The Kingdom of Christ Began in the Midst Of The Satanic Kingdom
Jesus Christ is himself the kingdom of God, whether he is located in heaven or on earth. He began his kingdom here on earth dwelling in his people by and through his Spirit. He did this within and on an earth which was entirely enslaved by death and Satan. Within and among Satan’s domain and kingdom. This fact causes there to be paradoxes that can be confusing if we do not have understanding. An understanding which only comes with knowing Jesus Christ.
Jesus began his kingdom right in the midst of the old Satanic kingdom already in existence. What a brilliant takeover, now we who have Christ within are to trample Satan underfoot as planned in the beginning. The presence of God within Jesus Christ is the presence of the kingdom of God.
The future of everything and everyone…his future is present in his people from every time and age. We are now living in the age after the kingdom has begun but before Satan’s expulsion and death’s final defeat.
For more on this gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ click here or here:
Taking Over
We are living during the expansion of the kingdom of God on earth. Through the ages of time and expansion of the human race. This expansion is hostile and unwelcome and results in spiritual and sometimes physical violence (Matthew 11:12).
There are at least nine paradoxes of the Christian life. Actually there are probably many more than nine but for the sake of a short post I highlight nine. Living within paradox is confusing and so it helps to have understanding.
paradox – (noun) a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
Perhaps our confusing existence is one reason Jesus made our top daily priority be ‘seeking the kingdom of God.]
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be added to you” – Jesus
Nine paradoxes of the Christian life:
- We are to live by the Life of Christ and we are to die to our own lives. For a Christian, death to the self-life yields the life of Christ on the earth. (1 Corinthians 15:31)
- As we are weakened we are made strong in Christ. (1 Cor 1:27, 2 Cor 12:10)
- As we are made poor we are enriched, and we enrich many. (2 Cor 6:10)
- We are in the world yet, not of the world. (John 17:16)
- Some of us suffer and are persecuted yet we are more than conquerors. (Rom 8:18 and Rom 8:37)
- All things, even bad things, in our lives work together for the good of those called to God’s purposes. (Rom 8:28)
- Defeat, losing and humility lead to our victory and success.
- God and Jesus’ greatest moment of defeat and man’s cruelest moment of sin was at the same moment. The well-planned and greatest victory for them both. (Matt 27:46-64)
- Self abasement and servanthood brings greatness not promotion and authority we so often pursue. (Matthew 20:25)
Bonus Paradox: ‘God so loved the world’ vs ‘love not the world’, click here for more on this one.
These paradoxes are mind-blowing to me, what a brilliant and amazing takeover of humanity by Jesus Christ. What seemed like the biggest defeat for Jesus, his killing, was the plan all along. It resulted in the greatest defeat of Satan. What a Lord who saves in the midst of so many paradoxes, what a priceless gift we have in Jesus Christ.
