THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON THE EARTH TODAY

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THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON THE EARTH TODAY

• Col. 113
• Who hath delivered us from the power of
  darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
  of his dear Son

By Ron Halbrook
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Introduction

• Col. 113 The kingdom of God is on the earth
  today people entered it.
• The kingdom of God on the earth today is the
  spiritual rule of Christ for our salvation
  it is the church of
  Christ.

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3. False theories define the kingdom of God in
the N.T. as separate from the church.

• Generic for Gods rule over all things
• Christ to Rule 1,000 Years on Earthly Throne
  (R.H. Boll, The Kingdom of God)
• Fully Established by Fall of Jerusalem A.D. 70
  (Max R. King, The Spirit of Prophecy)
• Social Reform, Political Utopia

Are the church and the kingdom of God
coextensive? They are not!...The kingdom of
God encompasses everything and everyone over
whom God exercises dominion.Therefore the
kingdom is a larger concept than the Church
(Jim McGuiggan, The Reign of God,
p. 93).
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4. The kingdom of God is defined by its usage
in the New Testament.

• Kingdom
• General realm, authority of a king (Dan. 237)
• Specific the kingdom of God, spiritual rule of
  Christ for our salvation, the church of Christ
  (Matt. 1618-19)
• Church
• General the called-out, a group or assembly
  (Acts 738 1939).
• Specific church of Christ, realm or assembly of
  those who are called out of sin united with
  Christ in his kingdom (Matt. 1618-19)

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Words with general meaning more specific
application

• Saved
• General delivered from danger (Acts 2731)
• Specific forgiven of sin (Mk. 1616)
• Elder
• General anyone older in years (1 Tim. 51)
• Specific overseer in local church (Acts 1423)
• Servant
• General one who serves another, as all
  followers of Christ serve him (Jn. 1226)
• Specific deacon, official servant appointed by
  local church (Acts 62-3 1 Tim. 3)

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Introduction

• The realm of the kingdom of God
• on the earth today
  the realm of the church of Christ are the
  same the
  realm of spiritual unity fellowship with
  Christ the relationship
  necessary for our salvation.

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I. The Kingdom of God in Prophecy

• Gen. 123
• Seed of Abraham to Bless Men of All Nations
• Gen. 4910
• Gods Chosen King to Come from Judah
• Isa. 21-5
• In the Last Days God to Establish a New Kingdom
  Invite Men of All Nations Into It
• Dan. 244
• In the Time of the Romans God to Establish a New
  Kingdom which Men Cannot Destroy

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II. When the Kingdom Was Near

• Matt. 31-3
• Preaching of John Repent ye for the kingdom
  of heaven is at hand.
• Matt. 4-7
• Preaching of Jesus Repent for the kingdom of
  heaven is at hand (417).

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II. When the Kingdom Was Near

• Matt. 4-7 Jesus Preparing for the Kingdom
• 417-19 Preparing Men to Help Introduce the
  Kingdom
• 53-12 The Sermon on the Mount
• Attitudes Needed to Enter the Kingdom the
  Reward of Heaven (53-12 619-20)
• 633 Lifes 1st Priority To Enter the Kingdom
• 721 Many who Profess to Enter this Kingdom Not
  Accepted into Heaven

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II. When the Kingdom Was Near

• Matt. 810-12
• Many Jews to be Lost Who Should Have Inherited or
  Entered the Kingdom of GodMany Gentiles Will
  Enter
• Kingdom of Heaven Here the Final Reward
  Outer Darkness the Final Punishment
• Matt. 1222-30
• His Miracles Represented the Coming Kingdom of
  God, Not the Kingdom of Satan!
• If Kingdom Generic, Jesus Destroyed His Own
  Kingdom by Fighting Satan!

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II. When the Kingdom Was Near

• Matt. 1324-30, 37-43
• Kingdom of God Planted in World Full of Tares
• Convert Not Remove Tares from the World
• Kingdom of heaven planted by Jesus
  (vv. 24, 37)
• The field is the world
  his kingdom in very rare generic
  senseChrists power to separate the wheat from
  the tares in the end of this world (vv. 38,
  40-41)
• Final separation the righteous enter into
  the kingdom of their Father (vs. 43)

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II. When the Kingdom Was Near

• Matt. 1616-18
• Christ Promised to Build His Church His
  Apostles Ambassadors of the Kingdom
• Jn. 33-5
• New Spiritual Birth to Enter His Kingdom
• Lk. 1720-21 Jn. 1836-37
• The Kingdom Emphatically Spiritual Not
  Political, Civil, Military, Financial, Social
• Lk. 2128-33
• The Kingdom IndestructibleSurvived Fall of
  Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (vv. 28, 31)

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III. The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God on
the Earth Today

• Acts 2Apostles Proclaimed Christ on His Throne
  Urged People to Enter His
  Kingdom
• Resurrection of Jesus Christ Proof he now sits
  on his throne as King in the new kingdom of God
  as both Lord Christ (vv. 30, 34-36)
• Many obeyed the gospelthus entered the new
  kingdom or church of Christ (vv. 37-41, 47)
• Acts 85, 12Philip Preached Christ His
  Authority, His Kingdom, His
  Command of Baptism

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III. The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God on
the Earth Today.

• Eph. 13, 22-23 55Spiritual Realm of Unity
  with Christ His Body, His
  Church, His Kingdom
• Enter this relationship learn to live new lives
  (14 210 424)
• Col. 112-14 315Realm of the Kingdom
  Spiritual Realm of
  Salvation, One Body, Church
• Heb. 1222-29New Kingdom of God Superior to Old
  Israel
• The Church kingdom which cannot be moved

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III. The Present Reality of the Kingdom of God on
the Earth Today

• Rev. 15-6 59-10 1115-18 129-11Christs
  Kingdom to Defeat Satans Kingdom
  Kingdom of God Indestructible!
• Carnal power used to attack the church
• Gods kingdom victorious by obedient faith in the
  blood of Christ the gospel (1211)
• 1 Cor. 1524-26 2 Pet. 111 Christs Rule in
  the Kingdom on Earth Completed Its Citizens
  Enter Everlasting Kingdom in Heaven

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Conclusion

• Truth is clarified confusion removed
  The kingdom of God on the earth today is the
  church of Christ, the spiritual rule of Christ
  for the salvation of our souls.
• Not generic for Gods rule over all things
• Col. 115-17 Christ creator, possessor, sustainer
  of all things
• Col. 113-14 The kingdom his spiritual rule
• Not a separate 1,000 year rule on an earthly
  throne
• Fully established on Pentecost not at the fall of
  Jer. in A.D. 70
• Not social reforms or political utopia on earth

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Conclusion

• The citizens of the kingdom of God enter the
  everlasting kingdom to be with God and all of the
  saved of all ages in heaven!
• Enter the kingdom of God now
  (Acts 238-39).
• If fallen back into a life of sin, return now
  (Acts 822-24).