Differences Between the Kingdom and the Church

From: Ten Aspects of the Kingdom: Its Various Aspects in Relation to Believers By: Stanley Bruce Anstey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

Many Christians confuse the kingdom with the Church, and consequently, they use unscriptural phrases such as, “The kingdom of the Church.” However, the kingdom is not synonymous with the Church for the following reasons:

Firstly

The kingdom in mystery spans a greater period of time than the Church’s time on earth. It is longer in duration, having its beginning ten days before the Church began, when the Lord went back to heaven (Luke 19:12¹²He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (Luke 19:12); Acts 1:9-11⁹And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9‑11)). And it will also continue on earth after the Church is taken to heaven (at the Rapture) to the end of the seven-year Tribulation period.

Secondly

The kingdom is broader than the Church is as far as its subjects are concerned. As we have seen, the kingdom at the present time has both “tares” (mere professors) and “wheat” (real believers), whereas the Church only consists of true believers. People may join a so-called church denomination and be on its official register, but if they are not saved through faith in Christ, they are not in the Church of God.

Thirdly

Christ is the King in His kingdom and we are His servants, but in Scripture He is never spoken of as being the King of the Church. Rather, He is Head of the Church and believers are members of His body (1 Cor. 12:12-13¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13); Col. 1:18¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)).

Fourthly

Matthew 16:19¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19) tells us that Peter was given “the keys of the kingdom of the heavens.” These are not the keys of the Church, but of the kingdom. They are:

Baptism.

Discipleship.

By these two things one enters into the kingdom outwardly. But as to entrance into the Church of God—the body of Christ—a person must be born of God and sealed with the Holy Spirit (John 3:5⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5); 1 Cor. 12:12-13¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13); Eph. 1:13¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)).

Fifthly

In the fellowship of the Church, we are to put away leaven by excommunicating the person or persons in whom it is found (1 Cor. 5:11-13¹¹But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ¹²For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:11‑13)). In the kingdom of the heavens (in mystery), evildoers and the leaven are not removed, but are permitted to go on "until the harvest" (Matt. 13:28-30²⁸He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? ²⁹But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:28‑30)).

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Ten Aspects of the Kingdom: Its Various Aspects in Relation to Believers

• Ten Aspects of the Kingdom

• Differences Between the Kingdom and the Church

Differences Between the Kingdom and the Church

Ten Aspects of the Kingdom: Its Various Aspects in Relation to Believers [Pamphlet]