Tim 4:18; Hebrews 12:26-28
- this Kingdom will be revealed to us => 2 Peter 1:11
— Millennial Kingdom => Rev. 20:1-6
How can we enter the Kingdom of God
- having received it as a gift from Jesus => Luke 22:29
- responding to the Lord's call => 1 Thessalonians 2:12
— repenting of sins => Mark 1:15
- through the redemption of Christ => Col 1:12-14
— having accepted the righteousness of Christ => Matthew 5:20
— following Jesus => Matthew 19:21-24; Luke 9:61,62
— loving God => James 2:5
- steadfastness in faith => Acts 14:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:4,5
— doing the will of God => Matthew 7:21-23
What is life like in the Kingdom?
- described in a sermon out of the blue => Luke 6:17-49
- described in many parables of Jesus => Matthew 13:11-52; Matthew 18:23-35; Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 21:28-22:14
- a life of childlike humility => Matthew 18:1-4
- a life filled with joy and peace => Rom 14:17
- life free from sin => 1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-5
— life with the fruits of the Spirit => Gal 5:21-23
How We Should View the Kingdom
- seek him first => Matthew 6:33
— preach it => Acts 8:22; Acts 28:31
- work for him => Col 4:11
- be ready to suffer for him => Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 4:16-18