THE KINGDOM OF GOD
DANIEL 2:44
A. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF TWO OPPOSING KINGDOMS IN THE UNIVERSE
1. The kingdom of Satan:
a. He claimed the kingdoms of this world as belonging to him because they had been given to him - Luke 4:4-6
b. Our Lord recognized that Satan had a kingdom -Matt. 12:26
c. It is the power of darkness - Col. 1:23
d. Christ spoke of "the prince of this world" - John 12:31; 16:11
2. The kingdom of God:
a. It is the realm where God is King, controlling the affairs of men - Isa. 52:7; Ps. 22:28
b. For God is still governor among the nations - Dan. 2:21, 44; 4:17; Ps. 22:28
c. Lucifer got possession of the nations of this world through fraud, beguiling Adam and Eve to sin against their Maker - Luke 4:1-6; Rom. 6:16; Gen. 3:1-6
B. NATURE OF GOD’S KINGDOM
1. It is a dual kingdom:
a. Presently it is the kingdom of grace.
b. It functions in the heart - Luke 17:20, 21; Col. 1:27
2. This phase of the kingdom of God was set up as soon as Adam and Eve became victims of Satan:
a. The first promise - Gen. 3:15
b. Grace became the hope of the fallen race - Tit. 2:11; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:7, 8
3. All believers, in all ages, have been subjects of the kingdom of grace:
a. Paul teaches this truth - Tit. 2:11; Eph. 2:7, 8; Rom. 5:12-18
b. The Bible is full of references to the kingdom of grace - Gen. 6:8; Jer. 32:2; Ex. 33:12, 16; Zech. 4:8
c. This part or phase of God’s kingdom prepares the subjects for the kingdom of glory - Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12; John 3:16
d. It is the development of our character, suitable for glory - Matt. 5:5; Rev. 19:7; 2 Cor. 3:18
4. The kingdom of grace is symbolized by:
a. The seed cast into the ground - Mark 4:26
b. The grain of a mustard seed - Mark 4:31
c. A leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal - Luke 13:21
C. THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM
1. Was brought to our first parents:
a. The promised seed - Gen. 3:15
b. Evangelists before the flood proclaimed it -
(1) Enoch the seventh from Adam preached it -Jude 14, 15
(2) Seth preached it - Gen. 4:26
(3) Noah proclaimed it - 2 Pet. 2:5
2. The Patriarchs preached the gospel of the kingdom:
a. Abraham - Gen. 18:17-19; Gal. 3:8
b. Isaac and Jacob built altars for the Lord, which symbolized their faith in God’s kingdom - Gen. 35:1; Heb. 11:14-18
3. This gospel of the kingdom centers in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ:
a. It is called "the gospel of Christ" - Rom. 1:16
b. He and He alone can bring about the consummation of the kingdom of God - Acts 4:12; Luke 23:42-44
c. It is He who teaches us to pray, "Thy kingdom come" - Matt. 6:9-11
d. When we receive the Lord Jesus into our hearts, He establishes His throne in our hearts. We become the seat of the King of kings and Lord of lords -Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:17
4. Seven Bible musts to enter the Kingdom of God:
a. "Ye must be born again" - John 3:3-9
b. Christ must increase and I must decrease - John 3:30
c. We must worship the Father in spirit and in truth - John 4:22, 23
d. We must do all the Lord has commanded us to perform - Num. 23:26
e. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ - 2 Cor. 5:10
f. We must, through much tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God - Acts 14:22
g. We must believe that God will keep His word to all who walk in His way - Heb. 11:6 These are some of the musts that mark the pathway to the kingdom of God.
