THE KINGDOM OF GOD of Chapter 14 of The Church and The Gospel

THE KINGDOM OF GOD of Chapter 14 of The Church and The Gospel 

Pages 215 to 228

Definition and Distinction

The subject of the Kingdom of God is the grand central theme interwoven throughout the pages of scripture. There are more references in the New Testament to the Kingdom of God than there are to the Church of Christ. It was the main subject in John’s book of Revelations; it was the principle topic of John the Baptist; and the Gospel itself is called the Gospel of the Kingdom. For establishing that Kingdom, Christ was brought to trial and crucified, and it is to rule over that Kingdom that Christ will come again, to reign over all other kingdoms and nations.

If the Church were more important than the Kingdom, why didn’t Christ say, “Seek ye first the Church” rather than “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”? The importance of this subject cannot be ignored nor overlooked. But if we are to seek first this kingdom, we need to know what it is. If we are ignorant of its meaning, it is impossible for us to seek it at all.

For thousands of years, thousands of churches have put their private interpretation on the Kingdom of God and Church of Christ. Some have said that kingdom has not yet been on the earth; or that it was here only during the ministry of Jesus. Others have said that the Church of Jesus Christ is the same as the Kingdom of God.