What is KINGDOM Living? (Part 6)

Part 6 is a compelling EXPLORATION of the substance of KINGDOM LIVING. We define KINGDOM LIVING as living with purpose and destiny in Christ, centered on following Jesus through self-giving love and trusting God in every aspect of our life. We emphasize the importance of surrendering one's own will, embracing God's will, and becoming disciples of Jesus.

"for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17

---

In this essay, we underscore the idea that KINGDOM LIVING is about living in God's abundance, experiencing HIS eternal life NOW, and becoming partakers of the divine nature through self-giving love and obedience.

"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it." Mark 8:34-35

Ultimately, we are challenging FOLLOWERS of CHRIST to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Jesus, allowing His kingdom to reign in our lives as we trust in God's grace.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

KINGDOM LIVING is about living for the first time, with PURPOSE and DESTINY IN CHRIST.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," Matthew 28:19

KINGDOM LIVING is all about FOLLOWING JESUS through self-giving love.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

In KINGDOM LIVING, we are called to TRUST GOD in everything we do and for everything we do.

"saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42

This article represents one post in a series of articles attempting to answer “What is KINGDOM Living?” For a deeper understanding of this article, consider visiting “What is KINGDOM Living Part 1,” “Part 2,” “Part 3,” “Part 4,” and "Part 5."

Apart from CHRIST, we can do nothing. In CHRIST, we can do all things.

"MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED BY THIS, that you bear much fruit, and SO PROVE to be MY DISCIPLES." John 15:8

According to Dallas Willard, KINGDOM LIVING is defined as the range of God’s EFFECT WILL.

"By this all men will know that YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, if you HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.” John 13:35

Dallas explains God’s WILL happens when what God wants to be done is done.

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, THEN YOU are truly disciples of Mine;" John 8:31

Dallas teaches that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is THE LIFE IN GOD’S KINGDOM and is available to us RIGHT NOW.

"Whoever does not carry his OWN CROSS and come after Me CANNOT BE My disciple." Luke 14:27

Jesus is looking for DISCIPLES to FOLLOW HIM and show others all about “KINGDOM LIVING”

"And he who does not take HIS cross and FOLLOW after Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:38

Like Dallas, we believe EVERYONE can experience the KINGDOM LIVING TODAY and LIVE IN TRUTH.

"And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and WE ARE IN HIM WHO IS TRUE, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and ETERNAL LIFE." 1 John 5:20

Everyone can experience eternal life or experience eternal living, NOW. It’s all a free gift by Grace!

"This is ETERNAL LIFE, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3

Yes, by placing our confidence in Jesus for everything, being His constant students and forever disciples, we are LIVING IN THE KINGDOM.

"And the testimony is this, that God has given us ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11

KINGDOM LIVING is to live your life through His self-giving LOVE.

"But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, ETERNAL LIFE. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:22-23

We only need to BELIEVE and surrender ourselves and FOLLOW HIM.

"And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in YOUR KINGDOM” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today YOU SHALL BE WITH ME in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

DISCIPLES of JESUS CHRIST

God created us in His image and called us to expand, reign, and rule over the Earth and everything in it.

"for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy IN THE Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17

Our body is our first domain.

"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!" 1 Corinthians 6:15

FOLLOWERS of CHRIST have been redeemed and purchased, as we are HIS.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present YOUR BODIES a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is YOUR spiritual service of worship." Romans 12:1

Disciples of Jesus Christ surrender their domain and pick up His DOMAIN instead as a free gift of Grace.

"anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is IN YOU, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells IN YOU, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells IN YOU." Romans 8:9-11

Be HOLY as He is Holy, partakers of the DIVINE nature.

"because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16

We are chosen, equipped, and sent to CO-LABOR with Christ, working through LOVE, self-giving LOVE.

"By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because AS HE IS, so also are WE in this world." 1 John 4:17

We lay down our lives, deny ourselves, pick up our Cross, and choose HIS KINGDOM over ours.

"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross and follow Me." Mark 8:34

When we surrender our domain and instead trust HIS OBEDIENCE is enough, we grow in faith.

"Since you have in OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently LOVE ONE ANOTHER from the heart," 1 Peter 1:22

When we love TRUTH, and we SEEK TRUTH with our whole heart, we walk IN FAITH as disciples of Jesus Christ.

"YOU are from God, little children, and HAVE OVERCOME THEM; because greater is He who is IN YOU than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

As a result of HIS OBEDIENCE, we have been granted THE choice to follow HIM.

"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." John 12:25

DENY SELF, PICK UP CROSS, and FOLLOW JESUS, which is God’s EFFECTIVE WILL FOR HUMANITY.

"because it is written, “YOU shall BE HOLY, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16

Through the CROSS of CHRIST, we lose our kingdom and choose on purpose to walk in His, as ambassadors, citizens of Heaven.

"Therefore YOU ARE TO BE PERFECT, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

What is KINGDOM LIVING? GOD IN US!

God, our Father, through Jesus, is BUILDING THE CHURCH, His BODY. It’s through God’s Grace, which is THE ONLY Power and Source, HIS TRUE LIFE, living and dwelling within US.

"Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?" Romans 6:16

For those who have GIVEN UP their own domain, surrendered their own life, and have given up “running their own show,” is the KINGDOM of GOD. Give up self-will, give up running your own show, and TRUST GOD ALONE.

Additional SCRIPTURES to SOAK IN…

"This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life." 1 John 2:25

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40

"Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21

"Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John 18:36

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “ He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness;" 1 Corinthians 3:19