Identifying Marks Of The Church And Kingdom

The church is the spiritual kingdom of Christ on earth. The kingdom and the church have the same identifying marks. A study of the following scriptures reveals they are not separate institutions on the earth:

• Used interchangeably – Kingdom (Matthew 16:19) – Church (Matthew 16:18).
• Comprised of saints – Kingdom (Colossians 1:13) – Church (Colossians 1:2).
• Blood-purchased – Kingdom – (Revelation 5:9-10) – Church (Acts 20:28).
• Comprised of priests – Kingdom (Revelation 1:6,9) – Church (1 Peter 2:5).
• Terms of entrance – Kingdom (John 3:5) – Church (Ephesians 5:26, Titus 3:5).
• Memorial Supper – Kingdom (Matthew 26:26-29) – Church (1 Corinthians 11:20-27).
• Glory & exaltation – Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-3) – Church (Ephesians 3:20-21).
• Time of deliverance – Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:24) – Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
• Have the same owner – Kingdom (John 18:36) – Church (Matthew 16:18).
• Set up David’s throne – Kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16 – Church (Acts 2:29-36).
• Began at Jerusalem – Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-3) – Church (Luke 24:47).
• Began in latter days – Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-3) – Church (Acts 2:17-47).
• All nations flow into it – Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-3) – Church (Mark 16:15-16).
• Time of establishment – Kingdom (Daniel 2:44) – Church (Mark 1:15; Luke 3:1).
• Ruler over its inhabitants – Kingdom (1 Timothy 6:15) – Church (Ephesians 5:23).
• Reward for the faithful – Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-34 – Church (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The conclusion is obvious. The church and kingdom in this present age have the same owner, ruler, terms of admission, membership, memorial supper, etc. In this present time period on the earth, they are identical. Passages like Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11; Revelation 1:6,9; Revelation 5:9-10 along with many others make it abundantly clear that the promised Old Testament kingdom is now in existence! If one denies this fact based on the above scriptural evidence, then he is saying that Jesus was in error in Mark 1:14-15; Mark 9:1.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets