A critical question in the religious community is the question of whether the church is the kingdom. Denominations say that the kingdom was not established on Pentecost in Acts 2. They say the church was established, but the kingdom will come in the future when Christ returns to earth. However, there is great evidence to prove that they are the same.
- The church is “a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36); hence, it is a spiritual kingdom (John 3:3-8; Romans 14:17).
- One is called out of the world and into the church by the gospel (1 Peter 1:22-25; 2:5-9; Ephesians 2:16; 3:6). One is called unto His kingdom by the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:12-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
- The Lord’s supper is in the church (1 Corinthians 10-11). The Lord’s supper is in the kingdom (Matthew 26:29).
- By one Spirit, we are baptized “into one body,” the church (1 Corinthians 12:13). We are “born of water and of the Spirit” to “enter” the kingdom (John 3:3, 5).
- The temple, tabernacle, house, or church is not made with hands (1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:6; 8:2; 9:11). The kingdom was made “without hands” (Daniel 2:44-45).
- Christ is the savior of the body, the church (Ephesians 5:23). Christ will “deliver up the kingdom unto God” (1 Corinthians 15:24).
We can be confident that the Bible does teach that the church is indeed the kingdom. The next post will examine more evidence of this important fact.
Kyle Campbell
