Is God’s Reign Today Just Spiritual?

March 6, 2025

Scripture recounts two distinct times in history when a multitude lived under God’s reign as the Kingdom of God. The Old Testament relates how the first people focused largely on the safety and success of their natural life. The New Testament shares how God’s renewed call into Kingdom life focused first on spiritual features that influenced the quality of natural life. ^(a) [See endnotes for Scriptures]

Both historical times included many variables that resulted in countless blessings and misfortune. While responses to God’s governing influence in the earth have never been a picture of perfection, it is intended to include spiritual and natural responses. So, is God’s reign today just spiritual?

Call Into Kingdom Life

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” ^(b) Scripture illustrates how faith is a positive and productive response to God’s guidance because “faith without works it dead.” Without action, it is not faith. ^(c) Faith involves our inner agreement with God and our outer follow through.  

The Apostle Paul clarified Abraham’s “child of promise” and it is an issue of faith. ^(d) Since Abraham is called “the father of faith, ^(e) everyone who responds to God’s guidance and seeks to “do the right thing” is to be considered a child of Abraham. Paul noted that even in his day, the faith response to God’s influencing guidance was seen as righteousness in the lives of many gentiles. ^(f) 

We want to realize it was just four generations after Abraham’s household of 70 people entered Egypt that the call to respond to God’s guidance as a Kingdom was offered. ^(g) All who applied lamb‘s blood to the entry of their dwelling became a part of this people of faith. ^(h) Responders were a “mixed multitude” ⁽ⁱ⁾ of people that gravitated to this freeing invitation from the God of miracles.

If each of the 600,000 men of war ^(j) in the Exodus had a wife and 2 children, there were 2 ¼ million people entering God’s Kingdom reign. God called these people of faith “My People…Israel.” ^(k) He also invited these delivered people to function under His guidance as a “kingdom of priests.” ^(l) Free of enslavement, they could be led by the Spirit of God and live productive natural lives. 

When as a people they refused to personally interact with God, ^(m) their faith response was reduced to a set of Laws. Mercifully, God provided a natural tent to remind them of His abiding presence. ⁽ⁿ⁾ One tribe was set aside to function as priests that ministered to Him. ^(o) Since they chose to not interact with God’s presence, the Law became a guide to help them live as the Kingdom of God.

These people of faith functioned as a nation for the first 400 years without a king, a two-class system, or a central government. Each region elected elders and judges to settle disputes, to help correct bad behavior, and to restore damages. God’s Kingdom in the earth functioned much like today’s republics with individual States. They were a middle class society that functioned as a nation under God.

Faith involves our inner agreement with God and our outer follow through.

Responding To God’s ‘Guidance

As the first function of God’s Kingdom was in decline, a rebirth of the vision was prophesied. “For a child will be born, a son will be given, and the government will rest on His shoulders…and there will be no end to the increase of His government…from then on and for evermore.” ^(p) 

During a time of captivity, God gave the King a dream. Daniel recalled the dream and interpreted it, saying: “God will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed… and not be left for another…it will itself endure forever.” ^(q) This Kingdom reality would endure and never cease to be in the earth.  

Daniel then saw a vision that amplified a few details: “One like a Son of Man coming…to him was given dominion…which will not pass away…which will not be destroyed.” ^(r) The New Testament clarifies how Jesus Christ was the promised Coming One. This ongoing Kingdom reality involved responses to the presence of Jesus who began appearing as God’s guiding and anointing presence. 

Jesus Christ said in his day that this Kingdom experience was already in evidence and people were energetically entering into it. ^(s) During the natural life of Jesus, God’s influencing reign became a fresh reality as people responded to the abiding presence of God. The invitation was and is to all who were “not a people,” and would begin to live as a “kingdom of priests.” ^(t) 

As we respond to God’s guidance, we are able to live a more meaningful natural life, inspired and led by God’s Spirit. ^(u) We must remember the Kingdom life Jesus promoted was to be an ongoing reality for the rest of time. Jesus even said he would “always” be with us ^(v) as the coming presence of God. 

The New Testament declares we can partake of this sense of God’s renewing presence, as coming to us daily. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” ^(w)

As we respond to God’s guidance, we are able to live a more meaningful natural life, inspired and led by God’s Spirit.

Understanding The Kingdom Of God

The call to believe and have faith in God’s guidance is an invitation to everyone. Each person can receive God’s insight and learn to be faithful to the ways of God in everyday life. While our response to God begins as a spiritual experience, it is intended to inspire and influence our natural reaction. 

God invites us to function together as the interactive body of “My People Israel.” We know all things are possible under God’s Kingdom reign. ^(x) Jesus even said interacting believers would do “greater works” ^(y) than what was seen in his life. This refers to an enlarged response to God’s guidance. The greater works are seen as multiple lives interact and function under God’s guiding influence.

At the end of his earthly life, Jesus shared what became known as The Great Commission: “Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” ^(z) Another Gospel records this instruction as: “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” ^(aa) What does this mean? We are to declare to everyone the Good News of God’s abiding presence and encourage all groups of people to partake of this inspiring life.

The function of believers under God’s influence is seen and illustrated in fellowships, communities, and nations as the greater works. Groups responding to God’s guidance are also called the “Body of Christ.” ^(bb) As we adjust our perceptions and natural activity, together we display His influencing oversight as the visible Kingdom of God, making us “spiritual” and “natural” people. 

For over 2000 years the Kingdom of God has been experienced in lives as the coming presence of God-in-Christ. However, many today are taught and tend to believe God’s reign in our lives today is just spiritual. It is as though our general life as believers will continue to deteriorate because we are waiting for a future time when Jesus returns in a glorified natural body. While many can see beyond this futuristic view of God’s Kingdom reign, it is still believed. So, many are struggling with what is true.

Everyone who “seek and knock” ^(cc) can know the life-enriching experiences. While this clarity is not proclaimed often, Paul emphasizes its reality: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify (cleanse, make uncommon) you entirely (in and out); and may your spirit (zoe life) and soul (consciousness) and body (bios natural life) be preserved complete (as one), without blame at the coming (appearing presence) of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ^(dd)

All who respond to God’s guidance today are actually partakers of His influencing presence and are experiencing God’s Kingdom reign. How well are we interacting with our heavenly Father and seeing improvement in our everyday life?

All who respond to God’s guidance are partakers of His influencing presence and are experiencing God’s Kingdom reign.

a) Hebrews 10:16; b) Hebrews 11:16; c) James 2:20-22, 26; d) Romans 9:6-8; 4:11-16; e) Romans 4:9-13, 16; f) Romans 9:30; g) Exodus 1:1-5; 1 Chronicles 6:1-3; h) Exodus 11:1-5; i) Exodus 12:38; j) Numbers 1:3, 46; k) Exodus 8:1; 4:22; l) Exodus 19:5-6;  m) Deuteronomy 4:12; 5:1-4, 22-27; Exodus 20:19; n) Exodus 25:8; o) Exodus 28:1-4; 29:44; p) Isaiah 9:1-7; q) Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45; r) Daniel 7:13-14; s) Luke 16:16; Matthew 11:12; t) 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 1:4-6; u) Galatians 5:6, 13-16, 22-25;v) Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; w) Romans 12:2; x) Matthew 19:23-24, 26;5:20; y)  John 14:12; z) Mark 16:14-18; aa) Matthew 28:18-20; bb) 1 Corinthians 10:16; Ephesians 4:12-16; cc) Luke 11:9-13; Matthew 7:7-11;  dd) 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
When We Arise And Shine author