12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
The above passage is one of the most overlooked truths in all of Christianity. While most denominations focus on the Kingdom to come, Paul tells us that the Kingdom of Christ has already begun. This is important to understand brethren because wants to obscure this fact from us. Paul says that the Father has made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints (old and new testament believers). Verse 13 is really powerful as the apostle says that the Father has translated us from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of His dear Son Jesus Christ.
The word "translated" comes from the greek word "methistemi" (Strongs 3179) and means to "transfer, carry away, exchange, depose, seduce, put out, translate". Jehovah God transferred us from Satan's kingdom to His Son Jesus Christ Kingdom. Jehovah made the exchange to purchase us as His children through the blood of His Son. It is through the Son of God that we have redemption brothers and sisters. This transference into the Kingdom of the Son of God denotes a present tense reality of salvation and adoption into the Family of Jehovah. It also shows us that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is a present reality not just a future hope. Satan would love nothing more than to blind us to this precious truth.
What is also precious is verse 14 which says that we HAVE (Present tense) redemption through the Son of God's blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Let's see what the word "redemption" means in the greek. The greek word for "redemption (Strongs 629) is "apolutrosis" and means "ransom in full, deliverance, redemption". This means that Christ death on the cross finished the ransom once and for all. Our Savior said "it is finished" and He meant it. There is no need to doubt your salvation saints, once you confess that Jesus is the Son of God, repent of your sins and seal your faith with baptism you are in the Kingdom of Christ as a full fledged blood bought child of God. The ransom is has been fully satisfied and you can now walk in the assurance of your salvation.
So you might ask, what's next?
Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Preaching the gospel of the Kingdom that you have been translated to is the natural next step in your walk with the Son of God. As an ambassador of God's Kingdom, you now need to spread the Kingdom doctrine. Far from merely being a future hope, Jesus Kingdom is present with us now and we are members of that Kingdom.
Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV)
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
John wrote this having gone through immense persecution at this time and yet he says that Christ made us kings and priests NOW (present tense) not at some far away future time. This means brethren, that we are kings and priests unto God the Father in this life. Satan has deceived Christians into a defensive posture and to be passive in waiting for the age to come for these blessings. The carnal mind often cannot grasp that through trials, poverty and suffering that one can still be royalty in the eyes of Jehovah God. The spiritual mind understands that no amount of earthly treasure makes one a king but rather heavenly treasure does.
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Peter also confirms Paul that having been called into the marvelous light of the Father and Son we are a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Brothers and Sisters, this for the present here in this life not just the age to come. The devil who is a liar wants to steal your place as a king and priest in this life so that you are rendered ineffective in spreading the gospel of Christ's Kingdom and also living it to it's fullest potential.
Most denominations are simply in a state of occupying until Christ returns to the earth and wax poetic about the future Kingdom, however they are missing the precious truth that Jesus Kingdom already started. His return will simply introduce the next phase of it. When did the Kingdom of Jesus Christ start?
Hebrews 1:8-9 (KJV)
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
In context, this seems to be about the ascension of Christ into heaven after the 40 days He spent with the disciples after His resurrection. How do we know? Because He is seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father and praised for loving righteousness and hating iniquity. It was during Jesus life on earth that he was tested in this regard. God the Father gives His Son the Kingdom and tells His beloved Son that His (Christ) throne is forever and will not end. The Father declares the Son's divinity and Godship by calling His Son "God'.
This was the inauguration of the Son's Kingdom which took place in heaven. Soon after this, Jesus inaugurated His Kingdom on earth on the day of Pentecost:
Acts 2:1-5 (KJV)
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the Congregation partially fulfilling Joel chapter 2. Thousands were saved on this day and transferred to the Kingdom of the Son of God. It was after this event that the gospel went out to the world, thereby spreading the Kingdom of Jesus Christ filling the whole earth.
Daniel 2:44 (KJV)
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
It was during the reign of the pagan Roman empire that Jehovah God set up the Kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ. Eventually this Kingdom will utterly destroy the last remaining earthly governments when the King of Kings makes His return. Many scoff at the notion that we are presently in the Kingdom of Christ due to the Christian Congregation historically being on the low end of the totem pole in the esteem of the world. However, this is because they fail to understand that in God's economy what the world esteems highly God esteems not. Also, what the world esteems lightly, God esteems highly. From a worldly perspective, a Kingdom and being King mean being on top, ruling over others and having material abundance. From Jehovah's standpoint the opposite is often true, meaning a true Kingdom in His eyes is one where the rulers of that Kingdom make themselves the least and put others first even at their own peril. In Jehovah's economy, being a King often means suffering and going through hardship and being willing to lay down your life for others whereas worldly kings have a multitude of people protecting them. Let's go to scripture and see some examples of what God's Kingdom looks like.
Mark 11:7-10 (KJV)
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
Jesus triumphal entry as the King from the seed of David tells us much about the humility of His Kingdom. Jesus turned the Jews expectation of their coming Messiah upside down as they were expecting Him to come with pomp and circumstance to introduce an earthly theocratic rule. The Son of God confounded their materialistic hopes by arriving to Jerusalem on a lowly colt. Many professed Christians are making the same error today as the Jews of old, in that they are not content with a spiritual kingdom of humility but rather they lust for political clout so that their dogmas can be enforced in the civil realm. Other Christians who do not possess this worldly lust often take a defeatist view of things and are just waiting out the days until the Son of God's second advent.
Many will say, how could we be in Christ Kingdom now if Christians are losing influence throughout the world including the United States? Take note of what Jesus says:
Luke 17:20-21 (KJV)
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Jesus shows the Pharisees error in expecting a theocratic type kingdom and instead tells them that the Kingdom of God is spiritual and is within the heart of every believer. Brethren, the Kingdom of God is here now and is in your heart if you accept it. It is often said by naysayers that how could we be in the kingdom now if the Christian Congregation has been on the short end of the stick for most the new testament age? Again, remember John's statement in Revelation 1 that we are now kings and priests unto God the Father. John made this statement during a time that Christians were being brutally persecuted by the Roman empire. We can see that according to Jesus and his beloved disciple John, that reigning as a king and priest in Christ's Kingdom doesn't not depend on worldly success.
Matthew 11:11-12 (KJV)11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
We see a glimpse of Kingdom economics according to the Son of God. In the kingdom of this world, the greatest man would be the one most highly esteemed but in Jehovah's Kingdom it's the least person who is the most highly esteemed and the greatest in men's eyes is the least. Also, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is pressed into violently meaning eager souls storm the kingdom and men take the kingdom by storm. This is in a spiritual sense not a physical one. As men and women are transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the kingdom advances forcefully. Spiritually forceful men take hold of this Kingdom. By taking hold of the Kingdom of God one may lose the earthly comforts that earthly kingdoms provide. Aren't we told to have our treasures in heaven rather than on earth? So why do we say that we can't possibly be in Christ Kingdom now due to the low estate of the Christian Congregation? Because many are still building their treasures here instead of heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
As kings and priests in God's Kingdom are riches and treasures are stored up in heaven for us.
Matthew 13:41 (KJV)
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
We see here that the angles of Jesus will gather all things out of the Sin of God's Kingdom. This is a very revealing scripture as the things gathered are being removed from earth and Jesus equates this earth with His Kingdom hence His "they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend". This shows that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is already here and not something we have to wait for. Jesus Kingdom is invisible and not visible. His Kingdom has been here since he started His ministry in it's initial phase but then commenced fully at His ascension.
Matthew 6:10 (KJV)
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
A request of God's Kingdom to come here on earth as it is in heaven is simultaneous and it was being announced by Christ during His earthly ministry and His resurrection and more fully ascension inaugurated it.
Matthew 12:28-29 (KJV)
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
The Kingdom of God came unto men during Jesus ministry. The Son of God entered the strong man's (satan) house (the world) and spoiled his goods, taking plunder of satan's possessions (people who became believers). Satan can no longer deceive the nations. Though satan still has influence in this world and the ability to deceive he no longer has dominion in this world but rather he only has sway in the world. The dragon can no longer completely deceive people due to the cross of Christ.
Luke 10:17-19 (KJV)17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Through Jesus name victory is already ours as our Jehovah gave us power to make devils subject to us. Jesus gives us power over the enemy as we see here that satan fell as lightening from heaven due to the power of Jesus name utilized by the 70 disciples. Satan was cast to the abyss that is called earth. Satan no longer has the power to deceive the nations as the saints of Jehovah have been given the power by His Son to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Jesus encourages the 70 not to fear anything as nothing would hurt them. Brethren, this same power is available to us now and the same admonition to not fear as nothing will hurt us stands true if we will utilize the power of Christ's name. Unfortunately most of Christianity is walking in fear of the devil rather than slaying him and his demons.
Romans 16:20 (KJV)
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Jehovah gives us victory over satan now not just after Christ's return in glory. We reign with Christ now.
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