The Invisible Kingdom

A royal greeting

I’m reading through 1 Cor. again. It looks to me like Paul opens his letter with the theme of “the kingdom that has come and is yet to appear.”

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

1 Cor. 1:1

The role of apostle presumes the authority of a king. An apostle was an ambassador and ambassadors represent the interests of a foreign power. That power and authority come as Paul wrote by the “will of God.”

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

1 Cor. 1:2

But if Paul is an ambassador, we must be among a foreign society. Because this society is hostile to our king, we must resist its enticements and remain loyal to him and each other. We have been called out (the meaning of the Greek word for “church”) of that foreign society to live above it just like the rest of our fellow citizens around the world.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor. 1:3

The kingdom of God in our midst transcends every other boundary between people. Our king has called us to leave behind every tribal identity to become a human tapestry – a royal family under our elder brother. In him we greet one another with the Greek, “Grace to you” and with the Jewish, “Peace to you.”

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Cor. 1:4-7

Jesus now reigns as king of all, though we wait for him to appear. Within this kingdom we have our own currency and economy. Our currency is grace and through it we’ve become rich. And yet that wealth is intentionally distributed in specialized gifts that require us to bring what we have to the open barter that is our worship.

He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor. 1:8

Our king reigns now and by his sovereign power he will protect his citizens. His sovereign authority and omnipotence ensure that our security within his fold.

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor. 1:9

This doesn’t mean we won’t suffer. This kingdom doesn’t consist of one lofty figurehead and his sycophants. No, this kingdom is populated by God’s sons and heirs. As his sons and heirs, we join our Brother as partners and fellows. We expect to share in his glory, and we accept our portion of his suffering.

Live in the kingdom today.

So, we should pray for the gifts and operate in them. We must do this with the greater intention to imbibe the experience of Christ in the fellowship of his suffering and his resurrection power. We should always rejoice that we have both been enriched today and that we look forward to an even greater hope yet to come.