KINGDOM - OLOGY 8

A New Relationship to the Kingdom, the Church, is now announced by the Lord Jesus Christ

    

        This came on the background of the disconcerting report of the disciples concerning their recent ministry in Israel (Matt. 16:13-14). Their message had been that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand (Matt. 10:1-7). But the people were totally ignorant of the identity of the King. They did not recognize the fact that Christ was The Son of Man and therefore, the King of the predicted kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14). This kingdom, therefore, could not possibly be established when the rank and file of its citizens in unbelief displayed no recognition of the Sovereign of that kingdom.

            This prompted Christ to confront his disciples with the question concerning His identity: "But whom say ye that I am?" (Matt. 16:15). As leader of the group, Peter spoke for all of them: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). He could not have better zeroed in on the essential elements of His identity. He affirmed both Messiahship and Deity. Both of these elements are vitally associated with the King and His Kingdom. But Christ reminded all of them that this confession was no conclusion arrived at by mere human ingenuity. This was a revelation of the Father to their minds and hearts.

            On the strength of their conviction Christ now announces His plans to build the Church. Efforts to establish the kingdom have failed, and the kingdom is delayed to some indefinite time in the future. But now Christ declares that "I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). No diabolical force will be able to arrest or sidetrack this divine undertaking. This is the new thing that Christ is about to introduce into His program for mankind. This is not to be identified with the Kingdom. That has been interrupted, save for operations in mystery form. But this does not mean that it has no relation to the coming Kingdom. As a matter of fact, the Church will have vital relationship to the King. This body of people will be the Queen and constitute the ruling aristocracy in the Kingdom (1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 3:21; 5:10; 20:6). By new birth they will be translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (John 3:3, 5; Col. 1:13). But this is not to say that the Church is the Kingdom. The church is just one element of that coming Kingdom, the pearl of great price purchased by Christ's death and being fashioned in this present age for ministry in that coming kingdom.