The Kingdom of God (part 3)

So far, in the context of this series, we have looked at how Jesus is central to the Kingdom of God and how it is currently present. In this part, we will see how this gives believers a source of great hope.

Let us look at the encouraging words of Paul in Romans:
For I am convinced that this time of suffering does not weigh against the glory that is to be revealed in us. [...] Creation is subject to impermanence - without its will, but through him who has subjected it - but to hope; for creation too will be set free from the bondage of impermanence to the glorious freedom of the children of God. [...] Because we are saved, but on hope. But the hope that is seen is not hope; because how can you hope for what you see? But when we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:18; 20-21; 24-25).

Elsewhere, John wrote the following:
Dear ones, we are already God's children, but it has not yet been revealed what we will be. But we know that when it is revealed, we will be like it; because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has such hope in him cleans himself just as he is clean (1. John 3: 2-3).

The message regarding the kingdom of God is by its very nature a message of hope; both in terms of ourselves and in terms of God's creation as a whole. Fortunately, the pain, suffering and horror that we go through in this present evil world time will come to an end. Evil will have no future in the kingdom of God (Revelation 21: 4). Jesus Christ himself stands not only for the first word, but also for the last. Or as we say colloquially: He has the last word. So we don't have to worry about how it will all end. We know it. We can build on it. God will put everything right, and all those who are willing to humbly receive the gift will know and experience it one day. As we say, everything is wrapped up. The new heaven and new earth will come with Jesus Christ as their risen Creator, Lord and Savior. God's original goals will be accomplished. His glory will fill the whole world with his light, life, love and perfect goodness.

And we will be justified, or considered just, and not fooled for building and living on that hope. We can already benefit in part from it by living our lives in the hope of Christ's victory over all evil and in his power to redo everything. When we act on the hope of the indubitable coming of the Kingdom of God in all its fullness, this affects our daily lives, our personal as well as our social ethos. It influences how we deal with adversity, temptation, suffering, and even persecution due to our hope for the living God. Our hope will inspire us to carry others along, so that they, too, feed on the hope which does not go back to us, but on God's pure work. So, the gospel of Jesus is not just a message that he announces, but a revelation of who he is and what he has accomplished, and who we hope to accomplish in his reign, in his kingdom, in the realization of his ultimate purpose. A full-fledged gospel includes the reference to Jesus' indubitable return and the completion of his kingdom.

Hope, but no predictability

However, such hope in the coming kingdom of God does not imply that we can foretell the path to a sure and perfect end. How God will affect this end of the world is largely unpredictable. This is because the wisdom of the Almighty goes far beyond ours. If he chooses to do something out of his great mercy, whatever it may be, it takes all of this into account in terms of time and space. We can't possibly understand this. God couldn't explain it to us even if He wanted to. But it is also true that we do not need any further explanation beyond what is reflected in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ. He stays the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8).

God works the same today, as it was revealed in the nature of Jesus. One day we will see this clearly in retrospect. Everything that the Almighty does coincides with what we hear and see about the earthly life of Jesus. One day we will look back and say: Oh yes, now I realize that when the triune God did this or that, he acted according to his nature. His work unmistakably reflects the handwriting of Jesus in all its facets. I should have known. I could have imagined it. I could have guessed it. This is very typical of Jesus; it leads everything from death to resurrection and ascension.

Even in the earthly life of Jesus, what he used to do and say was unpredictable to those who dealt with him. It was difficult for the disciples to keep up with him. Although we are allowed to judge retrospectively, the reign of Jesus is still in full swing, and so our retrospective does not allow us to predict (and we do not need it). But we can be sure that God in his essence, as a triune God, will correspond to his character of holy love.

It may also be good to note that evil is completely unpredictable, capricious, and doesn't follow any rules. That's at least partly what makes it up. And so our experience, which we have in this earthly age, which is nearing its end, bears exactly the same traits, insofar as evil is characterized by a certain sustainability. But God counteracts the chaotic and capricious perils of evil and ultimately puts it in his service - as a kind of forced labor, so to speak. For the Almighty only allows what can be left to redemption, because in the end with the creation of a new heaven and a new earth, thanks to Christ's resurrection power overcoming death, everything will be subject to his rule.

Our hope is based on the nature of God, on the good he pursues, not on being able to predict how and when he will act. It is Christ's very own victory, promising redemption, which gives those who believe and hope in the future kingdom of God, patience, long-suffering and constancy, coupled with peace. The ending is not easy to have, and it is not in our hands either. It is held for us in Christ, and so we need not worry in this present age nearing its end. Yes, we are sad sometimes, but not without hope. Yes, we sometimes suffer, but in the trusting hope that our Almighty God will oversee everything and not allow anything to happen that cannot be entirely left to salvation. Basically, redemption can already now be experienced in the form and work of Jesus Christ. All tears will be wiped away (Revelation 7:17; 21: 4).

The kingdom is God's gift and his work

If we read the New Testament and parallel to it, the Old Testament leading to it, it becomes clear that the kingdom of God is his own, his gift and his achievement - not ours! Abraham was waiting for a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). It belongs primarily to the incarnate, eternal Son of God. Jesus regards them as my kingdom (John 18:36). He speaks of this as his work, his achievement. He brings it about; he keeps it. When he returns, he will fully complete his work of redemption. How could it be otherwise, when he is the king and his work gives the kingdom its essence, its meaning, its reality! The kingdom is God's work and his gift to humanity. By nature, a gift can only be accepted. The recipient can neither earn nor produce it. So what is our part? Even this choice of words seems a bit daring. We have no part in actually making the kingdom of God a reality. But it is indeed given to us; we contemplate his kingdom and, even now, as we live in the hope of its consummation, we experience something of the fruits of Christ's lordship. However, nowhere in the New Testament does it say that we build up the kingdom, create it or bring it forth. Unfortunately, such a wording is becoming more and more popular in some Christian faith circles. Such a misinterpretation is worryingly misleading. The kingdom of God is not what we do. We do not help the Almighty to realize his perfect kingdom little by little. It is not us who, however, put his hope into practice or make his dream come true!

If you get people to do something for God by suggesting to them that he is dependent on us, then such motivation is usually exhausted after a short time and often leads to burnout or disappointment. But the most damaging and dangerous aspect of such a portrayal of Christ and his kingdom is that it completely reverses God's relationship with us. The Almighty is thus seen as dependent on us. The implication that he couldn't be more loyal than us then resonates in the dark. We become the main actors in the realization of God's ideal. He then simply makes his kingdom possible and then helps us as best he can and as far as our own efforts allow it to be realized. According to this caricature, there is no real sovereignty or grace to God. It can only lead to work righteousness that inspires pride or lead to disappointment or even the possible abandonment of the Christian faith.

The kingdom of God must never be portrayed as a project or work of man, regardless of which motivation or ethical conviction may induce someone to do so. Such a misguided approach distorts the nature of our relationship with God and misrepresents the magnitude of Christ's completed work. For, if God can not be more faithful than we are, there is truly no redeeming grace. We can not fall back into a form of self-rescue; because there is no hope in that.

from dr. Gary Deddo


pdfThe Kingdom of God (part 3)