We
often view God's Kingdom as something far off and away, “Heaven”,
“The Sweet By-and-By”, “The Otherside”.
And if we're “lucky”, when we get to the Pearly Gates, then
we'll know for sure whether we're accepted or not.
.
Sounds
like a dice roll to me.
Yet,
the theme of God's Kingdom far-off is standard Christian preaching,
of practice, hymnals, and understanding. Fortunately, we don't have
to wait until the Pearly Gates to know. Jesus promised at the
moment of baptism, His people are endued with His Spirit – His
Power on High.
“He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth
not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:16
Hence,
that's pretty clear. We are to believe (trust, obey, act) on the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized.
"Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 2:38
Thus,
at the moment of faith in Christ and baptism, we are “translated”
into the Kingdom of Christ.
"Giving thanks
unto the Father,
which hath made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have
redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
Colossians 1:12-14
Thus,
Christ's Kingdom exists within His people.
(Those who believe in
Jesus and obey Jesus by His Spirit.)
Notice, Jesus told Pilate His, “...Kingdom is not of this world...”
"Jesus answered,
My kingdom is not of this world:
if my kingdom were of
this world, then would my servants fight,
that I should not be
delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
John 18:36
and
the Bible says Christ believers are, “...not of the world...”
either.
"I have given them
thy word; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of
the world,
even as I am not of the
world."
John 17:14
These
are Christ's people. Fortunately, Repentance, is a reconcilable
feature of our relationship with our King – for Jesus is the King
of His Eternal Kingdom to which all true Christians are called to
live in now and forever – in
spirit and truth – in earth, and in heaven.
"When Christ, who
is our life,
shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with him in glory."
Colossians 3:4