Believers in the present age are called to a specific relationship with the Kingdom of God, even though its full and visible establishment on Earth is a future event awaiting Jesus’ second coming. This relationship involves both a present reality and a future expectation, with practical implications for daily living.
- “Sons of the Kingdom” and Transferred Dominion: Christians are considered “sons of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:38), meaning the Kingdom belongs to them. Through faith in Jesus, they have been “rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). This signifies a positional reality—they are citizens of God’s Kingdom now, even if they are not yet reigning.
- Exhibiting Kingdom Righteousness: Since believers are members of God’s Kingdom, they are expected to live according to its standards. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) provides the “kingdom ethic” or “standards by which those who belong to King Jesus should live.” This includes living righteously, pursuing peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and demonstrating love for one another. This present exhibition of righteousness is a foretaste and testimony of the coming Kingdom.
- Active Pursuit and Prayer: Believers are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Jesus taught His disciples to pray for its coming: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This prayer acknowledges that God’s will is not yet perfectly done on Earth and expresses a longing for its full manifestation.
- Ambassadors of the Kingdom: The Church, formed after Jesus’ resurrection and empowered by the Holy Spirit, is tasked with taking the “gospel of the kingdom” to all nations. Believers are “ambassadors of the kingdom,” proclaiming the good news and making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles served to validate this message and give “tangible demonstrations of kingdom power and evidence of the nearness of the kingdom.”
- Perseverance Amidst Opposition: In this “present evil age,” believers face “intense opposition and persecution from the world and Satan.” This era is characterized by “tribulations” (Acts 14:22). Believers are called to faithfulness and perseverance, knowing that future blessings and authority in the coming Kingdom are rewards for overcoming (Revelation 2-3). The Transfiguration served as a “kingdom preview,” providing reassurance that suffering is not the end of God’s plan.
- Understanding Future Fulfillment: Believers should understand the literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the earthly Kingdom of the Messiah, including the restoration of Israel, Jerusalem, and the physical creation. This perspective rejects over-spiritualized interpretations that negate these tangible future realities. The imminence of the Kingdom in Jesus’ first coming was contingent on Israel’s repentance, and its full arrival is now linked to His second coming.
- Hope and Motivation: The coming of the Kingdom is “a fantastic hope for the believer and all people who believe in Jesus” and “the solution to everything wrong in the world.” This hope provides meaning to life and motivation for faithful service and endurance of trials. It means recognizing that present suffering will give way to future vindication and reigning with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4).
In essence, believers are called to live as active citizens of a presently spiritual but future physical and earthly Kingdom, embodying its values, proclaiming its message, and eagerly awaiting its full manifestation when Jesus returns.
From my book The Fivefold Plan of God.