Topic: The church and the Kingdom of God

Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to

1. Define the church and the kingdom of God
2. Differentiate the Church from the kingdom of God
3. Explain the similarities of the church and the kingdom of God

Motivation:

It is one of the puzzling questions to whether the church is the kingdom of God or the church is part of the
kingdom of God. The determine which is true let us know on this discussion.

Definition of Terms:

1. Kingdom of God – It is the vast area where God is ruling. It includes the invisible and the visible creations.
2. Church – It is the assembly of those who are saved through the grace of the God by accepting Jesus Christ as
Lord and savior.
3. Eschatology – refers to the study of last things or future events.
4. Soteriology – is the study of salvation from eternal lake of fire provided by Jesus Christ to those who will accept
Him as their Lord and savior.
5. Jews – term used for the people of God beginning from Abraham. All Israelites are called Jews.
6. Gentiles – refers to all races excluding Isrelites. This term use to those who are practicing idol worship.

Introduction:

The phrases “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are found more than eighty (80) times in the New
Testament. The Kingdom of God is obviously an important subject. Several questions arise, however, in relation to the
identity and manifestation of the kingdom of God: What is meant by the word “kingdom”? Is the kingdom of God an
inner spiritual reality, or is it an outwardly visible rule? Who are the subjects of the kingdom? Are the kingdom of God
and the kingdom of heaven identical? What relationship does the church have to the kingdom of God? Is the kingdom of
God present or future? These and other questions will be addressed, and as far as possible, answers from Scripture will
be supplied.

Competency No. 1. The Meaning of the Word “Kingdom.”

The Greek word basileia from which the word “KINGDOM” is derived has two principle meanings: (1) “a king’s
rule, reign, dominion, or authority” and (2) “the territory or people over whom a king reigns.”

W.E. Vine defines basileia as follows: “Basileia is primarily an abstract noun, denoting sovereignty, royal power,
dominion, e.g., Rev. 17:18, translated ‘which reigneth,’ lit. ‘hath a kingdom’ (R.V. marg.); then, by metonymy, a concrete
noun, denoting the territory or people over whom a king rules” e.g., Matt. 4:8; Mark 3:24.”

In the Greek Old Testament, basileia translate the Hebrew word malkut which likewise has the two meanings:
(1) “royal reign” (Dn. 1:1) and then, (2) “king’s domain.” The word “kingdom” is used most frequently in the New
Testament with the first meaning of “reign” or “royal power.” Regarding the meaning of the word “kingdom,” Dr. Ladd
says: “the primary meaning of the New Testament word for kingdom, basileia, is ‘reign’ rather than ‘realm’ or ‘people.’ A
great deal of attention in recent years has been devoted by critical scholars to this subject and there is practically
unanimous agreement that ‘regal power, authority’ is more basic to basileia than ‘realm’ or ‘people.’
 Therefore, the Kingdom of God is the vast territory where God reigns. This includes all invisible and visible
creations. The Church is inside the kingdom of God.

Student Assessment Question (SAQ):

SAQ # 1. What is the Greek word for kingdom? ___________________________________________________________
SAQ # 2. Give the two principles to where the kingdom is derived ____________________________________________
SAQ # 3. Differentiate the views of W.E. Vine and Dr. Ladd in regards to kingdom _______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Competency No. 2. Is The Kingdom of God Present or Future?

The Kingdom of God is both present and future. The kingdom as the realm of God’s people of all dispensations,
over which Christ will reign in righteousness, is yet future; it will begin with the Second Coming of Christ (2 Tm. 4:1;
Rv.11:15). The kingdom as the “reign” or “royal power” of God Is present in the Redeeming Work of Jesus who came to
destroy the works of the Devil.

Dr. Ladd states: The kingdom has come in that the powers of the future kingdom have already come into history
and into human experience through the supernatural ministry of the Messiah which has effected the defeat of Satan.
Men may now experience the reality of the reign of God. In the future eschatological kingdom Satan will be utterly
destroyed, cast into a lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10) that men may be freed from every influence of evil.

However, God’s people need not wait for the coming of the future kingdom to know what it means to be
delivered from Satanic power. The presence of Christ on earth had for its purpose the defeat of Satan, his binding, so
that God’s power may be a vital reality in the experience of those who yield to God’s reign by becoming the disciples of
Jesus. In Christ, the kingdom, in the form of its power, has come among men.

SAQ # 4. Explain the principle that the kingdom of God is present ___________________________________________
SAQ # 5. What is the future kingdom of God? ___________________________________________________________
SAQ # 6. What happen to Satan in the future kingdom of God? _____________________________________________

Competency No. 3. Is The Kingdom Inward and Spiritual, or Outwardly Visible?

The future (eschatological) kingdom will be an outwardly manifested kingdom over which Christ will reign in
power and glory. It will prevail over the whole earth and will fulfill the Old Testament prophecies to the faithful remnant
of Israel, concerning the Messiah’s reign upon the throne of David (Is. 9:6,7; 11:1-10; 24:23; 32:1; Dn. 2:44; 7:18,27; Mi.
4:7). The new Testament saints will rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests (Mt. 25:21-,23; 1 Tm. 6:14,15; Rv.
5:9,10; 19:14-16; 20:4-6). The one-thousand-year reign of Christ over the earth is known as His “Millennial Reign.”
Although the word “millennium” does not occur in the Bible, it is the Latin word for “thousand years” (Rv. 20:4-6).

On the other hand, the present (soteriological) kingdom of Christ is spiritual and invisible, for it consists of the
kingship, power and authority of Jesus as Savior and Destroyer of Satan. That the kingdom of Jesus was spiritual is made
clear by two statements of Jesus. In the first, to the Pharisees, in answer to their question about when the kingdom
would come, He said: “The kingdom of God cometh not with OBSERVATION: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there!
For behold, the kingdom of God is WITHIN you or in your midst” (Lk. 17:20b,21). In the second, to Pilate who asked Him
if he were a king, He answers: “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn. 18:36,37). Jesus goes on to say, however, that He
was born to be a king over the realm of Divine Truth and that “everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Jesus
said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3,5). The born again ones enter into His kingdom of
the Divine saving truth of the Gospel. Jesus’ present kingdom on earth is a kingdom of GOSPEL, a fact which relates to
the reason why the Gospel is called the “gospel of the kingdom” (Mt. 4:23,24: 9:5; 24:14; Mk.1:14; Lk. 4:43) (c.f., Acts
1:3; 8:12; 19:8; 28:23,31.) Those who accept the Gospel of Jesus also accept Him as sovereign Lord and Master and enter
into His kingdom becoming “citizen of heaven” (Phil. 3:20, NIV, NASB). The Gospel is the central message of Jesus’
present kingdom or “kingship,” but this is not an abstract or passive gospel, but a dynamic gospel that is “the power of
God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Writing to the Thessalonians about the Gospel, Paul said: “For our GOSPEL did not
come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (1 Thes. 1:5, NASB). The
result of Paul’s preaching to the Thessalonians was that they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”
(1 Thes. 1:9b). That the believer presently enters the kingdom of God is clearly declared: “For He delivered us from the
domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1:13, NASB). Jesus plainly declared that He
brought the “kingdom” into this present age in the form of “dominion” over Satan and his realm of darkness: “But if I
with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you” (Lk. 11:20). The spiritual nature
of the present “reign” of God is affirmed by Paul in Romans: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17).

SAQ # 7. What is “Millennial Reign” of Christ? ___________________________________________________________

SAQ # 8. Prove that the kingdom of God is spiritual _______________________________________________________
SAQ # 9. What does it mean that the kingdom of God is visible? ____________________________________________

Competency No. 4. Are the Church and the Kingdom of God Identical?

The final and the complete manifestation of the “eschatological” kingdom of God is yet future; but the power,
authority and message of the kingdom were introduced into the present age by Jesus, and bestowed upon the Church,
to whose Apostles He said, “Upon this rock will I build my church; … And I will give unto thee the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
of heaven” (Mt. 16:18,19a). The kingdom of God as a “domain” of God is yet to come, but a kingdom as “dominion” has
already broken into the present age and the Church exercises the power of the kingdom. The church is not identical to
the kingdom of God, for the kingdom Is larger than the Church; however the church is the present instrument of the
kingdom and will inherit the kingdom (Jas. 2:5; 2 Pt. 1:11).
The ultimate kingdom of God will include, not only the Church, but the Old Testament saints, the future
regathered remnant of Israel, and the righteous nations that will be part of the Millennial Reign of Jesus (Mt. 25:32,33;
Rv. 20:4,7,8; Is. 66:18-23; Jer. 3:16-18; 23:3-6; 31:10-12; Zec. 14:8,9.

SAQ # 10. Differentiate the kingdom of God from the church _______________________________________________
SAQ # 11. What are included in the kingdom of God? _____________________________________________________
SAQ # 12. Define eschatology ________________________________________________________________________

Competency No. 5. Is the Kingdom of Heaven different from the Kingdom of God?

Some Bible scholars (including the Scofield Chain Reference Bible editors, see footnotes on Mt. 3:2) teach that
“the kingdom of heaven.’’ found only in Matthew, usually refers to professing Christendom, while “the kingdom of God,”
used by Mark, Luke and John, refers to God’s sovereign reign. There is no doubt that Jesus, in His parables, sometimes
extends the “kingdom” concept to include the sphere of outward profession (Tares and Wheat, Mt. 13:24-30); however,
a close comparison of the two terms ”kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven,” as they are used in all four Gospels,
will show that they have the same meaning.

For instance, in the Beatitudes, Matthew’s gospel says that the poor will inherit the kingdom of heaven, while in
Luke’s gospel they will inherit the kingdom of God (Mt. 5:3;Lk. 6:20); in Matthew, the disciples are sent forth to preach
that the kingdom of heaven is at hand; while in Luke, they announce that the kingdom of God is at hand (Mt. 10:6,7; Lk.
9:20. (See also Mt. 4:7; Mk.1;15.) In the very context where Jesus refers to the parables (including that of the Tares and
Wheat) as teaching the “mysteries of the kingdom,” Matthew’s gospel refers to them as mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven (113:11), while in Mark’s gospel (4:11) they are mysteries of the kingdom of God. In one passage in Matthew,
Jesus uses both terms in the same figure of speech with exactly the same meaning (Mt. 19:23,24); in one sentence, “it is
hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”; in the next, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle, than for the rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” It is obvious from these comparisons that the terms
“kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” were completely interchangeable in usage.
 In the book Matthew the term used is Kingdom of heaven because the recipients of the book are the Jews. They
do not easily mention the word “God” because to them it is very sacred to use that term. Instead of using kingdom of
God they prefer to use Kingdom of Heaven. In other gospel books the term kingdom of God is used because the
recipients are gentiles.

SAQ # 12. Why the book of Matthew uses the term “kingdom of Heaven”? ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SAQ # 13. Give the reason why the other gospel books use the term “Kingdom of God”? _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SAQ # 14. Is the kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven referred to only one thing? Explain __________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Summary:

The kingdom of God is the territory where God reigns. It means that all creations whether it is invisible or visible
are inside the reign of God. Those realms that are not seen are the invisible kingdom of God. The church is the visible
part of the kingdom of God. God will reign of earth physically when Christ comes for His second coming. It will be the
visible reign of God on earth. God is reigning presently on earth to those who are saved. The terms Kingdom of God and
Kingdom of heaven can be used interchangeably.

References:

Foundation of Pentecostal Theology

100 bible Lesson Alban Douglas
Wellmingston Guide to the Bible
Shepherd Staff
Bible.org

Test/Evaluation:
1. Define the following:
a. kingdom
b. Kingdom of God
c. Church
d. Jew
e. Gentile
f. Eschatology
g. Soteriology
2. Explain the similarities of the church and the kingdom of God
3. Differentiate the church and the Kingdom of Heaven
4. Prove that you are included in the following
a. church
b. kingdom of God
5. When can you say that a person is included in the kingdom of God

Assignment:

Make a poem about the Kingdom of God

 SHEPHERDVILLE COLLEGE
Talojongon, Tigaon, Camarines Sur

AY 2021-2022 (First Semester)

CE 5 – ECCLESIOLOGY

MODULE 9

THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Ptr. Edwin A. Mabana

 STUDENT WORK SHEET

Student Assessment Question (SAQ):

SAQ # 1. What is the Greek word for kingdom? ___________________________________________________________
SAQ # 2. Give the two principles to where the kingdom is derived ____________________________________________
SAQ # 3. Differentiate the views of W.E. Vine and Dr. Ladd in regards to kingdom _______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
SAQ # 4. Explain the principle that the kingdom of God is present ___________________________________________
SAQ # 5. What is the future kingdom of God? ___________________________________________________________
SAQ # 6. What happen to Satan in the future kingdom of God? _____________________________________________
SAQ # 7. What is “Millennial Reign” of Christ? ___________________________________________________________
SAQ # 8. Prove that the kingdom of God is spiritual _______________________________________________________
SAQ # 9. What does it mean that the kingdom of God is visible? ____________________________________________
SAQ # 10. Differentiate the kingdom of God from the church _______________________________________________
SAQ # 11. What are included in the kingdom of God? _____________________________________________________
SAQ # 12. Define eschatology ________________________________________________________________________
SAQ # 12. Why the book of Matthew uses the term “kingdom of Heaven”? ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SAQ # 13. Give the reason why the other gospel books use the term “Kingdom of God”? _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SAQ # 14. Is the kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven referred to only one thing? Explain __________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Test/Evaluation:
1.Define the following:
a. kingdom
b. Kingdom of God
c. Church
d. Jew
e. Gentile
f. Eschatology
g. Soteriology
2.Explain the similarities of the church and the kingdom of God
3.Differentiate the church and the Kingdom of Heaven
4.Prove that you are included in the following
a. church
b. kingdom of God
5.When can you say that a person is included in the kingdom of God