[29-8] The Kingdom of God Where Jesus Christ Rules (Matthew 16:13-28)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         The statement, “Jesus is the King of Kings,” is a confession of deep meaning that contains the entire redemptive history of God.

The Bible testifies that Jesus does not remain as a ruler of one nation or a figure in history, but is living as the absolute sovereign and ruler who has all authority in heaven and on earth.
The fact that Jesus became king is not something that happened by chance in human history, but it speaks of the completer of salvation, whom God the Father predestined before the foundation of the world.

         As it says in Psalm 2, “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” God had already planned, even before humanity fell into sin, to establish and work through the King, the true savior who would rule the world through Jesus Christ.
The dominion that was lost through Adam’s sin was restored when Jesus took on the sin of the world by receiving baptism from John, and through His death on the cross and resurrection.
He came as the King who saved humanity fallen in sin, and through His own righteous ministry, He saved God’s people and reclaimed the lost kingship.
Therefore, the kingship of Jesus is the will of God, predestined before the foundation of the world, and it is the plan of God that has been completely fulfilled through the righteous redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

         However, Jesus is a completely different king from the kings of the world.
While the kings of the world rule the people with power and authority, Jesus rules with the truth of love and salvation, which is completed through His ministry of righteousness and salvation.
In John 18:36, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
The kingdom of Jesus is not a kingdom established by political force or secular power. It is a spiritual kingdom that is obeyed through faith within the human heart.
Jesus overcame the world by having the sin of the world transferred to Him through the baptism from John, by being crucified and shedding His blood in death, and through His resurrection, He broke the authority of death, sin, and the devil.
Making all creation kneel before Him, the righteous ministry and just reign of Jesus are the true authority that the King of Kings possesses.

         Jesus, who resurrected from the dead, proclaimed to His disciples in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
This statement means that Jesus became not just the King of the Jews, but the sovereign of all nations and all creation. It means that the angels of heaven, the authorities of the earth, and even the forces of Satan must submit before His name.
Revelation 19:16 testifies, “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
This shows that Jesus is the one who will appear as the absolute King who will judge all the authorities of the world on the last day and rule forever.

         Therefore, those who believe in Jesus must live in obedience to His kingship.
To accept Jesus as King means to acknowledge that I am not the master of my life, but that Jesus is my master.
Prioritizing the Word over my judgment, following the Lord’s will over my plans, and establishing the rule of Jesus at the center of my life is the life of true faith.
Only when we live that way do we come to live a life where the kingdom of God has come. A life ruled by Jesus is not chaos but peace, and not fear but the boldness of faith.

         Jesus is ruling as King even now at the right hand of the heavenly throne, and He is the one who will put all enemies under His feet on the last day and come again as the King of glory.
Like the words of Daniel 7:14, the declaration, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” is an unchanging truth.
Therefore, true faith is the faith that believes in Jesus not only as Savior, but also as the King of Kings.
To obey Him, and to live looking forward to His kingdom, is the life of one who believes in the King of Kings.

 

 

 

         That Jesus carried out the High Priestly ministry for humanity means that He stood as the Mediator between sinners and God and fulfilled all the sacrificial systems of the Old Testament through His own ministry.

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was a model of salvation established by God to atone for sin, and all those Old Testament sacrifices were prophesying the ministry of Jesus Christ who was to come.
The righteous ministry of Jesus Christ was a ministry of having the sins of the world transferred to Him through the baptism given by John the Baptist, being crucified and shedding blood, and resurrecting from the dead to achieve eternal atonement.

         In the Old Testament era, the high priest was the only person who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people.
He transferred the sin of the sinner to the sacrificial animal, the offering, by laying his hands on it, and achieved the removal of sins by sprinkling its blood on the altar.
This simultaneously showed the fact that humans cannot cleanse their own sins, and it also showed the completion of salvation through the shedding of blood on the cross by Jesus Christ, the true heavenly High Priest to come, who would have the sins of the world transferred to Him by being baptized by John.

         According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus was not a priest from the tribe of Levi, but a High Priest established according to the order of Melchizedek.
In other words, Jesus is not a priest by human lineage or the sacrificial system, but a heavenly Priest established by the will of God and eternal righteousness.
Just as the words say, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” (Hebrews 9:11), Jesus, in order to offer His own body as a once-for-all sacrifice, had the sins of the world transferred to Him through the baptism given by John the Baptist, was crucified, and resurrected from the dead, becoming the eternal heavenly Priest.

         The ministry of Jesus as the High Priest consists of three stages.
Firstly, Jesus received baptism from John the Baptist and had all the sins of humanity transferred to Him.
Jesus, by having the sins of the world transferred to Him through receiving baptism from John the Baptist, saved sinners by shedding His blood on the cross. Therefore, regarding Jesus, John the Baptist could testify, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

         Secondly, it is being said that Jesus—by receiving the baptism given by John, having the sins of the world transferred to Him, and being crucified and shedding His blood—as the reality of the blood that was sprinkled on the Old Testament altar, received all of God’s judgment against sin at once.
Jesus, being the High Priest in the kingdom of heaven, was able to achieve eternal atonement through the single sacrifice of His baptism received from John and His crucifixion and shedding of blood.
The word that says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14), was fulfilled.
The event of Jesus Christ having the sins of the world transferred to Him by being baptized by John and shedding His blood became a complete sacrifice of salvation that needs no repetition.

         Thirdly, after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven and carries out an eternal intercessory ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.
Just as the high priest of the Old Testament entered the Most Holy Place and sprinkled blood on the Day of Atonement, Jesus completed the eternal atoning sacrifice for us, who enter the heavenly sanctuary, through His own baptism and blood.
Even now, Jesus intercedes for the saints at the right hand of the throne of God and exists as a Mediator who knows our weaknesses.
The word that says, “He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25), testifies to that fact.
The ministry of salvation, in which Jesus, who became the High Priest, was baptized by John to have the sins of the world passed onto Him, was crucified, and shed His blood, was a ministry that eliminated all the sins of all who believe in Jesus at once.

         First, He perfectly accomplished the removal of the sinner’s sins. He made the repetitive sacrifices of the Old Testament and the prayers of repentance that religious people practice today no longer necessary. 
The sacrifice that Jesus offered by being baptized by John to have the sins of the world passed onto Him, being crucified, and shedding His blood, became an eternal sacrifice that removes the sins of all ages and all people.

         Second, He became the one who brings about reconciliation with God. The act of Jesus eliminating all sins—through the baptism He received from John by which the sins of the world were passed onto Him, and through the blood He shed on the cross—broke down the dividing wall between God and sinners, and now we have been enabled to boldly approach God through faith. 
As it is written, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16), we were able to be saved by the faith that believes that the baptism and blood of Jesus have opened the way of salvation that leads us to God.

         Third, Jesus, in the sanctuary of the kingdom of heaven, is even now eternally serving as our mediator. 
This means that even when we are weak or fall into sin, Jesus, as our advocate and intercessor, represents us with His own righteousness that saved us from sin.

         In conclusion, the high priestly ministry of Jesus is certain proof that as the One who completed the sacrificial law of the Old Testament, He fulfilled all its foreshadowings.
Jesus had sins passed onto Him through the baptism He received from John, and by shedding His precious blood on the cross, He accomplished eternal atonement for humankind. 
And through His resurrection and ascension, He became the eternal mediator. Through His ministry, we have come to obtain the assurance of salvation from sin and have become people who can approach God with boldness instead of fear. 
This is the certain evidence that Jesus Christ has become the High Priest for humankind.

 

 

 

         The ministry by which Jesus, as the High Priest of the kingdom of heaven, saved His people from sin is the core truth of the complete fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. 

The high priest of the Old Testament was a person who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people and mediated for the removal of sins, but they had to offer sacrifices for atonement repeatedly every year, and those sacrifices were merely a shadow foretelling the Christ to come. 
However, Jesus came to this earth as the reality of the sacrificial offering of the Old Testament sacrificial law, and as the true High Priest of the kingdom of heaven, He saved humankind from all sin by offering Himself as a perfect sacrifice just one time.

         The way Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world was accomplished through the baptism administered by John the Baptist. 
By receiving baptism from John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus had all the sins of humankind passed onto His own body. This is the reality of the act of transferring sins by the laying on of hands on the animal to be sacrificed according to the Old Testament sacrificial law. 
John the Baptist’s exclamation in John 1:29, “Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” is the very proof that Jesus is the Savior who, as the High Priest, had all the sins of humankind passed onto His body, was crucified, and paid the price for the sins of His people with His precious blood.

         After having the sins of the world passed onto Him through the baptism from John the Baptist, Jesus completed the sacrifice of salvation by shedding His precious blood on the cross. 
The blood of Jesus Christ, as the reality of the sacrificial offering sacrificed on the Old Testament altar, made Him the One who completely fulfilled the righteousness of the Law and the love of salvation. 
Jesus gave salvation to those who believe by receiving baptism from John the Baptist to have the sins of the world passed onto Him, being crucified and shedding His blood, and by resurrecting from death.

         Now, through the faith that believes in the baptism the Lord received and the precious blood of the cross, we have become able to go forward boldly before the throne of grace. 
And Jesus, the High Priest of heaven, knows our weakness even now and becomes our intercessor whenever we fall. 
Therefore, one who believes in the baptism of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood on the cross is no longer a sinner who must fear in dread and guilt, but has become a righteous person saved from all sins and can live by faith.

         In conclusion, Jesus’s high priestly ministry on this earth became a ministry of the complete removal of sins. 
Jesus, through the baptism He received from John, had the sin of the world transferred to Him, was crucified and shed His blood, and by His resurrection from death and ascension, He completed the righteousness of God. 
Therefore, as it is written, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), we have received a salvation where we are no longer condemned and do not have to live in the fear of sin. 
Jesus, as the High Priest of heaven, guarantees that He has become the eternal Savior for those who believe even now, by taking upon Himself the sin of the world through the baptism He received from John the Baptist, and completing the atoning sacrifice by being crucified and shedding His blood.

 

 

 

         The fact that Jesus is the King of Love is a core truth to which the entire Bible testifies. 

His kingship is not one established by power and domination like the authority of the world; He is the ruler of the kingdom of heaven, established through His own sacrifice and love. 
The reign of Jesus is not oppression but a loving guidance that gives life, and He is the eternal Lord who has brought true freedom and peace to our hearts.

         Jesus is the King who accomplished salvation through justice and love. 
The kings of the world make their people submit through power and force, but Jesus gave salvation to His own people through the justice and love of God. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). 
His kingdom is not one maintained by coercion or law, but is the kingdom of heaven, established for those who believe through the law of the love of righteousness and the justice of truth. 
Those who have become His people are not those who submit to Him by force, but are those who obey voluntarily after realizing His love. 
Jesus calls His people friends, not servants, saying, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). 
This is the reign of the King of Love, a kingdom that rules with freedom and intimacy.

         The loving kingship of Jesus was filled with sacrifice and the love of justice. 
The kings of the world do not shed blood for their people, but Jesus, through the baptism He received from John, had the sin of the world transferred to Him, and with the blood He shed on the cross, He eliminated the sins of His own people. 
As the scripture says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), Jesus, though He was a King, came in the form of a servant, received baptism from John the Baptist to have the sin of the world transferred to Him, was crucified and shed His precious blood, and by giving His own life, He became the true Savior for those who believe. 
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 
The reign of Jesus is not established by power, but is one of ruling and protecting a kingdom established through self-sacrifice and love.

         Jesus is the King who cares for His people with His love of justice. He does not use His authority to oppress the people; instead, He healed the sick, sought the lost, and bestowed the love that saves those who believe by having the sin of sinners transferred to His own body through baptism, shedding His blood on the cross, and resurrecting from death. 
As the scripture says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), Jesus, as the good shepherd, revealed His love of justice. 
Jesus reached out His hand to the sick and healed them, and said to the sinner, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
His love is an unconditional love of salvation, and His reign was accomplished through the love of justice, mercy, and salvation.

         Jesus, the King of Love, still dwells in the hearts of believers today through the Holy Spirit. 
Jesus is not a king of past history; rather, even today He is reigning as the King of Love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. 
As the scripture says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15), His reign is not a rule of external power but is accomplished through the inner peace of the heart. 
When Jesus is enthroned as the King of Love in our hearts, fear disappears, and forgiveness and peace capture our hearts. He changes fear into the love of salvation, and condemnation into grace and mercy.

         On the last day, Jesus is the one who will return and complete the kingdom of love. 
The Book of Revelation testifies of Jesus as the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” and His second coming, though He comes as the King of judgment, shows the completion of His loving reign. 
The scripture that says, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow” (Revelation 21:4), shows the final reign that the King of Love will accomplish—that is, a kingdom where all suffering has disappeared and a perfect heaven is realized.

         In conclusion, the kingship of righteousness and love of Jesus is eternal. 
Jesus, through the baptism He received from John the Baptist, had the sins of the world transferred to Him, was crucified on the cross and shed His blood, and is giving salvation and life to those who believe in His death and resurrection for our salvation. 
The kingship of Jesus Christ was established not on fear but on love and mercy, and that love was established on the power that does not change and lasts forever. 
His kingdom will stand firm with love and truth, and His reign is eternal. 
The fact that Jesus is the King of love signifies that His reign was established on the merciful love of the baptism He received from John the Baptist and of the blood shed by being crucified on the cross.
He is not a king who oppresses the people, but is the King who has given freedom from sin to those who believe in the baptism of love and the blood of the cross. 
Thus, Jesus is the true Savior and eternal King who completed God’s righteousness and the mercy of salvation.

 

 

 

         The statement, “Jesus has become the Ruler,” is a great declaration that God’s plan of salvation has been completed. 

Jesus is not merely one who came as the Savior of humanity, but He exists even now as the eternal Ruler who governs all things in heaven and on earth.
The Bible clearly testifies to the basis on which Jesus’s reign began and its meaning.

         Jesus’s authority to rule was not obtained by Himself but is the heavenly authority delegated from God the Father. 
Jesus, who was resurrected from the dead, said to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). 
This statement means that Jesus was established not only as a mediator of salvation but as the Ruler who governs the entire universe. 
His authority is not confined to a specific nation or era, but is an eternal sovereignty that transcends all ages and all spaces.

         Jesus’s reign was established through His baptism, the suffering of the cross, and His resurrection. 
The kings of the world obtain authority through sword and military force, but Jesus became King as the price of His sacrifice of love and salvation.
Revelation 1:5 testifies, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth”.
Jesus ascended to the true throne by overcoming the authority of sin and death, and by breaking the power of Satan that had held humanity in bondage.
His throne was established by the baptism He received from John and the blood of the cross, and His reign is not one of oppressive power but a reign composed of God’s righteousness, the love of righteousness, and the truth of salvation.

         Jesus’s reign is not an event of the past but a present, ongoing reign that continues even now.
Jesus sits at the right hand of the heavenly throne, presiding over all things in the world and ruling over the church. 
1 Peter 3:22 testifies, “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him”. 
Furthermore, His reign is not merely a reign of external authority, but it is also accomplished in the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit. 
As the word says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15), Jesus rules our hearts with truth and love, and in the life of one where His reign has come, peace and order are established.

         As the Ruler, Jesus is the One who will judge the world on the last day. For now, He rules with the merciful love and grace of salvation, but in the future, He will return as the righteous Judge. 
Acts 17:31 says, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 
On that day, Jesus will separate the righteous and the wicked, and He will completely restore the kingdom of God. 
Revelation 19:16 testifies, “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” 
On that day, every knee will bow before Jesus, and every tongue will confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10–11).
Those who believe in the love of Jesus, who had the sins of the world transferred to Himself through the baptism He received from John and was crucified, shedding His blood, become the true people of God.
To believe in Jesus as the Ruler is a confession of offering the sovereignty of one’s life to Him. 
A person who accepts Jesus as Lord prioritizes the Lord’s will over their own and takes the word of God as the law of life. 
In that heart, the chaos and anxiety of the world disappear, and the peace and order that the Lord gives are established. 
As in the words of Romans 14:17, the truth that “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” manifests in their lives.

         In conclusion, Jesus established His kingship through the baptism He received from John, His death of shedding blood on the cross, and His resurrection, and He is still ruling the church and the world from the heavenly throne. 
His reign is not a reign of power, but a reign of love and righteousness. 
Isaiah 9:7 prophesied, “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice”. 
Jesus is the eternal Ruler who, even now, rules our hearts, the church, and the entire world. 
For those who believe the gospel message of the water of salvation and the Holy Spirit that He has given, He rules in their hearts with peace.

 

 

 

         People who live under the reign of Jesus, that is, those who receive His rule, enjoy a true peace of heart that the world cannot give. 

That blessing is not simply material prosperity or external success, but a spiritual peace revealed in the inner being and lives of those upon whom God’s reign has come. 
The Bible calls such people “the people of the kingdom of God.” 
They live under the sovereignty of heaven and enjoy true peace not in the values of the world, but in the righteousness and love of God.

         Firstly, those who receive Jesus’s reign first enjoy the blessing of peace. 
Jesus was called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) in the Bible. 
His reign is manifested not as fear and anxiety, but as peace and stability. As the word says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15), in the heart of a person who receives Jesus’s reign, a peace that the world cannot give is established. 
Even in the midst of storm-like life situations, at the center of their heart, there is an unshakable inner peace. 
It is a grace given when one trusts in Jesus’s sovereignty, and a peace that can only be enjoyed in the heavenly reign.

         Secondly, those who receive Jesus’s reign are guided into a righteous life. 
Jesus’s reign breaks the power of sin and unrighteousness and enables His people to live in righteousness. 
As the word says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), a person who receives Jesus’s rule lives according to God’s will, not their own desires or interests. 
As a result, the sins of the heart disappear, and the removal of sins and holiness are revealed as the fruit of that person’s life. This is precisely the evidence in the heart of one upon whom the heavenly reign has come. 
The life that receives Jesus’s reign receives the blessing of one who lives in peace, being transformed into a life that acts righteously, freed from all the sins of the world—that is, a life that pleases God.

         Thirdly, those who receive Jesus’s reign believe the gospel word of true salvation by water and the Spirit. 
The world’s reign oppresses people, but Jesus’s reign sets them free in love and gives peace to the heart. 
Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). 
A person who receives Jesus’s reign is liberated from the condemnation of sin or fear and enjoys peace in their heart. His word is not oppression, but the power that liberates from bondage. 
This saved faith is not a freedom for indulgence, but a freedom that enjoys the privilege of a holy life, able to live according to God’s will in love.

         Fourthly, those who receive Jesus’s reign enjoy the blessing of abundant life. 
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). 
A person who is ruled by Jesus and His word is not merely a living being, but becomes one who communes with God and pleases God’s heart through spiritual faith. 
Their life of faith overflows with gratitude and joy, and love and peace. 
The life where the Lord reigns is not a life of dryness, but a life of abundant life. 
That life does not come from worldly circumstances, but flows from the Lord’s presence.

         Fifthly, those who receive Jesus’s reign enjoy the blessing of obtaining citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. 
Although a person who receives Jesus’s reign lives on this earth, his citizenship is in heaven. 
As the word says, “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20), they do not belong to the world’s order and values but live under the law of heaven.
They are not shaken by the world’s values and trends, and live in God’s protection and guidance while looking to the eternal kingdom. They are those who already live while tasting the kingdom of heaven in advance on this earth.

         Sixthly, those who receive Jesus’s reign will become heirs of future glory. 
Revelation 3:21 says, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” 
Jesus does not merely remain as one who rules over us, but He has established us as heirs of glory who will participate together in His reign. 
This is the ultimate blessing for those who live under His reign, and the eternal glory of us also reigning as kings together with the King of heaven.

         In conclusion, a person who receives Jesus’s reign enjoys the blessings of having peace in their heart, righteousness in their life, freedom in their soul, fullness of life, possession of heavenly citizenship, and participation in eternal glory. 
Jesus’s reign is not a reign of oppression but of restoration; it is a reign not of fear but of peace and life. 
Those who live under His rule are those who enjoy the blessings of the kingdom of heaven already, starting from this earth. 
When Jesus becomes Lord, and His word and love govern our lives, we come to experience the blessings of true peace, freedom, and eternal life.

 

 

 

         The Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus rules, is a kingdom full of eternal and spiritual blessings that the world cannot give. 

That blessing does not simply mean the heaven one goes to after death. Those who live in faith already live experiencing the reality of that heavenly rule even on this earth. 
The lives of those upon whom Jesus’ rule has come are filled with a new dimension of peace, life, and love. 
The Bible calls this blessing the “blessing of the Kingdom of God,” and testifies that all of it has been fulfilled in Jesus.

         Above all, the Kingdom of Heaven ruled by Jesus is a kingdom where God Himself is present. 
As in the verse, “The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3), the greatest blessing of that kingdom is the presence of God itself. 
In the place where sin and death have disappeared, the presence of God becomes life and joy. His people are eternally protected within that presence, and they enjoy the intimate blessing of fellowshipping directly with God.
Those who receive Jesus’ rule live a life of eternal companionship, not separated from God.

         The Kingdom of Heaven under Jesus’ rule is a kingdom where sin and death have completely disappeared. 
As in the verse, “There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4), in that place, there are no tears, no pain, and no wounds. 
Only those people who have been made clean by the baptism and blood of Jesus enter that nation, and that nation is a world of perfect peace.
The realm of holiness where the power of sin can no longer reach—that is the very essence of the Kingdom of Heaven.

         The people of the Kingdom of Heaven enjoy the blessing of eternal life and resurrection. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). 
He who believes in Him, though he may die, he shall live, and be with God forever. That life is not bound by the constraints of time, and continues into endless joy in the glory of God.
This is the most certain blessing of the people of the Kingdom of Heaven, that is, the blessing of eternal life.

         The kingdom ruled by Jesus is a kingdom of true peace and rest. 
The verse, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 11:6–7), symbolically means a state of perfect peace where all conflict and discord have disappeared. 
In that place, there is no guilt, no fear, and no competition. 
Those under Jesus’ rule dwell in complete rest, and their hearts are entirely at ease. 
The promise of the Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus made when He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), becomes an eternal reality.

         Furthermore, the people of the Kingdom of Heaven receive the blessing of enjoying the glorious inheritance with Jesus. 
As in the verse, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21), they are not only saved ones, but are also established as heirs who share the king’s authority. 
As in the verse, “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17), in Jesus’ rule, the children of God become participants in the king’s glory.

         Jesus’ kingdom is full of love and joy. God is love, and in His kingdom, that love is perfectly fulfilled. 
As in the verse, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16), the Kingdom of Heaven is where love is the law, and love is life. 
In that place, there is no hatred and division, and all the people are united as one in love. The joy that flows from that love is a perfect joy that the world cannot give.

         Finally, in the Kingdom of Heaven ruled by Jesus, the saints also enjoy the glorious blessing of ruling together with Jesus. 
The verse, “And they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5), shows that Jesus’ rule is not a one-sided domination, but a rule of love that reigns together with the people. 
Jesus does not keep His people merely as obedient subjects, but establishes them as co-rulers who fulfill His will together. 
They will take on the work of heaven with the Lord and carry out a glorious mission.

         In conclusion, those who live under the rule of Jesus will enjoy the blessing of eternal fellowship with God, the blessing of peace where sin and death have disappeared, the blessing of eternal life and resurrection, the blessing full of love and joy, and the glorious blessing of ruling together with Jesus. 
Jesus’ kingdom is not a kingdom of power, but a kingdom of love and righteousness; it is not a rule of force, but a rule of grace. 
Those who belong to that kingdom already taste the first fruits of that blessing on this earth, and hope for the glory of being with Jesus forever.
As in the verse, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14), Jesus’ rule is eternal, and those who abide in Him are already enjoying that eternal blessing from now on.

 

 

 

         Jesus is the one who came to this world, directly taught everything about the “Kingdom of God,” and actually opened and showed that kingdom. 

He was not simply a teacher who explained the kingdom of heaven, but He came as the very substance and King of that kingdom. 
Through His word and life, and through the ministry of His baptism and the cross, Jesus revealed the essence of the Kingdom of God to us.

         First, Jesus explained the Kingdom of God through parables. To help people understand, He used everyday things to teach the nature of the kingdom of heaven. 
Jesus said, “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field’” (Matthew 13:31), showing that the Kingdom of God is a kingdom that starts small but grows larger and embraces all life. 
Also, saying, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13:44), He explained that the kingdom is more precious than any value in the world. 
Furthermore, by saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened” (Matthew 13:33), He let us know that the Kingdom of God is a kingdom with the power to transform a person from deep within their heart. 
Ultimately, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is not a kingdom of visible power, but a spiritual kingdom that comes into the heart through faith.
The words, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), mean exactly that.

         Second, Jesus showed the truth of salvation through the ministry of His own baptism and the cross. 
His life itself was the truth of salvation for humanity. His healing of the sick was a demonstration of the reign of the Kingdom of God. 
Jesus proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15), and His coming itself showed that the Kingdom of God had come to this earth.
One who believes in the righteousness of Jesus has already become one who has entered into the Kingdom of God.

         Thirdly, Jesus granted us the kingdom of God through the baptism He received from John, the cross, and the resurrection. 
The baptism of Jesus and the sacrifice of the cross were not a mere sacrifice, but the event of salvation that opened the gates of the kingdom of heaven which had been closed. 
He is the one who, by receiving baptism from John and having the sins of the world transferred onto His own body, and by being judged on the cross for our sins, granted believers to enter the kingdom of God. 
Jesus, by resurrecting from the dead, enabled us who believe to obtain eternal life. 
The righteous ministry of Jesus was to become the cornerstone for establishing the kingdom of God, and it was the ministry that established the world of God’s reign. 
The word, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17), accurately shows the essence of that kingdom.
Jesus is the perfect embodiment of this word, and whoever believes in Him already becomes a citizen of that kingdom.

         In conclusion, Jesus is the way to enter the kingdom of God by the word of God, and He is the substance of the truth. 
He showed the kingdom of God through the word of God, and He opened the gates of that kingdom with the baptism He received from John, the blood of the cross, and the resurrection. 
Therefore, Jesus is not merely a teacher or a prophet who explained the kingdom of heaven, but He is the King and the very substance of that kingdom. 
Those who believe in Jesus are those who have already entered under His reign and become the people of the kingdom of heaven. 
This word, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6), declares that Jesus is the only way to the kingdom of God.

         In summary, Jesus explained the kingdom of God through parables, and He showed and completed the kingdom of God through the redemptive ministry of the baptism of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice of the cross. 
Therefore, one who abides in Jesus Christ through faith has already become a person of the kingdom of God and has received the blessing of living under that blessed reign even now on this earth.

         Hallelujah! We give infinite thanks and glory to the merit of the Lord who saved us from all the sins of the world by the word of the gospel of the water and the Spirit. 
The Lord has become the one who gives eternal salvation to those who, by believing in the baptism He received from John and the blood of the sacrifice of the cross, have had their sins eliminated and thus obtained salvation. 
Those who have entered into the Lord’s reign through faith in the ministry of our Lord will praise the Lord’s righteousness forever. Hallelujah.

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