255. What is the Kingdom of God for which Jesus teaches us to pray?
It is the gracious rule and reign of God that
A. was promised in teh Old Testament;
Exodus 15:18 The LORD will reign forever and ever.
2 Samuel 7:12, 16 [God made this promise to David:] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ... And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will do this.
B. was ushered in by Jesus' incarnation, public ministry, death, and resurrection;
Mark 1:15 [Jesus said,] "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel."
Colossians 1:13-14 He has delviered us from the domain of darkness and trasnferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
C. comes to us here and now by His Spirit through the Word;
Luke 17:20-21 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them, "The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or "There!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."
Romans 14:17 The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
D. will be brought into its fullness when Christ restores all things and returns in glory.
Daniel 7:13-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in Heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever."
Read Revelation 21:5 and 22:1-5, where we hear that God is "making all things new." The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the middle of the heavenly city. The fullness of the Kingdom will be perfect righteousness, peace, and joy, according to Isaiah 11:1-9.
Eventual commentary
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