The Kingdom of God as Present Reality in the Church
Jesus announced that "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand" [2], inaugurating a reality that the New Testament writers consistently identify with the Church. This identification appears most explicitly in Easton's Bible Dictionary, which defines the Kingdom of God as encompassing three dimensions: Christ's mediatorial authority on earth, the blessings flowing from that rule, and "the subjects of this kingdom taken collectively, or the Church" [4]. The kingdom is not merely a future hope but a present reality wherever Christ exercises his mediatorial kingship.
The Church as Kingdom Manifestation
Paul's body metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12 illustrates how the kingdom takes concrete form in the gathered community. "Each church is in miniature what the whole aggregate of churches is collectively, 'the body of Christ'" [5], with individual believers functioning as members assigned specific places and roles [6]. This corporate identity transcends ethnic and social divisions—"there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female"—because believers "are all one in Christ Jesus" [8]. The unity of Christ's body reflects the singular nature of his kingdom: "Just as Christ is one, so there can be only one body of Christ" [7].
Christ's kingly office, distinct from his prophetic and priestly functions yet inseparable from his mediatorial work, operates specifically through and for the Church. He serves as "King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church" [3], executing his royal authority not apart from the ecclesial community but within it. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown describes this kingdom as "that moral and spiritual kingdom which the God of grace is setting up in this fallen world, whose subjects consist of as many as have been brought into hearty subjection to His gracious scepter" [9].
The kingdom's present reality does not depend on verbal profession alone. As one commentator notes regarding 1 Corinthians 4:20, the kingdom of God exists "not in word, but in power" [10]—not through mere talk but through the transformative authority of Christ's reign. This dynamic quality appears in Mark's summary of Jesus' preaching: the Kingdom "is not tied to a territory; it dynamically began in Jesus' person and extended to his followers" [11]. Paul's ministry in Acts concludes with him "preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ" [1], treating these as overlapping realities rather than separate categories.
Sources
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- Mark “Mark 1:15 (Geneva1599) — And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdome of God is at hand: repent and beleeue the Gospel.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingly office of Christ — One of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19). He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church. This royalty differs from that whic”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingdom of God — (Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:43) = "kingdom of Christ" (Matt. 13:41; 20:21) = "kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5) = "kingdom of David" (Mark 11:10) = "the kingdom" (Matt. 8:12; 13:19) = "kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 13:41), all denote the same thing under different aspects, viz.: (1) Christ's mediatorial authority, or his rule on the earth; (2) the blessings and advantages of all kinds that flow from this rule; (3) the subjects of this kingdom taken collectively, or the Church.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:27: members in particular--that is, severally members of it. Each church is in miniature what the whole aggregate of churches is collectively, "the body of Christ" (compare Co1 3:16): and its individual components are members, every one in his assigned place.”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:20: But now are they many members,.... Of different make and shape, in different parts and places, and of different use and service: yet but one body; all are united together, and make up one complete body, and which without each of them would not be perfect: so there are many members in the body of Christ, the church; some are teachers, others are hearers; some give, and others receive; but all make up but one church, of which Christ is the head; nor can anyone of them be spared; was anyone wanting, even the meanest, there would be a deficiency, and the church ”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:15: 3:15 Just as Christ is one, so there can be only one body of Christ (see 1:18; Eph 4:4-6). Allegiance to Jesus as Lord must transcend differences and will result in peace (harmonious relationships).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:28: 3:28 There is no longer: Everyone comes to Christ and receives God’s promises in exactly the same way (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-13; Eph 2:14; Col 3:11). • male and female: Cp. Gen 1:27. • you are all one: The community of believers is one body, the body of Christ (see Rom 12:4-5; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 2:15-16, 19-22). • in Christ Jesus: See Col 2:6–3:11.”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 6:10: Thy kingdom come--The kingdom of God is that moral and spiritual kingdom which the God of grace is setting up in this fallen world, whose subjects consist of as many as have been brought into hearty subjection to His gracious scepter, and of which His Son Jesus is the glorious Head. In the inward reality of it, this kingdom existed ever since there were men who "walked with God" (Gen 5:24), and "waited for His salvation" (Gen 49:18); who were "continually with Him, holden by His right hand" (Psa 73:23), and who, even in the valley of the shadow of dea”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 4:20: For the kingdom of God,.... By "the kingdom of God" is not meant the kingdom of heaven, or the ultimate glory and happiness of the saints; though that is a kingdom prepared by God, which he gives to his children, calls them to by his grace, and will give them an abundant entrance into, when time shall be no more with them; and though that is not attained to "in", or "by word", by mere talk and profession; not everyone that says Lord, Lord, shall enter into it; or that professes the name of Christ, and prophesies in it; but "in" or "by power"; through the power ”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 1:15: 1:15 Jesus’ preaching is summarized by his announcement that the Kingdom of God had come, and that people needed to repent and believe the Good News about the Messiah (1:1). • The Kingdom of God is not tied to a territory; it dynamically began in Jesus’ person and extended to his followers. • In response to the arrival of God’s Kingdom, people are called to repent (to turn from sin and yield to God) and to have faith in God’s Good News. In Jesus’ time, the Good News was the arrival of God’s reign through the Messiah. For Mark’s later audience, it was the news of Jes”