Unless One is Born Again

The “Kingdom of God” is a “spiritual” kingdom, “not of this world” (John 18:36), and is centered in heaven above where Christ is right now “ruling” and “reigning” in His Kingdom (Col. 3:1). It is also “among us” – in the heart of each believer as we “abide in” Christ and “He in us.” Unless one has been “born again” in accordance with the instructions given in New Testament Scripture, one cannot see (discern, understand, enter into, or partake of) it. Also, know that Christ’s kingdom is not an earthly, political, economic, militant kingdom but one of love, peace, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, purity, holiness, and power above. When one is “born again” (by hearing the gospel, believing in Christ, repenting of one’s sins, confessing Christ before men, and being baptized by immersion “for the forgiveness of sins”), one also becomes a “priest” and “fellow partaker” of the Kingdom (Rev. 1:9) with Christ, as an “ambassador for Christ” (Eph. 6:20). We “rule” with Christ through the sharing, preaching, and teaching of the Word of God, which is the gospel “message of truth” (the “rod of iron,” Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15); we do not rule over men through worldly, political, economic, or military means. We must always keep in mind the “spiritual” nature of God’s Kingdom. See also Luke 8:1; Rev. 1:9; Col. 4:11 which indicate that the kingdom was in effect when those verses were written in the First Century A.D..