by Bobby L. Graham
Are the Church and the Kingdom the Same in the Bible?
The quick answer to this question is both "yes" and "no," because some of the time, the word "kingdom" does not refer to the Lord's church. At other times, however, the same word refers to the church, the people redeemed by the Lord because of their submission to Him as King. In various passages, at least, the same people included in the church are also said to be in the kingdom!
Different meanings of the word occur, but perhaps our best approach is to understand that the "kingdom" of God is used in at least four ways:
The word often has its most basic meaning of God's eternal and universal rule or reign, which He can give to others according to His will. Consider the following verses:
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom (Ps. 45:6). The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19). You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory (Dan. 2:37). This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32).
The word also is applied to God's Old Testament people in the nation of Israel. Consider the following verses:
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel (Exod. 19:5-6). Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established (1 Kings 2:12). Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him (1 Chron. 29:23). Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it (Matt. 21:43).
The kingdom taken from the Jews and given to others probably refers to their place/role in God's kingdom, being for the Jews the Old Testament kingdom and for the nation bearing fruit as in verse 41 [both Gentiles and Jews, God's Israel, Gal. 6:16] the spiritual kingdom of the Lord.
The third way in which the Scriptures use "kingdom" is in reference to the church of the Lord. Consider the following verses:
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 (Dan. 2:44). [If the word "kingdom" does not equal "church" here, it at least encompasses the same people in its New Testament fulfillment.] And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32). [One would be hard-pressed to explain this reference to the kingdom apart from the citizens composing it.] And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19). [The keys of the kingdom later were used by Peter in unlocking the doors of the church in Acts 2. Apart from the people added by Christ to His church, there would have been no subjects/citizens of the spiritual kingdom.] He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13). [Here again, the kingdom subjects were the same as the church's members.]
A forth and final use of the word "kingdom" is in regard to the heavenly phase of the kingdom—that is, heaven:
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:34). [Please note that v. 46 clarifies the use of "kingdom" here to mean the blessings of the kingdom/eternal life.] Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:10-11). Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption (1 Cor. 15:50).
Though more passages could be cited for each of the four meanings of "kingdom," perhaps these will suffice. If there is a lingering doubt that "kingdom" often does refer to "church," consider these conclusive points:
Author Bio: Bobby actively participates in fill-in preaching, Belize trips, teaching an hour each day at Athens Bible School, and in gospel meeting work. He and his wife, Karen, have three children: Richard, Mary Katherine Winland (Darren), and Laura Paschall (Jeremy). He can be reached at bobbylgraham@pclnet.net.
