In the four previous lessons you have read the explanation of the kingdom and the fact that the Bible doesn’t contain any teaching for a literal kingdom on earth at Christ’s Second coming. That being true the teaching is to watch, for you don’t know the day or the hour and to be ready for the heavenly shout. As was pointed out in the previous lesson Peter wrote, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11)

Paul exhorted the Christians in the Colossian letter thusly: 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:15-16) The word dwell means to inhabit, and by extension and with understanding of the whole message of God, it can be said that when the believer allows Christ’s word to dwell (live inhabit) in him or her, Christ is reigning in his kingdom, the individual believers who are a part of the body of Christ, the church. Paul wrote: 13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:13-14)

Paul told Christians to keep their eyes on the prize of the high calling in Christ, concluding with the result if they follow other than Christ. He wrote: 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

The author of Hebrews (12: 1-3) wrote: 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Looking to Jesus for all things good will keep ones eyes on the prize and will end in salvation for the believer. Jesus ascended to the father and is reigning with love in his spiritual kingdom, the church.

Yet his reign will end. Paul made that clear in I Corinthians 15:25-28: For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.  At the end of all things as we know them, Jesus will relinquish his reign since his work of redemption will be complete for eternity. All will be subject to God, just as all things are subject to him now.

Christ’s kingdom came. It is here in each believer. Let the light of Christ shine so others can see his kingdom and the difference that it will make in life on this earth.

06-17-2007 DE

                       Next Week Take Up Your Cross