Living Under Jesus’ Reign Today

The central message of Jesus Christ was not only about securing a future destination but involved a personal relationship with Him and the Kingdom of God we can participate in today. Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20). Understanding Jesus as our ruling King today transforms how we approach our daily lives, moving from passive waiting to active citizenship under divine reign.

The word “kingdom” (translated from the Greek basileia) permeates the New Testament writings and carried profound political and social implications modern readers often miss. The term denoted the active exercise of royal authority, the dynamic rule of a king and the sphere of influence where that authority is acknowledged and obeyed. It also spoke of the coming Kingdom from heaven that transformed converts will one day enter.

When Jesus and His apostles proclaimed the basileia of God, this was a declaration of divine governance—God’s sovereign rule being announced to the hearers and offered to them. This was revolutionary language in a world dominated by Caesar’s empire. Far above, there existed supreme kingship, ultimate authority, heavenly government that transcends earthly powers and human-devised ethics.

Jesus’ gospel invites people to come under His divine rule as their King even now. When He declared, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom [or reign] of God is at hand,” and to “repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15), the prophesied Messiah was present in person and people were invited to repent of not submitting to God and to turn to live His way under Jesus’ direction.

This repentance was a complete reorientation of allegiance from humanism to theism. It meant recognizing Jesus as God’s anointed authority over mankind. The gospel invitation was and is essentially a call to citizenship transfer from allegiance to the fleeting human kingdoms of this world to citizenship with the everlasting Kingdom of God. Jesus presented Himself as Savior from darkness leading to death and as sovereign Ruler of light leading to life. In the words of Colossians 1:13 (English Standard Version), God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom [or “reign,” Young’s Literal Translation] of his beloved Son.”

Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated His divine royal authority through healing the sick, forgiving sins, calming storms and teaching with unprecedented authority. These were manifestations of kingly power, evidence that God’s rule was present through His anointed King.

The apostle Paul expressed the present reality in these terms: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21). The citizenship here is not stated in future tense—it is a present reality for truly repentant, baptized followers of Christ who are led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14-17). Subjects loyal to the Father and Christ are considered to be current citizens of a heavenly country, living as representatives of God’s Kingdom while temporarily residing on earth (see Hebrews 11:13-16).

This citizenship comes with both privileges and responsibilities. We have access to the resources of God’s Holy Spirit—love, peace, joy, righteousness and self-control—which Scripture calls tasting of “the powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:5). We also have obligations to live according to the laws and values of our future homeland. Our primary allegiance, then, is not to earthly governments, cultures or ideologies, but to the Kingdom of God, its government and laws.

Living as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven today means that our identity, values and purposes are shaped by divine standards rather than societal norms. We operate according to Kingdom rules and godly principles: obeying God’s laws, love for enemies, forgiveness of wrongs, generosity toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. These aren’t merely nice ideals—they’re constitutional requirements of citizens of God’s Kingdom.

God’s commandments and principles of outgoing love create flourishing communities where people experience genuine happiness, meaningful relationships and spiritual abundance. When humanity rejects these divine laws and chooses to live outside of God’s loving rule, dire consequences inevitably follow—broken relationships, social injustices, personal emptiness and spiritual death.

Scripture presents Jesus as “the ruler over the kings of the earth” and “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 1:5; Revelation 19:16). Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is acknowledged as the “King of Israel” (John 1:49) and “King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3, ESV). He Himself acknowledged: “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world” (John 18:37).

Jesus is right now the sovereign Ruler over all believers who together form His Church, as God “put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22-23)—“that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). Those who are His people, His subjects, have voluntarily submitted to His authority. This submission isn’t oppressive but liberating—we find our truest freedom under the rule of the One who loves us perfectly. Coming under the rule of this King means acknowledging His absolute authority over every aspect of our lives.

Biblical teaching presents the Kingdom of God in two stages: a present authority converting people to submission to His reign, and a future entry into His heavenly Kingdom of glory. We are currently invited to come under the authority of the Kingdom of God, experiencing its blessings and living by its principles. This present experience is genuine godly minded life.

Yet we also anticipate the fuller manifestation of God’s Kingdom with Jesus’ second coming—when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Then Christ’s rulership will be universally acknowledged. And those who have submitted to God’s authority now will enter His eternal Kingdom and reign with Christ (2 Peter 1:11; Revelation 20:4, 6).

This two-stage reality means that Kingdom living is both a present privilege and our future hope. We taste now what we will enjoy eternally. The invitation is clear: Come under God’s rule today and inherit His Kingdom tomorrow