The Everlasting Covenant

The Church the Kingdom

The people of Israel constituted a kingdom from the beginning, centuries before Saul was set over them; for the church of God is His kingdom, and His subjects are all His children. The “household of God” is “the commonwealth of Israel.” ¹ Christ, with the Father, sits upon “the throne of grace,” and the true church acknowledges Him, and Him only, as Lord. EVCO 401.1

The Apostle John, in writing to the church, subscribes himself, “your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.” ² EVCO 401.2

Christ declared Himself to be a King, even the King of the Jews (Matthew 27:11), and received homage as “the King of Israel.” ³ But even while claiming to be king, Jesus declared, “My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My kingdom not from hence.” ⁴ As Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, so His church, His body, the people whom He has chosen and called out of the world, are to form no part of the world, although in it. It is to make no sort of alliance with the world, for any purpose whatever. Its sole use in the world is to be the light of the world, the salt by which as much of the world as possible is to be preserved. It is to be no more a part of the world than the light is of the darkness in which it shines. “What communion hath light with darkness?” ⁵ EVCO 401.3

There are two distinct classes on earth—the church and the world; but when the church forms an alliance with the world, whether formally, or by adopting the world’s methods or principles, then there is really only one class—the world. By the grace of God, however, there have always been a faithful few, even in the time of greatest apostasy. EVCO 402.1