The Kingdom of God Is Within You: What Did Jesus Mean?

 

What did Jesus mean when He said “the kingdom of God is within you”? Does the Kingdom of God only exist in our hearts and minds?

What did Jesus mean when He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you?”

The simple answer is that Jesus was saying that He, the King of the coming Kingdom of God, was standing in the midst of His detractors.

“The kingdom of God is within you” Bible verse

Responding to a question from the Pharisees about when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).

“The kingdom of God is within you” meaning

The first sentence of Jesus’ answer has been fairly easy to understand. Misunderstanding regarding the second sentence, however, has given many an incomplete picture of the Kingdom.

When Jesus came to earth, the Jews were looking for the Messiah to come and elevate the Jewish nation to prominence. Instead of hearing a message of repentance, they anticipated a Deliverer who would lead them in a successful liberation of their nation. And some of the religious authorities apparently believed that they—because of their careful investigation—would be the ones to first discover the promised Savior’s coming.

In the above-noted passage, Jesus told the Pharisees that their thinking was mistaken. Jesus’ first coming was to preach “the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14-15) and pay the penalty for mankind’s sins. Later, He would “appear a second time … for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28) and the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Jesus made this same point when He was on trial before Pilate. When asked if He was the King of the Jews, Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).

How Jesus said the Kingdom of God would come

When Jesus returns, there will indeed be dramatic signs that all will be able to discern (Matthew 24:5-14, 21-27; Revelation 1:7). But in saying, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’” (Luke 17:20-21), Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees of that generation that, in spite of their meticulous efforts, their mistaken understanding would not allow them to identify the Messiah’s first coming.

Furthermore, they would not see the astonishing signs of His second coming—the signs for which they were looking. As Jesus noted, His second coming would be in another “day” (verse 24)—a time period long after the Pharisees to whom He was speaking had lived and died.

After telling the Pharisees that they wouldn’t be able to observe the coming of the Kingdom of God in the way they had anticipated, He said, “For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (verse 21).

In this sense, Jesus, the King of the coming Kingdom of God, was standing in the midst of the Pharisees.In this passage, entos (the Greek word that is translated “within”) can also be translated “in the midst of” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words). The New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, the Modern King James Version and Green’s Literal Translation translate this phrase “in your midst.”

In this sense, Jesus, the King of the coming Kingdom of God, was standing in the midst of the Pharisees. These translations are clearly better, for the Kingdom of God was not in the hearts of these Pharisees.

(For more help understanding the Kingdom of God, see our article “What Is the Kingdom of God?”)

Is the Kingdom of God in our hearts?

So what about the concept of the Kingdom of God being in our hearts? It certainly was not in the hearts of the Pharisees who were attacking Jesus, but the Scriptures show that the Kingdom of God should be on our minds. After all, we are supposed to pray for the Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10) and Jesus told us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (verse 33).

As we consider how we can have the Kingdom of God as our primary goal and keep it on our minds, we need to understand that the knowledge of this kingdom is not automatically programmed within us. The popular idea that all the knowledge and wisdom we need is already within us and that all we have to do is look within ourselves to find it is not supported by the Bible.

Our fleshly, human minds are not automatically in sync with God. As our Creator, God knows how we were made. He declares: “The [human] heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

The prophet through whom God spoke these words understood what God said. Responding to God, Jeremiah said, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).  

The way we can transition from our natural human ways of thinking and acting to the way God wants us to be begins with acknowledgment of and repentance of our sins.

When we repent of our sins, are baptized and begin following the lead of the Holy Spirit, we voluntarily place ourselves under the laws and authority of the coming Kingdom of God.When we repent of our sins, are baptized and begin following the lead of the Holy Spirit, we voluntarily place ourselves under the laws and authority of the coming Kingdom of God.

Describing this process, the apostle Paul, who was being held prisoner in Rome at the time, explained, “He [God, the Father] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). So there is a sense of us being symbolically “conveyed,” “translated” (King James Version) or “transferred” (English Standard Version) into the Kingdom when we commit our lives to God and begin living as He instructs.

Our primary allegiance is transferred from all kingdoms of this world to God’s Kingdom. We are then subject to different laws (God’s laws) and belong to a different community (the Church of God).

The Holy Spirit helps us obey God’s laws. This spirit “of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7) gives us the ability to live by God’s laws even though we are still human with human weaknesses.

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are called the “sons of God” (Romans 8:14). This same spirit empowers the Church to fulfill its commission. In this sense, we have the opportunity to taste or experience “the powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:4-5).

Where is the Kingdom of God and how can we enter it?

Even though the Bible speaks of our “citizenship” as being in heaven after we are baptized (Philippians 3:20), in order to enter the Kingdom of God, humans must be changed from flesh and blood into spirit, from mortal into immortal, at Jesus’ second coming (1 Corinthians 15:50-53; Hebrews 9:28). When the Kingdom of God comes to earth, it will rule over all the “kingdoms of this world” (Revelation 11:15).

Unfortunately, in reading Jesus’ statement that “the kingdom of God is within you,” many have mistakenly limited the Kingdom of God to a philosophical perspective or a way of thinking. In reality, the coming Kingdom of God is far more than what is in the hearts and minds of Jesus’ followers.

In fact, it is the Kingdom that God’s faithful elect will enter at Christ’s return and that will be established here on earth.

To learn more about God’s Kingdom, be sure to read the other articles in this section on the “Kingdom of God.”

What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom?

 

What is the gospel? Gospel means good news. What is the good news that Jesus preached? According to the Bible, what is the gospel of the Kingdom of God?

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He preached “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:14).

Gospel meaning in English

The English word gospel is translated from the Greek word euangelion, which means “good news.” That’s also what gospel meant in English when the venerable King James Version of the Bible was translated.

So Jesus was preaching “good news” about the coming Kingdom of God.

What is the gospel? Many names, one gospel

The gospel of the kingdom is mentioned four times in the Bible as the message that Jesus preached (Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:14). Mark 1:14 identifies what is meant by kingdom, calling it “the gospel of the kingdom of God.”

Kingdom, Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are used as synonyms for the real kingdom that is now in heaven that will be set up on earth after Jesus Christ’s second coming. See more in our article “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

Jesus’ message is also called “the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1), “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1), “the glorious gospel” (2 Corinthians 4:4, King James Version), “the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:13) and “the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).

While there is only one true gospel, each of these descriptions focuses on a different aspect of the same message.

Is the gospel the Bible?

The gospel message is found throughout the Bible. However, the word gospel is not used as a synonym for the Bible.

It is most often connected with the four books that tell of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. These four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) prominently feature the gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached.

The good news of the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament

Old Testament prophets had spoken of the Kingdom of God while under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Many of them had described the universal peace and abundant prosperity that would accompany this Kingdom that would rule over the earth.

For example, Daniel wrote about the time of Christ’s return to replace the kingdoms of this world. God had revealed this through a dream He gave King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

Speaking of the end of this age, Daniel wrote: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

Isaiah was also given prophecies of God’s wonderful, world-ruling Kingdom: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

“Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

The gospel of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament

When Jesus came to earth, He gave this teaching even greater prominence. Indeed, it was the central core of His instruction.

The gospel, or good news, of the Kingdom is the message that Jesus urges us to believe today.Jesus Himself will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 11:15; 19:16). He told Pilate, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37).

Jesus told His apostles about the part they would play in that coming Kingdom, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:28-30).

Revelation describes Christians being given responsibilities to reign with Christ in the Kingdom (Revelation 20:4), even to be “kings and priests” under the King of Kings (Revelation 1:6).

The Church of God continues to preach the gospel of the Kingdom

Jesus’ disciples continued to preach this good news after His death and resurrection. After He was raised from the dead, He taught them for 40 days “things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3), and when He ascended to heaven in the clouds, two angels reminded them He would return in like manner (Acts 1:9-11; see also Matthew 24:30 and Zechariah 14:4).

Throughout the New Testament history given in the book of Acts, the Church taught the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

The book concludes: “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).

Jesus commissioned His followers to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). He prophesied that just before His second coming, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Command to believe the gospel of the Kingdom

The gospel, or good news, of the Kingdom is the message that Jesus urges us to believe today. Since He is the only Being through whom we may receive salvation (Acts 4:12), we must heed His instruction to “repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The gospel of the Kingdom is indeed glorious news that can give us peace of mind and salvation. Yet these wonderful gifts do not come if we do not repent of our sins. For more information about this Kingdom and what you need to do to be in it, be sure to read the articles in this section “Kingdom of God.”

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

 

How, when and where Jesus Christ will return to earth are often misunderstood. What does the Bible say about the coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

The book of Revelation twice describes Jesus as “Lord of lords” and “King of kings” when He returns to earth (Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16). At this time Jesus will be the King ruling over the Kingdom of God here on earth. Yet the details of how Jesus will arrive to assume this role are confusing to many.

When one begins studying the second coming of Jesus to this earth, he or she soon runs into multiple opinions about whether Christ will return before or after the 1,000-year Millennium.

Then there is the common belief that there will be a secret return of Christ to rapture away the saints prior to a return that will be visible to all. Proponents of the rapture theory are divided over when this prophesied event will occur. Some think it will take place prior to the Tribulation, others believe it will happen during the Tribulation, and some say it will occur after the Tribulation.

It all gets quite confusing! So what do the Scriptures actually say?

As we begin this study, let’s note that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ came in the flesh to die for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24) and “to those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28, emphasis added throughout).

While these scriptures show that Jesus will come to earth twice, there are no additional statements in the Bible saying that Jesus will come “a third time” or “a fourth time” to deal with the world or to conduct other business.

No secret return

Although multiple events are prophesied to occur when Jesus returns, the Bible presents these events as all part of the same return. The supposition that the saints are privately taken to heaven before Christ returns is based on 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them [the dead in Christ who have been resurrected, verse 15] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Yet the preceding verse shows that this will not be a secretive event. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (verse 16).

Speaking of the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the change that will take place for faithful saints who are alive at Christ’s return, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 explains: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The sounding of a trumpet at Christ’s return will make the gathering of the saints—those who are dead and alive—an event recognizable by all! There is nothing secretive here! For further explanation, read the article “Rapture: Will There Be a Secret Rapture?”

Let’s now look at passages that answer the questions of how, when and where Jesus will return.

How the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will come

Instead of a secret or private return to earth, the Scriptures repeatedly state that Christ’s return will be visible to all. The book of Revelation, which is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants” (Revelation 1:1), addresses this very point. “Behold, He [Christ] is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen” (verse 7).

Earlier, during His earthly ministry, Jesus had also answered His disciples’ questions about how He would return. In His Olivet Prophecy (recorded for us in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) He said, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).

Jesus added: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (verse 30).

The Bible also teaches that Jesus’ return will be similar to the way He left the earth. After His resurrection from the grave, Jesus spent 40 days appearing to His disciples (Acts 1:3) and on one occasion to “over five hundred brethren” (1 Corinthians 15:6) before ascending to heaven.

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9-11).

The principle we see in these passages is that Jesus’ return will be visible to all. Furthermore, as we’ve already noted, His return will be marked by the piercing sound of a trumpet. The return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will not be a quiet, secretive event!

When the King of Kings will come

Through the Old Testament prophet Joel, God revealed that great cosmic disturbances would precede Christ’s return. As the prophet wrote, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31).

Adding to this teaching, Jesus explained: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30).

From these passages, we see that Jesus will come after these heavenly signs appear. Additionally, Jesus said that these signs will occur “immediately after the tribulation.” Thus, Christ’s return will come after the Tribulation.

One of the first things Jesus will do upon His return is to restore the Kingdom of God here on earth.One of the first things Jesus will do upon His return is to restore the Kingdom of God here on earth. Faithful Christians, who will be changed into spirit at Christ’s return, will assist Him in His role as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over the entire earth. Under Jesus, these spirit beings will serve as kings and priests to help humanity learn God’s ways (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10).

The time when Christ assumes authority over all nations is found in the explanation of end-time events in the book of Revelation. “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15).

One of God’s annual holy days, the Feast of Trumpets, reminds us of multiple prophecies that will occur upon the return of Jesus Christ to earth. This day pictures the return of Jesus Christ to earth, the resurrection of faithful saints, the change into spirit that faithful Christians who are alive will experience and the beginning of Christ’s rule over the nations in order to bring about peace between all nations and peoples.

The New Testament couples these events with the sound of a trumpet; and thus, they are all part of the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. These momentous events are truly ones deserving of a great sound of a trumpet to announce their occurrence.

Because the Feast of Trumpets pictures the return of Jesus, some have wondered if He will return on this specific day. While this is certainly possible, Jesus stated regarding His return: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). As such, we must acknowledge that while this holy day pictures Christ’s return, there is no guarantee that Christ will return on this actual day.

For further study about the Feast of Trumpets, see the article: “The Feast of Trumpets: Alarm of War, Announcement of Peace.”

Where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will come

Occasionally, there are rumors that Jesus Christ has returned to one part of the world or another. While naïve people can become excited about such news, the Bible clearly tells us where Jesus will return.

Speaking of this time when Christ will come to this earth once again, Zechariah prophesied: “Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:1-4).

The location where Jesus will return is the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge east of the old city of Jerusalem. When He does return, this mountain ridge will be split apart. An authentic report announcing Christ’s return will match this criteria. For more on this, see “Where Will Jesus Return?”

What the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will do

While the technical details of Christ’s return are interesting to study, what He will do once He assumes authority over the entire earth is what will be most exciting for humanity.

Commenting on this wonderful time to come, Isaiah wrote: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

“Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

The Bible reveals that Christ will reign upon the earth for 1,000 years—a period of time referred to as the Millennium. His reign as King of Kings will be marked by the healing of diseases, abundant prosperity, universal peace and, most importantly, the opportunity for people to live God’s way of life and have their sins forgiven.

Another biblical festival—the Feast of Tabernacles—pictures this wonderful future. To learn more about this festival and this period of time during which Christ will rule, see the articles “Feast of Tabernacles: A Bountiful Harvest” and “1,000 Years—the Millennium.”

Seek First the Kingdom of God

 

Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) and promises blessings if we do. How will seeking God’s Kingdom change our lives?

As part of His famous Sermon on the Mount—one of the most extensive documentations of His preaching—Jesus addressed the common questions each of us faces in order to survive (Matthew 6:25-34). How am I going to meet my needs? Will I have food and drink? Will I have clothing?

Seek first the Kingdom of God scripture

Addressing these questions, Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (verse 33, King James Version).

In essence, Jesus was cautioning us not to worry about these human concerns and to instead place our greatest priority on seeking God’s Kingdom. For more about the Kingdom, see the article “What Is the Kingdom of God?”

Seek first the Kingdom of God meaning

Seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness means not only praying for Jesus Christ’s return and God’s righteous rule, but striving to live by the laws of the Kingdom of God now. This means God’s way becomes the top priority in our thinking and our actions. It changes our lives and gives us a perspective that allows us to conquer worries and find purpose and peace of mind.

Why we must seek the Kingdom of God

The simple, yet profound, reason we must seek God’s Kingdom is that thousands of years of history show that we humans cannot effectively rule ourselves; and in the end, all human governments apart from God will fail.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14:12 that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (emphasis added throughout). Jeremiah added: “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Humans have tried every form of government, yet all have eventually come to an end. In addressing events leading to the end of man’s age of self-rule and the beginning of God’s rule on this earth, Jesus said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Continuing, He said, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:21-22).

In short, humans need a better government, a government that will be able to produce peace and prosperity forever.

The Bible promises that there will indeed be a better government coming to this earth to replace all human governments.The Bible promises that there will indeed be a better government coming to this earth to replace all human governments.

After explaining that there would be three more world-ruling empires following the one headed by King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel the prophet wrote: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

How we can seek the Kingdom and God’s righteousness

Jesus’ teaching included instruction on how to seek God’s Kingdom: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance and belief are the two foundational stepping stones by which entrance into this glorious Kingdom will be permitted.

The reason we must repent is because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Romans 6:23 adds that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

To repent means we must change our normal way of thinking, which is against God. The Bible reveals that “the carnal [natural, human] mind is enmity [hostile] against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

We thus need a change in thinking that will then lead to turning away from sin and keeping God’s commandments. As Jesus said, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).

Baptism is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God

When we repent of our sins and begin keeping God’s commandments, the next step is baptism. Speaking to people who had been convicted of their sins and who wanted to know what they should do, Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Baptism—immersion under water as a symbol of the washing away of our sins and the end of our sinful lifestyle—is a covenant we make with God and Christ. It represents our understanding that we have broken God’s law and need to be forgiven of our sins. It also signifies our commitment to obey God’s law.

We are now convicted of our need to live by every word that comes from God and Christ. As Jesus noted, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The next step in baptism is the laying on of hands for the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6). The gift of the Holy Spirit is what makes one an actual child of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

As children of God, we are then to grow in “the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). John referred to this as an ongoing purification process (1 John 3:3).

Benefits of seeking the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is currently centered in heaven, so the Bible also calls it the Kingdom of Heaven. (Read more about this in our article “The Kingdom of Heaven.”) It is a real government that God says He is going to establish on this earth—but it’s not here yet.

We have no guarantee about exactly when it will actually arrive. In fact, Jesus explained that none of us can be sure about when He will return to establish His Father’s Kingdom: “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). But He wants us to pray urgently for it to come (Matthew 6:10).

What if that takes a while? It’s already been almost 2,000 years since Jesus spoke those words. What if we live out our entire lives and die before He returns with the Kingdom He promised to bring?

The good news is that seeking first the Kingdom of God means more than just waiting on Christ’s return. When the coming Kingdom becomes our focus—when we make the decision to live by every word of God—that changes who we are.

No, the Kingdom of God isn’t here yet, but the focus of Christianity is learning to live as if it already were. If we want to be part of the Kingdom of God, that desire should affect the things we say and the things we do in this life. Every day we’re alive between now and the arrival of the Kingdom gives us the opportunity—and the challenge—to make sure we’re living up to the standards God has set for us.

The Kingdom perspective

In seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, we also learn to look at the difficulties of this life in a different light.

When the congregation in Rome was arguing about whether Christians should eat meat that might have been previously offered to idols, the apostle Paul had to remind them to step back and look at the bigger picture. He wrote, “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

As Christians, we can take comfort that the trials and difficult decisions of this life are only part of a much, much bigger picture—a picture that involves a Kingdom that will stand forever.

Do not worry: God doesn’t forget our needs

Of course, eating and drinking are still important aspects of our day-to-day lives, especially when we’re not sure where our next meal is coming from.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).

When we make our primary focus seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (repenting of our sins and making a daily effort to live God’s way of life instead of following our own human nature), God promises to provide for our needs. He doesn’t promise to make us unimaginably wealthy. He doesn’t promise that we’ll eat only the finest and most delicious foods. He promises that He knows our needs and that He will take care of them.

If we keep His Kingdom at the front of our mind (instead of third or fourth on our to-do list, or just something we’ll get to when we have the time), He’ll bless our efforts to provide for our families and provide us with our daily needs (Matthew 6:11).

We can seek first the Kingdom, knowing God is faithful and cares for us. So we can have faith and peace of mind, instead of fear and worry.

God’s plan for us in the Kingdom

God created man in His image with lesser powers and abilities to prepare man to rule with Him in a government that will last forever. God’s purpose for telling us “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” is to help us develop, through our experiences in this life, His holy and righteous character and prepare us to rule under Christ as kings and priests on this earth (Revelation 5:10).

These are the beginning steps toward seeking the Kingdom of God, which will ultimately result in eternal life in the family of God.

For further study of how to seek first the Kingdom of God, see our articles on “What Is Repentance?” and “What Is Baptism?”