THE KINGDOM OF GOD
"Mystery" in Scripture means, not what remains a secret, but that which is for a while hidden,
but in due time manifested
Mystery in the NT, is not an undiscovered secret, but a secret, undiscoverable by human reason,
but now revealed by the Spirit of God.
Paul Speaks of the mystery in Ephesians, the Epistle of the church:
Ephesians 1:9 – The mystery of his will
Ephesians 3:3 – By revelation he made known unto the mystery
Ephesians 3:4 – Understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ
Ephesians 3:9 – To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery
Ephesians 5:32 – This is a great mystery but I speak of Christ and His Church
Important we get information, comprehension, and revelation
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Names for God’s Kingdom
.1. The Kingdom of God Mark 1:14, Luke 6:20, Luke 9:2, Luke 7:28, Mark 4: 30,31
.2. The Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 4:17, 5:3, 10:7, 11:11, 13:11, 19:23,24
.3. The Kingdom of Christ – Ephesians 5:5
The Nature of God’s Kingdom
.1. The kingdom of God is sovereign ruling over all other kingdoms
.2. There was never a time when the Kingdom of God was not in existence. Never a time
when it will not be in existence. All other kingdoms serve the purpose of his kingdom.
Psalms 103:19, Revelation 11:5
.3. The kingdom of God includes: its domain, total universe, the elect angels, heaven.
.4. The kingdom of God is an everlasting kingdom. Psalms 145:10, 13; 103:19; Daniel 4:3
The principles of the kingdom of God are hidden in mysteries
.1. Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven in parabolic form: Matt 13:11. Mark 4:10-11
.2. This mystery unveils how the message of the kingdom was taught by Christ and why it
was given in this manner. Parables both hide and revealing depending on the sincerity of
the listener.
.2.1. Matt 13:11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to
know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
.2.2. Mark 4:10-11 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked
Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in
parables,
.3. The Mystery of Christ – Colossians 4:3
.4. This mystery unveils the wisdom of the Father in finding a solution to sin. This solution
was Christ. The mystery of Christ unveils the purpose of the Christ as identified in Isaiah
61.
.4.1. Colossians 4:3-4 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door
for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I
may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
The mystery of Christ is the mystery of the Gospel – it’s the good news that was
hidden from and for ages. It is that Christ is all and in all
.5. The Mystery of the Gospel – Ephesians 6:19
.5.1. The mystery of the Gospel is the good news of the kingdom of God given to man
through redemption in Christ Jesus.
.5.2. Ephesians 6:19-20 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open
my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an
ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
That he may have the opportunity to tell the foundations of the gospel of which
Christ is the center.
.6. The Mystery of Godliness – (1 Timothy 3:16, John 1:1-18, 14:6)
.6.1. The mystery of godliness unveils the journey of Christ in bringing salvation and
eternal life to mankind. It explains the grounds for the justification of Christ and his
lordship.
.6.2. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you
shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to
conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the
light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness,
to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but
was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every
man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive
Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom
I said ,'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" 16 And of
His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through
Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time.
The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
.1.1. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.
1 Timothy 3:14-16
hat is the mystery of godliness? It is Christ; and here are six things concerning
Christ, which make up the mystery of godliness. [1.] That he is God manifest in the
flesh: God was manifest in the flesh. This proves that he is God, the eternal Word,
that was made flesh and was manifest in the flesh. When God was to be manifested
to man he was pleased to manifest himself in the incarnation of his own Son: The
Word was made flesh, John 1:14. [2.] He is justified in the Spirit. Whereas he was
reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor, he was raised again by the
Spirit, and so was justified from all the calumnies with which he was loaded. He
was made sin for us, and was delivered for our offences; but, being raised again, he
was justified in the Spirit; that is, it was made to appear that his sacrifice was
accepted, and so he rose again for our justification, as he was delivered for our
offences, Rom 4:25. He was put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, 1
Peter 3:18. [3.] He was seen of angels. They worshipped him (Heb 1:6); they
attended his incarnation, his temptation, his agony, his death, his resurrection, his
ascension; this is much to his honour, and shows what a mighty interest he had in
the upper world, that angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels. [4.] He
is preached unto the Gentiles. This is a great part of the mystery of godliness, that
Christ was offered to the Gentiles a Redeemer and Saviour; that whereas, before,
salvation was of the Jews, the partition-wall was now taken down, and the Gentiles
were taken in. I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, Acts 13:47. [5.] That he
was believed on in the world, so that he was not preached in vain. Many of the
Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected. Who would have thought
that the world, which lay in wickedness, would believe in the Son of God, would
take him to be their Saviour who was himself crucified at Jerusalem? But,
notwithstanding all the prejudices they laboured under, he was believed on, &c. [6.]
He was received up into glory, in his ascension. This indeed was before he was
believed on in the world; but it is put last, because it was the crown of his exaltation,
and because it is not only his ascension that is meant, but his sitting at the right hand
of God, where he ever lives, making intercession, and has all power, both in heaven
and earth, and because, in the apostasy of which he treats in the following chapter,
his remaining in heaven would be denied by those who pretend to bring him down
on their altars in the consecrated wafers. Observe, First, He who was manifest in
flesh was God, really and truly God, God by nature, and not only so by office, for
this makes it to be a mystery. Secondly, God was manifest in flesh, real flesh.
Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same, Heb 2:14. And, what is more amazing, he was manifest in the
flesh after all flesh had corrupted his way, though he himself was holy from the
womb. Thirdly, Godliness is a mystery in all its parts and branches, from the
beginning to the end, from Christ's incarnation to his ascension. Fourthly, It being a
great mystery, we should rather humbly adore it, and piously believe it, than
curiously pry into it, or be too positive in our explications of it and determinations
about it, further than the holy scriptures have revealed it to us.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible
Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights
reserved.)
.2. The Mystery of the Faith – 1 Timothy 3:9
.3. The mystery of the faith encompasses the doctrine of the kingdom. The doctrine of the
kingdom is that salvation comes through faith in Christ, and that we are justified in
Christ and reign with him in heavenly places.
.3.1. 1 Tim 3:8-13 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to
much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure
conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers,
temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling
their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as
deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which
is in Christ Jesus.
.4. The Mystery of the Body of Christ - Ephesians 3:1-11, Romans 6:24,25
.4.1. The mystery of the body of Christ unveils the work of Christ and his church. It
explains that Christ is the head of the church, and the church is his body and the
fullness of Christ. It also unveils the original plan of God to engraft gentiles into his
redemption plan that we may all, Jew and Gentile be one church.
.4.2. Ephesians 3:1-13 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you
Gentiles — 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the
mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not
made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His
holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same
body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I
became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the
effective working of His power.8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints,
this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things
through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might
be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly
places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus
our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in
Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which
is your glory.
.4.3. Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
.5. The Great Mystery of the marriage of Christ and His Church – Ephesians 5:23-33
.5.1. The mystery of the marriage of Christ and his church delves into the union of the
trinity with humanity through the redemption work of Christ. Marriage between a
man and a woman is a picture of the oneness God desires to have with his church. It
unveils the mystery of the God’s covenant with mankind, where he is eternally
bound to us through his love for us.
.5.2. Ephesians 5:23-33 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the
church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject
to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love
your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He
might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He
might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any
such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought
to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord
does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak
concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular
so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
.6. The Mystery of the resurrected and immortalized saints – 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1
Thessalonians 4:15—18
.6.1. This mystery explains what will happen to those who die in Christ and those who
have not seen the first the death. It explains the transformation of our mortal bodies
and the resurrection power and life Christ accomplished on our behalf.
.6.2. 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on
incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where
is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
.6.3. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always
pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray
without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.
.6.4. The Mystery of Christ in you – Colossians 1:26-28, Galatians 2:20
This mystery defines the spiritual death that a believer must experience in order to live
the life of Christ. It is the mystery that explains how we are to truly be conformed into his
image.
.6.5. Colossians 1:26-29 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from
generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to
make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man
and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which
works in me mightily.
.6.6. Galatians 2:19-21 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I
have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if
righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
.7. The Mystery of iniquity – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
.7.1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in
mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the
day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will
not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son
of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is
worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will
do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the
brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the
working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all
unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the
love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send
them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be
condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
2. The characters here given, v. 4. (1.) That he opposes and exalts himself above all
that is called God, or is worshipped; and thus have the bishops of Rome not only
opposed God's authority, and that of the civil magistrates, who are called gods, but
have exalted themselves above God and earthly governors, in demanding greater
regard to their commands than to the commands of God or the magistrate. (2.) As
God, he sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. As God was in
the temple of old, and worshipped there, and is in and with his church now, so the
antichrist here mentioned is some usurper of God's authority in the Christian church,
who claims divine honours; and to whom can this better apply than to the bishops of
Rome, to whom the most blasphemous titles have been given, as Dominus Deus
noster papa—Our Lord God the pope; Deus alter in terrâ—Another God on earth;
Idem est dominium Dei et papae—The dominion of God and the pope is the same?
3. His rise is mentioned, v. 6,7. Concerning this we are to observe two things:—(1.)
There was something that hindered or withheld, or let, until it was taken away. This
is supposed to be the power of the Roman empire, which the apostle did not think fit
to mention more plainly at that time; and it is notorious that, while this power
continued, it prevented the advances of the bishops of Rome to that height of
tyranny to which soon afterwards they arrived. (2.) This mystery of iniquity was
gradually to arrive at its height; and so it was in effect that the universal corruption
of doctrine and worship in the Romish church came in by degrees, and the
usurpation of the bishops of Rome was gradual, not all at once; and thus the mystery
of iniquity did the more easily, and almost insensibly, prevail. The apostle justly
calls it a mystery of iniquity, because wicked designs and actions were concealed
under false shows and pretences, at least they were concealed from the common
view and observation. By pretended devotion, superstition and idolatry were
advanced; and, by a pretended zeal for God and his glory, bigotry and persecution
were promoted. And he tells us that this mystery of iniquity did even then begin, or
did already work. While the apostles were yet living, the enemy came, and sowed
tares; there were then the deeds of the Nicolaitans, persons who pretended zeal for
Christ, but really opposed him. Pride, ambition, and worldly interest of churchpastors and church-rulers, as in Diotrephes and others, were the early working of the
mystery of iniquity, which, by degrees, came to that prodigious height which has
been visible in the church of Rome.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible
Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights
reserved.)