The Kingdom of God

In this letter, I would like to share with you what the Orthodox Church believes about the Kingdom of God. This is one of the main themes of Jesus’ teaching. The Kingdom is both something we experience now and something we wait for in the future.

The Kingdom is already here in Christ. When Jesus began His ministry, He preached: “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Wherever Christ is present, the Kingdom is already breaking into this world. In the Church—through worship, the sacraments, and the life of faith—we taste this Kingdom even now.

The Kingdom is within us. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). This means that when we live with faith, love, and obedience to Christ, His reign begins in our hearts. The Kingdom is not only a place but also a way of life under God’s rule.

The Kingdom is still to come in fullness. Though we already share in it, the fullness of the Kingdom will come when Christ returns. Jesus taught us to pray: “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). At the end of time, He will return in glory, and “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

The Kingdom is a gift, not something we earn. Jesus says: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). God invites us into His reign as a gift of love. Our part is to respond with faith and obedience.

The Kingdom belongs to the humble and faithful. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The Kingdom is not for the proud or powerful, but for those who are humble, merciful, and faithful in following Christ.

The Kingdom is eternal life with God. Saint Paul tells us: “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:50). This means that our earthly life is only the beginning. The Kingdom is our final home, where God will wipe away every tear and death shall be no more (Revelation 21:4).

The Kingdom of God is both present and future. We already taste it in the life of the Church, but we also look forward to its fullness when Christ returns. It is the life of God’s love, both now and forever.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

Next Letter: The Cross