GOD’S HEAVENLY KINGDOM

By Gary Ray Branscome

The kingdom of God is not the same thing as the visible church. Visible church organizations and congregations are a part of God’s earthly kingdom. While only believers are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom.

Christ’s words, “Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God,” tell us that God’s heavenly kingdom only includes those who are born again (John 3:5). The words, “To as many as received Him, He gave power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His name,” tell us that we are born again [become “the sons of God”] through faith in Christ (John 1:12). And because we cannot look into anyone’s heart, to see if they are born again, “The kingdom of God does not come in a way that is seen… for, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). That is why Christ’s heavenly kingdom is sometimes called “the invisible church”.

"The Church, which is truly the kingdom of Christ, is properly the congregation of saints. For the wicked are ruled by the devil and are captives of the devil; they are not ruled by the Spirit of Christ." (“Apology of the Augsburg Confession,” articles 7-8, #16.)

Now some people see the words, “The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God,” and assume that their own efforts at making themselves righteous will get them into God’s heavenly kingdom (1Corinthians 6:9). However, the words, “No man living is righteous in your sight,” tell us that no one is good enough to get into God’s kingdom on the basis of their own righteousness (Psalm 143:2). The only righteousness that will get anyone into the kingdom of heaven is, “The righteousness of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe” (Romans 3:22). That is why the Bible tells us that, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes” (Romans 10:4).

Although the words, “No flesh will ever be justified in God’s sight by the deeds of the law,” tell us that our own efforts at making ourselves righteous will never make us sinless [righteous] in the sight of God, and, therefore, will never get us into God’s heavenly kingdom (Romans 3:20): The words, “I am the vine, you are the branches: He who remains in me, and I in him, produces much fruit: for you can do nothing without me,” tell us that as soon as we are saved Christ will begin working in us to produce fruit (John 15:5).

The words, “For you are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus,” again tell us that we become the “children of God” [i.e. are born again] through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26). The words, “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” tell us that being born again will result in a change in our conduct (2Corinthians 5:17). And the words, “He has given you life, who were dead in trespasses and sins; in which you formerly walked according to the way of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience,” tell us that change in our conduct is the result of receiving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:1-2). As it is written, “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and they are opposed to each other: so that you cannot do the things that you would” (Galatians 5:16-17).

The words, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost who is in you, who you have received from God,” tell us that, because the Holy Spirit dwells in all who trust in Christ our bodies are now the temple [dwelling place] of God (1Corinthians 6:19). The words, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people valued by God; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” tell us that we have been chosen by God (1Peter 2:9). And, the words, “You also are being built, as living stones, into a spiritual temple, to be holy priests,” tell us that because our bodies are the temple [dwelling place] of God we are all priests of God, as His witnesses to a lost and dying world (1Peter 2:5).

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Before concluding this section I want to make it clear that those who have truly come to faith in Christ, and received the Holy Spirit, will want to be baptized. In some cases they may have been baptized before coming to faith. In other cases they may have come to faith before baptism. However, even though they become citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom as soon as they come to faith, the words, “All the people, even the publicans, who heard John, agreed with God, by being baptized… But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, by refusing to be baptized,” tell us that if a person claims to have faith in Christ, yet refuses to be baptized, he may not actually have faith (Luke 7:29-30).