GOD'S KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD.
By A. T. Robinson
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:16. A throne implies a king, subjects, laws, and territory. In our study of this subject we have found that the Lord has never abandoned this world to Satan. As soon as the dominion of this world passed into the hands of Satan, the Lord established a spiritual kingdom—a kingdom of grace. The Lord God of heaven is the sole ruler in this spiritual realm; His holy law is the perfect rule and standard of righteousness; the territory of this spiritual kingdom is the heart of man; its subjects are all who, forsaking the black banner of the prince of darkness, and enlisting under the banner of the Prince of light, are said to have been “delivered from the power of darkness,” and “translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Only those who become subjects of the kingdom of grace here will be the subjects of the future immortal kingdom of glory. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” This kingdom of grace, which is God’s spiritual kingdom in the dominion usurped by Satan, has therefore coexisted with all earthly kingdoms; and, as God is “no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him,” it follows that, at any time, those of any nation who desired to do so, have had the opportunity of becoming subjects of this kingdom, by seeking pardon of their sins through Jesus Christ, and yielding obedience to the claims of the divine law. The door of access to this kingdom of grace, to both Jew and Gentile, is through faith in Jesus Christ. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:1, 2. When “all things that offend, and them which do iniquity” shall be gathered out of His kingdom, then all those who shall have been delivered from Satan’s kingdom of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son, shall “shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” It must be apparent to all who have followed these studies, that every one who has ever become a subject of the kingdom of grace has been enrolled as one of the “Israel of God.” This is the Lord’s method of reckoning Israel. “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart.” Rom. 2:28, 29. It should be borne in mind that in the establishment of Israel as a nation in the earth, it was God’s purpose that it should be a spiritual kingdom, a theocracy, or government of God in the world. It was only their disobedience and unbelief that frustrated this purpose concerning that nation. But, inquires the apostle, “Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid.” “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac [child of faith] shall thy seed be called.” Rom. 3:3; 9:6, 7. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” John 1:47. John, in the Revelation, giving a description of the remnant Church, the Church that will be living when the Lord comes, says of them, “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. 14:5. The prophet Zephaniah bears similar testimony concerning the character of the remnant Church. He says, “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.” Zeph. 3:13. And the Lord says of them, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. And, be it noted, by reference to the seventh chapter of Revelation, where this same company are spoken of, it is distinctly stated that they belong to the twelve tribes of Israel. It is evident that it is character, rather than nationality, which constitutes an Israelite indeed in the sight of God; and therefore the true Israel of God, when they shall be established in the everlasting kingdom of God, will be those who shall have been gathered out from “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people;” who shall have washed their robes of character in the precious blood of Christ. Dear reader, are you an Israelite indeed? Is your citizenship in this world? or have you transferred it to a heavenly country? “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 3:20, R. V.