The Kingdom of GodSample

Members of the Kingdom

So far, we have briefly described what members of this kingdom of God are like. We are saved sinners striving to live holy lives pleasing to our King. We invite others to enter into this kingdom. We, by the power of the Holy Spirit, seek to spread righteousness, peace and joy.

One of the most glorious realities of the body of Christ is the fact that it is comprehensively representative of all peoples on earth. The Lamb’s blood was spilled to save people from every tribe, language, people and nation and make them a kingdom of priest-rulers. With this new God-given identity, we become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.

Through Jesus Christ, all ethnic tensions and hostilities are distilled. We have been reconciled to God and others by Christ’s blood. True unity with others has been made available to us in the household of God. We are being made into a holy temple, a corporate dwelling for the Holy Spirit. How glorious is this gospel of the kingdom. Foreigners and aliens, haters of God and his ways, forgiven, made new, given everything they need to be at peace with God and others.

Priest-Kings, you ask? Yes! This new redeemed community of God is a chosen race; when all racial hostilities disappear, a new race appears—a beautiful community where cultural distinctions will still be evident, but instead of causing tensions, will be utilized to worship the Lamb who has united them into one body. This community is a royal priesthood and holy nation belonging to God. God’s reign on earth, functioning through his people.

We represent him as holy ambassadors declaring a message which offers reconciliation between sinners and God and sinners to sinners. We are a holy people, called out to live differently than those of the world. We are royalty, literally adopted into the family of God. We are his children. We are his people representing his authority on the earth.

It is from this God-given identity that we are able to preach the gospel and take up the mantle as ambassadors of Christ: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”