Romans: Kingdom

Paul’s teaching in Romans 13 reminded believers that government authority, though imperfect, is permitted by God and should be honored as far as conscience allows. Writing to Christians with no political influence under Rome, Paul’s point was not to endorse blind obedience, but to encourage respectful submission, so that the church could live in peace and maintain its focus on the gospel. Ultimately, rulers are accountable to God, and our highest allegiance belongs to Christ.

But submission to authority is only part of the picture. Paul moves from responsibilities toward the state to responsibilities within the church itself. In Romans 14, he addresses how believers are to live in harmony with one another despite disagreements over food, drink, and religious observances. The kingdom of God is not about political power or cultural preferences but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And so, Paul urges the church to pursue peace and mutual upbuilding, reminding us that how we treat one another speaks just as loudly of our faith as how we relate to the world outside.

Background – Romans 14:1–16
Before turning to verses 17–19, which is our primary text, it is essential to understand the flow of Romans 14. The first sixteen verses describe how to live at peace with one another. Paul gives a lengthy example of what it means in practice to “live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” It concerns the relationship between two groups in the Christian community in Rome, whom he names “the weak” and “the strong.” As Paul puts it, “We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this.”

Paul is not speaking to those who are weak in will or character, but to those who are weak in faith. He describes how actions and arguments can cause those younger in the faith to stumble, especially regarding Christian liberties. He uses food and the law as examples. He cautions his readers against looking down on or condemning other believers because they differ in minor details of Christian practice and theology. Those considered weak in their faith may have included former idol worshipers who recently converted to Christ, legalists who practiced denial of worldly pleasures out of religious conviction, and Jewish Christians who carried over dietary or ritual practices from their former way of life.

On one side, the strong in faith believed all foods were clean. On the other hand, the weak in faith believed they were not. So how should the strong act when these two convictions collide? Even though the strong were right, and Paul himself shares their conviction because the Lord Jesus endorsed it, they must not be heavy-handed over the consciences of the weak by imposing their view on them. They must submit to the weaker brother’s conscience (whether right or wrong) and not cause them to act against it. To do otherwise could harm their faith.

In verses 17–19, Paul shifts from these practical matters to the larger doctrine of the Kingdom of God. He argues that whenever the strong insist on using their liberty to eat whatever they like, even at the expense of the weak, they are guilty of misplaced priorities. They are overestimating the importance of diet (which is trivial) and underestimating the importance of the kingdom (which is central).

Romans 14:17–19

There are numerous references throughout Scripture to the Kingdom of God—sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of the Son or the Kingdom of Heaven. This should not surprise us, since the kingdom of God was at the center of Jesus’ message.

The kingdom of God is vast and complex. But what exactly is it? There is no single word or phrase that captures its fullness. Jesus Himself referred to it as a “mystery” or a secret. In Mark 4:11, He said, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables.”

Yet this mystery has been revealed through Christ. Paul tells us in Colossians 2:1–3: “For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

The word “kingdom” in Mark 4:11 is the Greek word basileia, which means royal power, kingship, dominion, or rule. It does not primarily describe a geographical territory, but the authority to reign. In the New Testament sense, it refers to the royal authority of Jesus as the triumphant King and Messiah. A kingdom in the ordinary sense is a territory subject to the rule of a king, but biblically, the focus is on the Messiah’s reign itself.

This means the kingdom is not merely a place, like a nation on a map, but is embodied in a person—Jesus Christ, the King. He has come and reigns supreme, yet His eternal kingdom has not been fully established on earth. That remains future.

This is where it can feel confusing. The kingdom of God has already come in part through Jesus, and yet it is still to come in its fullness. Theologians refer to this as the “already and not yet.” The kingdom is present because of Christ’s first coming and the indwelling of His Spirit in believers. But it is still future, awaiting the second coming of Christ when He will establish His visible reign for all eternity.

Luke 17:20–21 captures this tension: “When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; no one will say, “See here!” or “There!” For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.’” Jesus was declaring that He Himself was the fulfillment of the kingdom. The King stood before the Pharisees, but they failed to recognize Him.

Jesus’ Teaching on the Kingdom
Jesus often taught about the kingdom through parables—short, vivid stories that use everyday life to reveal eternal truth.

For example, in Matthew 13:31–32 He said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” The kingdom begins small but grows steadily and expansively.

He also compared the kingdom to leaven (13:33), a hidden treasure (13:44), a merchant seeking pearls (13:45), and a net cast into the sea (13:47–50). Each image highlights a different reality: the kingdom grows, the kingdom is of surpassing worth, and the kingdom gathers people for God’s glory.

The kingdom contains Christ’s body, the Church, and stands at the center of God’s plan. It was so important that the Father sent His Son as the perfect sacrifice so that all who believe might enter it. As believers, we are already part of this kingdom, and God calls us to play a role in its expansion for His glory.

The Future Kingdom
Yet the kingdom is not only a present, personal reality—it is also a future, cosmic event. It will reach its fullness when Christ returns with His angels to gather His elect and establish His throne on the earth.

Jesus described His second coming this way: “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:41–43).

This future kingdom will be a time of eternal refreshing and restitution, when God’s people will live forever in the presence of Christ. For believers, it is the great hope; for those who reject Him, it will be a day of dread.

Gabriel told Mary about this kingdom when he announced Christ’s birth: “Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:31–33).
This is the kingdom where we will eat and drink at Christ’s table and reign with Him. It is “not of this world,” as Jesus told Pilate in John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered to the Jews.”

The future kingdom will be ushered in at Christ’s return. When the King comes again, His reign will be fully established, His enemies defeated, and His people glorified. What a glorious day that will be!

Conclusion
Paul reminds the Roman believers that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This means that when we elevate personal preferences, cultural traditions, or secondary matters above the kingdom, we distort the gospel and risk wounding others in the body of Christ.
So how should we live in light of this truth?

1. Pursue righteousness. Live with integrity before God and others. Let your actions reflect the character of Christ rather than personal liberties.
2. Seek peace. Choose reconciliation over argument, humility over pride, and love over winning an opinion. Peace is not weakness—it is the fruit of the Spirit.
3. Cultivate joy in the Holy Spirit. Joy is not dependent on circumstances or agreement on every issue. It flows from the Spirit’s presence and keeps our focus on Christ, not controversy.
4. Build up one another. Paul says, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Our words and actions should encourage, strengthen, and bless fellow believers rather than tear them down.
   
   

In other words, the kingdom is about Christ’s rule in our lives and His presence among His people, not about winning debates over food, drink, or secondary matters. When we live this way, the church reflects the reality of the kingdom to a watching world.
Next week, we will continue by examining the remaining verses of chapter 14 and the opening verses of chapter 15, where Paul further elaborates on what it means to bear with one another in love and live for the glory of God.


Reflection Questions
1.     What does Paul mean when he says the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking?
The kingdom is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit rather than external practices.

• Why do we so often elevate preferences or traditions over what truly matters in God’s kingdom?
• How might this shift in focus change the way you view disagreements in the church?
  
  

2.     How do righteousness, peace, and joy shape our life together as the church?
These qualities reveal Christ’s reign in our lives and strengthen unity among believers.

• Which of these three qualities—righteousness, peace, or joy—do you most need to grow in right now?
• How can the Spirit help us reflect these traits in our relationships with other believers?
  
  

3.     Why is it dangerous to insist on our liberties at the expense of others?
It can cause weaker believers to stumble and distract from the kingdom’s true priorities.

• Can you think of a time when exercising your freedom might have harmed someone else’s faith?
• How can humility help us use our freedom in a way that honors Christ and builds others up?

4.     What does it mean to live in the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom?
The kingdom has come in Christ and through the Spirit, but its fullness awaits His return.

• How does this tension affect the way we live as Christians in the present?
• In what ways can remembering the future kingdom give us hope in our current struggles?

​5.     How do Jesus’ parables help us understand the kingdom of God?
They reveal the kingdom as something of great value that grows steadily and draws people to God.

• Which parable of the kingdom speaks most clearly to you, and why?·
• How can you live in a way that reflects the kingdom’s growth and worth?

6.     Why is peace among believers so important in advancing the kingdom?
Unity in the church reflects the reality of God’s reign to the watching world.

• What obstacles to peace do you see in your own relationships or in your church community?
• What practical step can you take this week to pursue peace with another believer?

​7.     How does the promise of the future kingdom encourage us today?
It gives believers hope of eternal life with Christ and a reminder that His reign is certain.

• How does this hope strengthen you to endure present difficulties or divisions?
• In what ways does the promise of Christ’s return motivate you to live differently now?

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