The Real Kingdom of God

In 2014, I wrote a book about the Kingdom of God championed by Jesus in His parables.  The entire premise was based on wanting to understand the kingdom.  I guess I could have just used one verse and had a bumper sticker made instead!  I wished I would have thought about this verse as the all-encompassing answer to my research and investigation.

The reason I feel more can be learned is that, even though most believers will agree with the verse at first reading, some still assert: “Yes, that’s true! But someday, the really, really, real kingdom will be physically set up by Jesus.”

This belief is in direct opposition of Jesus’ words: “My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; now, therefore, my kingdom is not from here.”    John 18:36 (Jub) 

Ok, I’m getting ahead of myself. Here is the verse of discussion: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17  (Jub)

I can hear the resounding chorus of those singing; “Well, duh, TJ, everyone knows this verse, didn’t you?” Hey, I’m going somewhere with this, so hold on.

This was the only kingdom Jesus ever spoke of, and it was an invisible, spiritual one. Jesus did not say: “For THIS kingdom is not of food or drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, but just wait! In another 2000 years I will bring yet another kingdom which will be physical. Yep! You can visit me in Rome or Jerusalem.  I haven’t decided which city I’m going to office out of, but once I do, get online and book your vacation (I’m not allowed to endorse any one travel booking site at this time). If I’m not in some meeting trying to bring world peace, I might walk out on the veranda and wave to the crowds down in the gentile courts.”

Sounds ridiculous, right? Who would want that type of relationship with the Savior?  Suddenly, it will be more appealing to surrender the one-on-one relationship we enjoy for some physical relationship where you must travel around the world just to catch a glimpse of him?  No thanks! But sadly, most Christians believe this is what will happen. They misunderstand the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and place the same emphasis on it as the first century Jews.

“For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus did not mention two different kingdoms. Question: is the Holy Spirit among us today?  Yes.  Do we believe that we have the righteousness of God, the Peace of God, and can find joy which comes from the Holy Spirit? Yes. Righteousness, peace, and joy ARE the kingdom.  The very thing you possess.  If the Son of Man verbally explained what His kingdom was, and added no future conditions or promises to it, then we should feel very comforted that we received His kingdom, in all fullness.  He is not withholding anything from us, to “dish out” to some lucky, future generation.  The “lucky future generations” have enjoyed the kingdom of God since the first century. 

Kingdom Come:  Messiah’s Methodical Manifesto Hidden in the Parables (search Amazon to purchase)