The Bible reveals the Kingdom of God as both a present and future reality rooted in God’s eternal reign. God is the King of kings, the Lord over all creation. He promised a coming Messiah who would establish His righteous rule on earth. Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God is not physical but spiritual—entered by repentance, faith, and the new birth through the Holy Spirit. Those who humbly depend on God, trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins rather than their own strength or status, belong to His Kingdom. Though believers may suffer now, the Kingdom offers eternal reward and fulfillment to all who seek first God’s rule and righteousness.
Jesus described the type of people to whom the kingdom of God belongs. It belongs to those who are "born of the Spirit" (John 3:3-5). They are like little children toward God, dependent and trusting (Luke 18:16-17). They are often people whom society has rejected—the poor, or those who have sinned or fallen short in some way (Luke 6:20; Matthew 21:31; 19:24). Jesus said it was easier for those people to get into the kingdom of God than it was for the rich or successful (Luke 18:24; Matthew 19:24). This fits with the gospel, which asks people to repent of their efforts to make it to God on their own (which is impossible) and to instead trust Him fully for salvation (Romans 3:19-26). The people who can already see their flaws clearly, and who are not blinded by worldly pride and vanity and wealth, find it much easier to enter the kingdom of God.
Those who live according to the flesh and the world do not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:21). Instead, the kingdom of God belongs to those who produce the fruit of the Spirit (Matthew 21:43; Galatians 5:22-23). It is an eternal kingdom, and though we sometimes suffer for it, in the end, the kingdom of God will provide a more than sufficient reward to those whose hope is placed there (Matthew 6:33; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2 Timothy 4:8).
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