Christ’s Realm of Civil Authority

Jesus planted kingdom seeds in the minds of men during His earthly ministry.

And we confirm that every time we repeat what’s known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” He taught His disciples to say, “Let Your kingdom come,” and then, “Let Your will be done” on the earth as it is in the heaven. [see: Matt. 6:9-13]

The verb ἔρχομαι (êr’-kô-my], meaning to come or to go, and the verb γίνομαι [gî’-nō-my], which means “to be” or “to happen,” were both recorded in the Greek Imperative Mood. This was a method for the author to apply force to his words. So, perhaps what Jesus was trying to get across here was that, while He laid a foundation for the Lord’s kingdom in this age, we, His disciples, are expected to build upon it. [see also: 1Cor. 3:11-15]

It was a command for each us to put on the mind and heart of a kingdom builder. But to be a kingdom builder, a man must perceive religion and morality as indispensable to freedom.

Our nation’s founders understood the realm of civil authority in the same context that Jesus and the apostles did.  His ἐκκλησία [ê-klā-see’-uh], which is translated in the New Testament as “church,” is called out not just to set itself apart from the world, but also to govern in Christ’s behalf!

For a constitutional republic to exist, it’s crucial for those living in it to realize that spiritual principles are not simply private accessories to life, but rather public necessities for liberty, because righteous people will never willingly become separated from their desire to govern themselves righteously.

Nor will they allow themselves to be separated from the means to accomplish and sustain that goal. Christ’s mission was to renew minds (Rom. 12:2) and write God’s law on our hearts (Heb. 8:10), which is the very essence of internal government.

In order for His kingdom to come “on the earth as it is in the heaven,” it must first originate in the mind of the man, because, as history can confirm, a free nation cannot stand without internal governance grounded in morality and truth.

Indeed, our united States were designed to protect and reflect the very thing Jesus came to accomplish: A nation of individuals transformed by truth, living in liberty, producing fruit in their labor, and governing righteously.

The purpose of our government is to secure the blessings of liberty, meaning it exists to make room for what Christ came to bring: life, liberty, purpose, justice, righteousness. Our Republic is the outer framework.

The kingdom of God is the inner engine.

And when both align, you have a nation truly under God.