The Kingdom Is the Church

By Terry Sanders The first preaching of Jesus is found in Matt. 4:17, "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" The kingdom was near, in regard to time, not distance. He told His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power" (Mk. 9:1). Some would see the kingdom arrive in their lifetime.

We learn the kingdom existed in the first century. Paul wrote in Col. 1:13, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." When Paul said "us" he meant himself and the church at Colossae. Therefore, the kingdom and the church are one and the same.

Today many do not believe the kingdom has come and are awaiting its arrival. This would mean that none of the disciples, Paul, or the brethren at Colossae were in the kingdom. Yet, we have seen that they were. If you are waiting for something to arrive that is already here, you just might miss it all together.

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