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The Kingdom of God

confidently expect, as the song says, “strength for today and bright hope
for tomorrow” (Chisholm and Runyan).

Kingdom Life Described

We can learn about the quality of life in the kingdom of God by
examining these various ways the Bible describes this Kingdom life.
There are at least seven.

A Kingdom of Life

Jesus described the kingdom of God as a kingdom of life. To enter the
Kingdom is to find eternal life (compare John 3:5; 16–17). Eternal life
speaks of more than just the duration of life; it also speaks of a higher
quality of life. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and
have it to the full” (John 10:10). Life in the Kingdom is a life lived in all
of its fullness!

A Kingdom of Light
The kingdom of God is also a kingdom of light. Those who follow
Christ have been called “out of darkness into his wonderful light”
(1 Peter 2:9). Jesus is “the light of
the world” (John 8:12) and “the
true light that gives light to every
Life in the Kingdom man was coming into the world”

is a life of joy and (1:9; compare 12:46). He promised,
“Whoever follows me will never walk
peace that comes in darkness, but will have the light of

from the Holy Spirit. life” (John 8:12). The children of the
Kingdom are thus called the “children
of light” (Ephesians 5:8; compare
Luke 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5). As a
result, they “share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light”
(Colossians 1:12). Light speaks of truth, understanding, and knowledge
(Luke 11:35; John 3:20–21; 8:12; 2 Peter 1:19). Life in the Kingdom is
therefore a life of true knowledge and understanding.

A Kingdom of Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit
Paul wrote, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating
and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”
(Romans 14:17). Nine times in the Beatitudes Jesus describes life in

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