The Kingdom Has Arrived!
1 Corinthians 15:50, 54-57 NLT —
‘What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?'
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.’
N.T. Wright, in his book Surprised by Hope*, writes that ‘the risen Jesus is both the model for the Christian’s future body and the means by which it comes about’*. So, it is because of Jesus’ resurrection that we will rise with new bodies. But why is this important?
We read in the Scripture passage that through Christ’s victory, death is defeated when our mortal bodies are made immortal. This is not the same as saying that, when we die, the spiritual part of us separates from the body and moves eternally to another dimension. That is still death and not the Christian hope. It is 'contrary to God's original good creation'** and his eternal intention for us. The scripture speaks of God through Jesus bringing his kingdom to Earth.
This was the gospel that Jesus taught: ‘the kingdom of God has come near’ (Mark 1:15), or as expressed by John Mark Comer, ‘the kingdom of God has arrived’***
Some of us have had salvation reduced to, ‘Say these words of commitment to Jesus and, one day, you can go to Heaven.’ Salvation is so much greater than that – it is the continual coming of God’s kingdom, his sovereign rule, to our day-by-day experience. The kingdom of Jesus is both here and 'not yet'.
The building of God’s kingdom began with the coming, the miracles and the teachings of Jesus, through his death and resurrection: it continues today with us living for him, working with the Holy Spirit to extend his sovereign rule on Earth. The eternal kingdom of Jesus will be brought to completion, when the God of the universe makes his home among us, and death will be no more (Rev 21:3-4).
Prayer- Lord, thank you that your plan for salvation is so much bigger than just a temporary spiritual home. Give me an eternal perspective and show me how I can bring your kingdom to my sphere of influence today.
* Wright, T. (2007). Surprised by Hope, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. p.161
**ibid. p.206
***Taken from a sermon by John Mark Comer, ‘What is the Gospel? – Preaching the Gospel Pt 1’, at Bridgetown Church, OR, USA.