LORD, WHEN WILL YOU RESTORE THE KINGDOM? by Michael Horton for Core Christianity
In Jesus’ teaching, the kingdom and the church were interchangeable terms. According to the Gospels, what is the chief purpose of the Spirit’s mission in equipping believers for the kingdom’s advance? They will be made witnesses throughout the world, proclaiming “repentance and forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:45–49).
Repeatedly, Jesus and the apostles describe the kingdom as a gift we receive. Jesus tells his disciples that the world will persecute the church. Nevertheless, he says, “Fear not, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). “I will build my church,” Jesus promised, “and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:15–18).
All other empires we build in history can and will pass away, but “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28). Christ himself is the gift, along with his Spirit; and because the church-kingdom is brought into being, sustained, and growing to the ends of the earth through the preaching of the gospel, baptism, and Eucharist, it is a thoroughly divine work of grace through creaturely means of grace.
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There is a place for our agency, for actively following Christ’s example of humility and generous love as well as righteousness. However, there is something far richer, far deeper than our “willing and running.” It is the Holy Spirit who moves us beyond the imitation of Christ into union with Christ. The church does not repeat or extend Christ’s incarnation or his redeeming and reconciling work; rather, it is called—in all of its difference from Christ—to be the creaturely and sinful entity it is by testifying to Christ.
As Jesus taught it, what is the kingdom, and is this kingdom substantially different from what the apostles describe as the church?
- Jesus describes the kingdom as a great feast where “many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 8:11).
- “The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad” (Matt. 13:47).
- The kingdom is “the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18), and the authority to forgive sins in the king’s name was nuclear to the apostolic identity (Matt. 16:19; 18:18).
- The close connection between the Spirit and forgiveness of sins is evident in what Jesus decrees when he breathes on his disciples in preparation for their kingdom work. He says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” adding immediately, “Whoever’s sins you forgive are forgiven” (John 20:23).
- The kingdom adorns outcasts in the wedding garment (Matt. 22:1–14).
- It is the regime in which the same Spirit who was upon Jesus without measure indwells his people as “living stones” being built into a holy sanctuary (1 Pet. 2:5).
