Citizens of the Kingdom

 

Being a citizen of a country brings with it certain rights and responsibilities: the right to vote, the right to vote, the right to assemble… Being a citizen of the Kingdom of God also brings with it certain rights and responsibilities. We will now pay attention to those.

1.      What is the kingdom

A kingdom consists of a territory ruled by a king. The Kingdom of God is a territory ruled by God himself. The word kingdom refers to royal authority, dominion, and reign.

²⁹And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:29-30

The kingdom of God is not a physical kingdom. It is a spiritual one.

³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36)

God is interested in the heart of a person. He is not interested in taking over a government or nation. He wants to reign in a person’s heart. This is key to understanding what the kingdom is.

Luke 17:20-21
"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

 

2.      Who is the King?

·        Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the King.

⁶ For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

David also prophesied of His coming.

¹ The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1)

David is quoted by Luke in the Book of Acts.

³⁴ “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
³⁵ Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Acts 2:34-35)

So Jesus is reigning over his kingdom until the end.

²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

·        As the King, He holds all authority, is actively involved, is concerned for His subjects, and is benevolent toward them. He has delegated authority to His apostles, prophets… They are to see that the laws of the kingdom are known and obeyed. These laws make up the constitution—the  New Testament or Covenant between the King and His subjects. It is unchangeable and never fails.

·        These laws cover:

• Doctrine

¹ But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine (Titus 2:1

Worship

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:28)

Service

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Discipline

²³Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

 

3.      Who Are The Subjects?

·        The only way you enter the Kingdom is through the new birth.

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one 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 enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5)

Since the Kingdom is a spiritual one, the birth must be spiritual as well. This is a single birth of two components. The two elements of this new birth are water baptism and the Holy Spirit.

²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ”Amen. (Matthew 28:20)

²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Colossians 1: 13-14)

³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

·        Those who enter the Kingdom do so by choice. They choose to submit to the Kingly rule of Christ. This means they willingly live their lives by Christ’s commands found in the Word of God.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)

·        This new birth relies upon God’s revelation.

¹⁸ Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:18)

²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25)

This revelation reveals that because you are a citizen of the Kingdom, you are under God’s protection.

²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one.” (John 10: 27-30)

It also means you have access to the King at any time, day or night.

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

 

Being a citizen of the Kingdom means surrendering to God’s Lordship and following His will. Are you willing to do that?

“Don’t leave your life to chance.”

 

 

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