Redeemed, Chosen, and HeirsUzorak

The Coming Kingdom of God

Although the Kingdom of God has already been inaugurated, there is a future dimension that is yet to come. Jesus promised that He would return (in Greek, erchomai), and this promise fills us with hope. His coming will bring the full realization of the Kingdom, where all things will be renewed, evil will be defeated, and God's justice will be completely established.

When Jesus says He brings with Him a reward (in Greek, misthos), He is speaking of the reward that will be given to each according to their works. This does not mean we are saved by works, but that our actions in the present have eternal consequences. Every act of obedience and service to God will be rewarded when Christ returns.

This future hope should inspire us to live with expectation and vigilance. We know the final Kingdom will come, and that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. Therefore, we must live in holiness, doing everything for the glory of God, knowing that our faithfulness will be rewarded.

The expectation of Christ’s return reminds us that this world is not our final home. We live in the tension between the "already" and the "not yet" of God's Kingdom. While we wait, we continue to live as citizens of the present Kingdom, but with our eyes fixed on the future glory that is to come.