The preachers quoted here describe the kingdom of God as God's own domain, which takes its character from him. Following Paul, they say it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and that it consists in power and not in talk.
The kingdom was the subject of Jesus's preaching from the first: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). The word basileia means royal rule as well as the realm ruled.1 The kingdom of God is first of all God's reign. Matthew usually says "kingdom of heaven".
The Old Testament already confessed that God reigns: "his kingdom ruleth over all" (Psalm 103:19). It also promised a kingdom still to come. Daniel saw that "the God of heaven" would "set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44), given to one like the Son of man (7:13-14).
Jesus announced that this kingdom had arrived in his own person and work. "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you" (Matthew 12:28). Believers have already been "translated ... into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). Paul describes its present character: "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). Calvin wrote, "where Christ can be pointed to with the finger, there the kingdom of God is manifested."2
Yet Jesus also taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10), and spoke of a day when the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them (25:34). At the end "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ" (Revelation 11:15). Scholars describe this as "already and not yet": the kingdom has come in Christ and will come in fullness at his return. Thomas Watson linked the two: "The kingdom of grace is nothing but the beginning of the kingdom of glory."3
Jesus said who enters it. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). It belongs to the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) and to those who become as little children (18:3), not to everyone who says "Lord, Lord" (7:21). His parables in Matthew 13 describe its hidden beginnings and its certain end.
Christians differ on some points, such as how the kingdom relates to the church and to Israel, and whether "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God" are to be distinguished. They agree on the priority Jesus gave it: "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).
- Strong's Greek 932, basileía: "properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)".
- John Calvin, The Institutes Of The Christian Religion, "Chapter 11. the difference between the two testaments".
- Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer, "The Second Petition in the Lord's Prayer".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
The kingdom of God is God's domain which is expressive of Himself, which takes its character from Him, in which everything to the smallest detail speaks of God, shows what God is like.
T. Austin-Sparks
in The Kingdom of God
Read in context
The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Zac Poonen
in Suffering and the Kingdom of God
Listen at 18:05
The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.
Jackie Pullinger
in Spiritual Gifts Training (Part 4)
Listen at 0:06
Now, the Kingdom of Heaven is righteousness and righteousness is good.
Paul Washer
in Romans 14:17
Listen at 25:17
The kingdom of God is not in words, as we find in 1 Corinthians chapter 4.
Stephen Kaung
in Sons of the Kingdom
Listen at 6:24
What Scripture says
- Mark 1:15 the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel
- Romans 14:17 righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost
- Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness
- John 3:3 except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
- Matthew 6:10 thy kingdom come
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