The Christians Kingdom Conundrum.
The Christian’s Kingdom Conundrum.
The concept of the kingdom of God is a central theme in Christian theology, yet it often leads to confusion and misunderstanding among believers. The New Testament contains various teachings about the kingdom, each appearing to present a different requirement or call to action. This has led many Christians to wonder: Should we seek the kingdom, pray for its arrival, or do we already live within it? To unravel this conundrum, we must explore the Scriptures and understand the kingdom of God from the perspective of Jesus’ finished work and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Seek First the Kingdom?
In Matthew 6:33 (NKJV), Jesus commands, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This verse is often interpreted as a call for Christians to prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else. To understand this exhortation, we need to consider the context in which Jesus spoke.
Jesus was addressing a predominantly Jewish audience, who were familiar with the Mosaic Law. For them, seeking righteousness was synonymous with adhering to the Law’s commandments. However, Jesus was introducing a new paradigm: a relationship with God as Father and the concept of God as the King of a spiritual kingdom. At this point in Israel’s history, the Jews primarily sought the temple and its religious functions. Jesus was challenging them to shift their focus from the law to a relationship with God and His kingdom.
Pray for the Kingdom to Come?
In Matthew 6:10 (NKJV), Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This prayer indicates a future aspect of the kingdom, a longing for God’s reign to be fully established on earth. Jesus was preparing His followers for the coming of God’s kingdom, which would be inaugurated through His death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
At this stage, Jesus was introducing the concept of prayer and the idea of God as a Father who listens to His children’s petitions. By teaching His disciples to pray for the kingdom to come, Jesus was setting the stage for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth and, subsequently, within every believer through the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV), Jesus addresses the Pharisees’ question about the kingdom’s arrival: “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; [21] nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.'” This statement reveals a profound truth: the kingdom of God is not a physical realm to be observed but a spiritual reality within believers.
Jesus’ declaration aligns with the apostle Paul’s teaching in Colossians 1:27 (NKJV): “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Paul emphasizes that the indwelling presence of Christ in believers is the essence of God’s kingdom. This mystery was revealed and made manifest through the finished work of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Reconciling the Kingdom Teachings.
To reconcile these seemingly different kingdom teachings, we must view them through the lens of Jesus’ finished work and the New Covenant. When Jesus spoke of seeking first the kingdom in Matthew 6:33, He was addressing a Jewish audience under the Old Covenant, introducing them to the concept of God’s kingdom and righteousness through a relationship with Him. This seeking was not about striving for the law’s righteousness but about prioritizing a relationship with God.
In Matthew 6:10, Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, anticipating the establishment of His reign through the events of His death, resurrection, and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This prayer was prophetic, looking forward to the day when God’s kingdom would be fully realized on earth and within believers.
Finally, in Luke 17:20-21, Jesus reveals the present reality of the kingdom within believers. This statement reflects the New Covenant reality that through faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are already part of God’s kingdom. Paul affirms this truth in Ephesians 2:1-6 (AMP), where he explains that believers were once spiritually dead but are now made alive and seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Understanding that believers are already in God’s kingdom changes how we approach these teachings. To say that a Christian must seek first a kingdom they are already in would be counterintuitive. Likewise, to instruct believers to pray for God’s kingdom to come, when it has already come through the Holy Spirit, would be redundant.
Many Christians are taught to keep seeking a kingdom they already inhabit, leading to unfulfilled expectations and feelings of inadequacy. This mindset creates a perpetual striving, never arriving at a place of peace and rest. In reality, believers are already spiritually with God, permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Paul never challenged born-again believers to seek first God’s kingdom or pray for Gods kingdom to come. Instead, he emphasized the importance of recognizing the kingdom within them and sharing this truth with others. Ephesians 2:1-6 (AMP) reminds us that we were once dead in our sins but are now alive and seated with Christ in heavenly places. This positional truth means that we are already part of God’s kingdom and should live in that reality.
Conclusion
The kingdom conundrum is resolved by understanding the different contexts and stages of God’s kingdom revelation. Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:10, and Luke 17:20-21 each address different aspects of the kingdom’s manifestation.
Jesus introduced the concept of seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness to a Jewish audience familiar with the law. He taught His disciples to pray for the kingdom’s coming, anticipating the establishment of God’s reign through His redemptive work. Finally, He revealed the present reality of the kingdom within believers, a truth affirmed by Paul.
Believers are now part of God’s kingdom, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We are called to live in this reality, recognizing that we are already with God and seated with Christ in heavenly places. The focus shifts from striving to seek or pray for a future kingdom to living in the fullness of the kingdom that is already within us.
By embracing this truth, Christians can experience the peace, rest, and fulfillment that come from knowing they are permanently part of God’s kingdom. Instead of seeking what they already possess, believers can focus on sharing the good news of the kingdom within and living out its transformative power in their daily lives.
So whenever faced with the kingdom question of being told to seek first His kingdom or pray for His kingdom to come simply echo the words of Paul the Apostle in Colossians 1:27-29 TPT Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! [28-29] Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion in ministry to labor with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through me, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Jesus Christ.
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