Ecclesia Explosion

When the Lord ascended into Heaven, He left behind an assembly of baptized believers ready to carry on the work of Christ (a church). He told that church when He ascended in Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." He then ascended up to Heaven as the church stood gazing. They then went to an upper room and continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the church. Following a business meeting of the church in Acts 1, the church continued in one accord until that day of Pentecost when the church experienced something wonderful.
On that day of Pentecost and the days to follow soon after, the church there at Jerusalem grew rapidly. From that small group listed in Acts 1:14-15 which we know total there was nearly 500 (1 Cor. 15:6), to soon an estimated membership of over 25,000! Quite the explosion!
That church would meet at Solomon's Porch at the Temple (Acts 5:12), private homes (Acts 12:12-NOT THE SAME AS THE MODERN DAY HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT WHICH IS UNSCRIPTURAL), and was pastored by the apostles with Peter seemingly taking the leadership (Acts 1:15). That church grew so much that soon the pastors could not meet the needs of the widows and such, and so that church elected deacons (Acts 6) who served the church.
The membership of this church at this time was Jewish and consisted of three types of Jews:
1. Hebrews-Jews from Palestine that maintained a Jewish lifestyle
2. Grecians-Hellenistic Jews of the Dispersion who were Greek speaking and had adopted the world's culture
3. Proselytes-Gentiles who had embraced Judaism and received circumcision
(**Sadly even then there was the beginnings of a 'church split' amongst these different groups within the church-Acts 6-and that is why deacons were chosen).
It is true that God's plan for missions was to take the Gospel to the Jew first and then the Gentiles (Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8). Beginning at Jerusalem and then according to Acts 1:8 to Judaea, Samaria, and to the rest of the world.
The Lord would show in this pattern the authority of His church and then other churches would be started with that Authority of that Authority. Let us examine the Acts 1:8 pattern in action:
1. The receiving of power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.
We see this take place in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. On that day the Holy Ghost (as promised by the Saviour) came and was received by that early church. There were many 'devout men' in Jerusalem at that time who came and visited the church and heard Peter deliver a powerful message and as a result repented, were saved, and then also received the Holy Ghost (upon salvation) and were baptized.
2.Witnesses unto me in Jerusalem. That day 3,000 in Jerusalem were saved, baptized, and added unto the church. They "continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship...and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
3. Witness in all Judaea In Acts 10 we see Peter with a group of believers from the church at Jerusalem going to Caesarea (the capital city of Judaea), and visiting with Cornelius. After preaching there, many were saved, received the Holy Ghost (upon salvation-it is important to note here that Peter did not have to lay his hands upon them in order to received the Holy Ghost; our Lord was teaching Peter and the Jews that the same Gospel, same God, same Holy Ghost was for the Gentiles as it was for them) and were baptized under the authority of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 10:47-48). Now the Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem and Judeae had had received the Gospel. (Acts 11:1)
4. Witness in Samaria. In Acts 8, Philip was sent from the church at Jerusalem to Samaria (vs. 5). Here the people of Samaria heard the Truth and "believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" under that authority there at Jerusalem. (Important to note, here Peter and John came to see the believers and laid their hands on them in order form them to receive the Holy Ghost-this is because the Samaritans had a different place of worship in Mt. Gerizim than the Jewish Temple-John 4:21-22, but as our Lord told the woman of Samaria "the hour cometh when ye shall neither in the mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father...for salvation is of the Jews." It was not God's will that the Samaritan's have a separate worship than the Jews any longer; thus the Samaritans had to recognize the authority of the church that Jesus began by the laying on of hands by Peter and John in order to receive the Holy Ghost.) Now the Gospel was preached in Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria and all recognized the authority of the church Jesus started and the importance of having proper authority.
5. Witness unto the uttermost part of the earth.The Lord permitted persecution to come upon the church at Jerusalem to accomplish His purpose (Acts 8:14) and soon the Gospel was being preached unto the world through men such as Paul. In Acts 19 Paul met some disciples of John in Corinth who had obviously missed the preaching of John. Paul corrected their thinking and they too believed and were baptized Scripturally. Here Paul lays his hands upon them and they receive the Holy Ghost (again a recognition of proper authority). Now in Jerusalem, Judeae, Samaria, and the world was the Gospel being preached, souls were being saved, and people were getting baptized. The Holy Ghost from this point on will only be seen being received upon salvation-just as we received the Holy Ghost. God's purpose in that was to establish to all regions the Truth of God's Word and proper Authority.
The church had gone from the Lord and His disciples to 100's of thousands of believers across the world, just as the Lord said it would. What growth-what Ecclesia explosion! Now, with the Gospel and proper authority, churches would be established and our Lord uses a man named Paul to continue this great work.

Primoris Templum

With the Word of God as our foundation, we begin a study of church history with the "first church" Primoris Templum. Contrary to even a prevalent opinion, the church did NOT start at Pentecost. For one reason, if the church began at Pentecost, it then would deny what the Lord said He would do. In Matt. 16:18, the Lord said "I will build my church." If one believes in a Pentecost Birthday of the church, then it was the Holy Spirit that built the church. We know this is not so. The reason the Pentecost birthday theory is so prevalent is because it goes hand in hand with the universal church theory.
Rather, the first church was that church which our Lord Jesus Christ began during His ministry here on earth. The very first mention of church is found in Matthew 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The Lord Jesus took the materials prepared by John the Baptist (baptized believers) to build His church. He trained them for the missionary work, the commission of the church-the Evangelizing, Baptizing, and Discipling of others (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15).
That first church was a visible, organized assembly of baptized believers doing the work of God-a true church. That first church had a Head (Matt. 23:8 "...for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."), it had a Pastor (John 10:11, 14 the word pastor means shepherd), it had discipline (Matt. 18:15-20), it conducted business meetings (Acts 1:15-26), it had a treasurer (John 13:29), it was commissioned (Matt. 28:18-20), it did missionary work (Matt. 10:1-11:1), it baptized believers (John 4:1-2), it had a membership roll (Acts 1:13-15), it observed the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26:26-28), it had singing (Matt. 26:30, Heb. 2:12), it met for prayer (Luke 11:1-9, Acts 1:14), and those saved at Pentecost were "added unto" (you can not add to what does not already exist). We thus see that the church the Lord began, pre-pentecost was the first church.
That church and all churches it would eventually produce, were to continue this work until He comes again. Thus, with Christ as the Head of each church, the work of the church continues. This is why a church is referred to as "the body of Christ." The body refers to service. Many mistakenly believe that 'the body of Christ' is all believers here on earth. This is false teaching. The body of Christ is applied to every local, visible church. Each church is the body of Christ with Christ as its Head. How is this so?
Our Lord illustrated this in the instituting of the Lord's Supper in Matthew 26

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body."

Now which piece each disciple held was 'the body.' When our churches observe the Lord's supper, does any church use that same bread He used that evening? No, of course not. So today, every true New Testament church is the body of Christ. He is the Head of every true New Testament church.
That first body, the Lord and His disciples from whom He chose 12 as Apostles (Matthew 10:1,2; 1 Cor. 12:28) constituted the first church. That church would go on fulfilling the work the Lord trained it to do, and as a result other like churches were started which with His Authority started other like churches and thus begins our study of church history.

A Holy History

Before we get into the facts and information of our Baptist history, we must lay day a foundational principle for study. Our historical study will be different than a world's philosophy of historical study. Ours is different in that our starting point of origin is the Bible! The Bible is the foundation upon which our history is built! We dare not look to the Bible to prove historical facts (which of course could be done), but we look to history to prove the facts of God's Word. It may not sound like a big deal, but in reality it makes all the difference in the world.
We start with God's Word and interpret the facts of history in light of God's Word. God's Word is Truth! "Facts" of history and science have changed over the years due to discoveries and inventions, but God's Word will always be the same,and consequently has always been right! So we must begin our study understanding that God's Word is the foundation upon which we build.
We then quickly discover that our Lord promised Perpetuity to His churches (Matt. 16:17-18). What is perpetuity? A dictionary will tell you that perpetuity is the state of being perpetual, endless; indefinite duration.Our Lord promised this throughout Scripture.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18 If the 'gates of hell' ever prevailed, God's Word is in error.

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matt. 18:17 If there were to be a time of no church, this command is impossible

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. 11:26 The observance of the Lord's Supper was to be done by the church "until He come" therefore ensuring there will be churches until that time.

So one can see through these verses and others not yet mentioned, that the Lord did promise perpetuity. So what is Biblically meant by perpetuity? In studying the Bible and interpreting the facts of history in light of God's Word, one will come to the conclusion that a Biblical perpetuity as promised to His churches is that there has never been a day since the organization of the first New Testament church by the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles in which there was not genuine New Testament church existing on earth." (A Manual of Church Historyby J. Griffith pg. 33). By perpetuity, we do not point to an 'identifiable unbroken chain of churches,' as we have already discussed the persecution, burning, and hiding of those churches which held to the doctrine of God's Word through ages. We do not mean the name "Baptist" was promised perpetuity. Throughout ages those which held to Truth were called by many names and titles. We definitely do not mean by perpetuity an 'apostolic succession.' The Lord's churches, since He began it with His disciples, have always been in existence on this earth.
I believe a study of Revelation 2 & 3 does not teach different 'dispensations,' but rather different types of the Lord's churches that have always been in existence. Pray and study accordingly. The Lord has promised to preserve Word (Ps. 12:6-7; 1 Peter 1:23-25); all His Children (Ps. 37:28; 1 Thess. 5:23; 1 Peter 1:5); the nation of Israel (Gen. 13:15; Rom. 11:1-26; Is. 49:5-8); this world (Gen. 9:16; 2 Pt. 3:7); and His churches (Matt. 16:18; Matt. 18:17; etc). What God promises to keep, He will keep. As much as I know I cannNOT lose my salvation, I am preserved by God, I also know that there has always been true churches based upon the promise of God.
Even other historians and historical figures concede:

We have now seen that the Baptists, who were formerly called Anabaptists...were the original Waldenses, and who have long in history received the honor of that origin. Baptists may be considered as the only Christian community which has stood since the days of the apostles...which has preserved pure the doctrine of the Gospel through all ages." A. Ypeij-Dutch Reformed historian

From the apostolic age to the present time, the sentiments of Baptists have had a continued chain of advocates, and public documents of their existence in every century can be produced.Alexander Campbell (Campbellite leader

...the rise of the Anabaptist took place prior to the reformation...and there are also reasons for believing that on the continent of Europe small hidden Christian societies, who have held many of the opinions of the Anabaptists have existed from the time of the Apostles.Robert Barclay a Quaker historian

I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as 100AD, though without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were then Baptists. John Clark Ridpath

Were it not for the fact that the Anabaptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past 1200 years, they would swarm greater than all the Reformers.Cardinal Hosius mid 1500's

With the basis being God's Word that He promised perpetuity to His churches, and in light of history and the facts known, we shall begin a study, century by century of those who stood for the faith, passed on from generation to generation an unspotted, pure faith, and those to whom we ought give honor to.

Foundation of Church History

Many view church history as the history of all denominations. Seeing how that a 'church' is considered to be anything that one claims it to be or that 'the church' is all of Christendom, a proper study of church history is hard to come by. From our studies, we have seen that a true church is not what is described above, but those churches that have authority from the Lord, hold to New Testament Doctrine, and practice New Testament polity, and identify themselves as such. A true church is made up of saved, properly baptized, believers organized together to fulfill the commission. There will be a sought out purity, a Theocratic/congregational government, soul liberty, with the Word of God being the absolute Authority and the church the executive and authority in all church matters.
It is more of a challenge to study true church history due to the fact that for centuries true churches were hated, murdered, and persecuted as heretics. Their records burnt and destroyed, their churches forced into secrecy, and their writings condemned as heresy by both Catholic and Protestant. Most 'church history' books today are or are based upon Catholic and Protestant historians and view points.
It is therefore, without shame, that I confess that my study is a study of true church history, one can say, Baptist history. It is my desire to remind our generation and the one to come of the men and ladies who gave their lives, gave up their vocations, saw family and relatives put to death for the same faith we so freely enjoy today.
We owe them! We owe them more than to keep making heroes in our Christian Schools out of Calvin and Luther who put our fore-fathers to death for OUR FAITH. We owe them more than to keep praising the Anglicans and Puritans who beat Obadiah Homes for refusing a false baptism and church. We don't even know who men like Shubal Stearns, Isaac Backus, John Clarke, and Jenkin Jones are. We think the Waldensians are people that look for a poor sighted boy that wears red and white stripes! We must learn our history!

The legacy of failure to have taught these things in generations past is evident in the readiness with which members of Baptist churches change their affiliation to heretical churches. -J.W. GriffithA Manual of Church History

We must, as Baptists, study our church history. A proper study of true church history will remind us of the promises of God. We will see our Lord's hand in protecting His churches and ensuring that perpetuity promised to them. A proper study will also revive us in the pursuit of purity. When we understand what it cost those before us in the faith to preserve for us what we liberally enjoy today, it should make us "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:8. There is a generation following us, will they find faith?

Church's Past

Thus far we have spent a good deal of time studying and re-examing church practices, church pretenders, and now we will begin a study of the church's past. There are a myriad of books covering the subject of church history, and it is not my intent to exhaustivaly study the topic. I do desire to give honor to whom honor is due. I do desire to show gratitude to our Baptist fore-fathers, many of whom died a martyr's death so that we may have what we have today.
I believe it should be clear by now, but our church history starts with the church that our Lord Jesus began in His earthly ministry with that of His disciples. Our church history does not include the Catholic Church, protestant churches, or any man made denomination. Our church fore-fathers do not include men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, or Zwingli.
I believe it is imparative that we study and know our church's history. I believe most Baptist do not know their history, and the result has been a watered down doctrine and watered down separation. We have allowed our Abeka and Bob Jones curriculums to teach our children a false church history. We have glorified Luther, the Puritans, Anglicans, and Calvin and made them honorary Hebrews 11 inductees.
May we take a fresh look, allow the Lord to show us truth, and honor with a grateful heart those that took a stand for our faith.

The Mission of The Lord's Churches

I feel as if we should conclude our study of church pretenders. I desire to make one thing clear, that I love the brethren. I love all those in the family of God. 1 John 3:14 reads, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." This love should not be challenged by correction and truth, but rather confirmed by correcting and sharing truth.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Prov. 27:26
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Prov. 27:17
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb. 12:6
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph. 4:15

Do I believe that all people on earth are the children of God? No, you must have put your faith in Christ to become a child of God (Gal. 3:26). Do I believe only Baptist are going to Heaven? No, we can and will go to the Father through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Do I believe the Kingdom of God was supposed to be our Lord setting up a kingdom with the Jews when He first came? No, he told Nicodemus in John 3, "the Son of man must be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life...for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." He didn't come to conquer and set up a kingdom with the Jews the first time He came, He came to die so the world could be saved.
Do I believe in an universal, invisible church? No, the church found in the New Testament is a local, visible, organized body of baptized believers. There is no universal, invisible body preached in the New Testament.
Do I believe that only Baptist will be the bride of Christ in Glory? No, just because you are a 'Baptist' in name does not make you the bride of Christ. How you follow the doctrine in God's Word does matter!
The Lord's churches have been given a mission. That mission can be summarized two fold. First, the Lord's churches are to bring Eternal Glory to God. Ephesians 3:20-21 read,

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The most important mission of a church is to bring glory to the Name of God. This is accomplished by being obedient and carrying out God's purpose. It is the Lord's purpose that His church be without spot or wrinkle-holy and without blemish. We are living in a world of rapidly declining moral and spiritual standards. This decay is seriously affecting Christians and churches to a point that it is often difficult to tell Christians from non-Christians. The church out to be holy! The church ought to contrast the world! The church ought to contrast the world's philosophies, music, dress, and entertainment. The church ought to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15). To allow worldliness is to commit spiritual adultery (James 4:4). Paul said in 1 Cor. 5:6 that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." The church must cease allowing sin in her midst! I am not referring to a sinless perfection, but an accepted worldliness that seems to be the normal today. This is foreign to God!
God's Word teaches separation (2 Cor. 6:17)! Separation from the world (1 John 2:15-16), separation from marrying unbelievers to believers (2 Cor. 6:14), separation in matters of doctrine (2 John 9-10; Rom. 16:17), and separation from unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). It is time true churches-the Lord's churches stood up and took a stand again! The church is to bring glory to God!
It used to be that churches preached against movie houses, now they are producing movies to be shown in them. It used to be preached that rock music was evil, now it is embraced and used in 'worship.' It used to be preached that men and ladies dressed different, now it is taboo to speak of such things and even promoted to keep 'coming as you are'. It used to be preached immorality was sin, but now it is coddled and accepted as normal-sadly with both laymen and clergy. It used to be preached that alcohol was an abomination, but now it is served in the foyers. It used to be preached that saints of God did not tattoo their flesh, now they bear Scriptures as a testimony on their backs and arms. It used to be preached that you did not use corrupt communication, but now it is what brings people in.
Oh for the day that churches still preached against Hollywood instead of meeting there for fellowship. Oh for a day when churches were more concerned for their prayer meeting than for their cruise in car show. Things like this are an abomination: and should Jack Schaap be promoting it, shame on him! The ROC does not bring glory to God http://www.theroc.com/church2/ ! Satan deceived the masses when he caused churches to think they were to be patterned for the lost! The church was designed by God for the maturing of the believer. The lost are to be won out in the world, and the church is to be a refuge from it! It is time churches quit pretending to be what they are not...if you want to be an organization with a good message that still coddles sin, then be that; but quit calling yourself a church!
The second mission of the Lord's churches is to evangelize globally. Each church is to be a soul-winning church. This does not contrast my last few thoughts. We should be winning souls to Christ, but the Lord sent us out to go and evangelize. I am not against a lost soul getting saved at church, but I am against a church fashioning itself to make the lost feel comfortable. Churches need to be maturing saints to go and evangelize, to bring the lost to Jesus.
Christ is our example (Luke 19:10), the disciples evangelized (John 20:21), the early Christians evangelized, and we today should evangelize! There is an urgent need for evangelism. Obediently leading souls to Christ is a wonderful way to bring glory to God! We need to keep sending missionaries from their local church (for God gets the glory in the church) to fields where the Gospel is not preached. This is our mission! To bring glory to God and to win souls.
I don't find car shows, carnivals, festivals, bingo, or gym nights anywhere in Scripture as the church's mission.

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8

The Kingdom and The Church

These past few months, we have taken a closer look at the church, our Lord's churches, and distinguished between them and 'church pretenders.' We have seen how that the Lord's churches will distinguish themselves from false churches in that they will be upholding the doctrines of the New Testament, observing the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, will be practicing Biblical Church discipline, will be made up of members that are saved and properly baptized, will be autonomous from any other authority apart from the Word of God leading the church body through the Spirit, and will have the proper church officers fulfilling the role God has established for them.
Recently the stand taken by myself and our church has been under attack. Unfortunately, they have not come and spoken to me about the issue, but rather other pastors, friends, and family-even the college I attended. True friends have called me to let me know of their tactics, and I have spent time studying and praying about the stand and beliefs we uphold.
One area greatly under attack is in the area of the Kingdom of God and the church. From my studies, those in disagreement must have a strong Ruckmanite background (follower of Peter Ruckman). It has been stated and printed by others that the Gospel which the Lord and the disciples preached was different than that Gospel preached by Paul. It was stated and printed that the Kingdom of God, had the Jews accepted Jesus, would have been established when His ministry took place or that upon the preaching of Stephen, the Lord stood in anticipation of coming and setting up His kingdom had they accepted his preaching. Unfortunately, there is no Scripture supporting such statements. All this is said to contradict the teaching that our Lord gave to the local church His authority and commission to evangelize, baptize, and disciple; and to contradict the Biblical teaching that this is done through the local churches-visible, organized, local assemblies of baptized believers. This is to contradict the stand that not all believers are part of true churches. These beliefs lead to ecumenicalism, which is a Satanic end-time plan of the Devil.
The Bible teaches that their is the family of God (Eph. 3:14-16). The family of God is seen to be made up in this passage of all saved both in Heaven and on Earth. All those born again are part of the family of God. We are adopted (Rom. 8:15, Eph. 1:5), been made sons of God (John 1:12). We can address no one by any greater name than that of 'brother' and 'sister' in Christ.
The Bible teaches the local church, which we have studied in detail. The church is a local, visible body of baptized believers sent forth to evangelize, baptize, and disciple. The church was begun in the ministry of Jesus Christ. He started the church (not John the Baptist who made ready the material to start the church). He promised the perpetuity of the church in Matt. 16:18-19. He gave instructions for discipline in the church in Matthew 18. The word church means called out assembly. In the New Testament it is primarily found used in connection with a local church. If there was one invisible body or church made up of all believers, then how do we not 'forsake the assembling of ourselves together?' The Lord's churches are those local, visible, organized bodies fulfilling the commission under His Authority.
The Bible then teaches the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God. I have been told that the Kingdom of God is the Lord ruling on this earth. It is what the Lord wanted when He first walked in Israel with His disciples, what He would have set up had the Jews not rejected Stephen. I have been told it was the 'Gospel' that Jesus and the disciples preached-different than our Gospel. (one point of thought...then why baptism? Doesn't baptism represent the death, burial, and resurrection?). The Kingdom would, by other's definition, a physical ruling and reigning of Christ.
This is a novel idea, but one I try to practice...Let us examine God's Word-not Peter Ruckman's, not Dr. Ken Blue's, not Travis Burke's....God's Word.
When one is born again he is regenerated (given a new nature). He is Justified (given a new standing). He is sanctified (given a new character). He is adopted (given a new family). He is Translated (given a new King)!
Colossians 1:12-14 reads:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

You see, before anyone was saved, they were under the 'power of darkness'. They served their father-the Devil. They were under the authority of Satan, living in darkness, blinded to their spiritual state. Praise the Lord, after salvation, we now are 'partakers of the inheritance of the saints of light.' (see 1 John). We have been 'translated into the kingdom of his dear Son." God has now put us under the authority of His Son, no longer the Devil...Praise God!
So is this kingdom one of Christ ruling and reigning physically here on this earth? Well, let us look at God's Word. Romans 14:17 reads:

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Is it me, or did our Lord just define in His Word "the Kingdom of God?" It is not the physical, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! Now do not get me wrong, the Bible does prophecy that one day there will be the Lord ruling and reigning here on this earth during the Millennium-1,000 years-following the seven years of tribulation (Rev. 20); but most New Testament references of the Kingdom do not refer to this future Kingdom, but to a present kingdom. How is this possible?
Let us review? The Bible teaches that the Kingdom is not a physical kingdom now, but righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost. The Bible teaches that we, upon salvation, are translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Let us examine this further, how one gets into the kingdom. Jesus addressed it in John 3. In verses 1 & 2 a ruler named Nicodemus was 'buttering up' Jesus calling Him a good master. Jesus' response to him in verse 3 is:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

That word 'see' means to 'understand.' Example, I was teaching math today in school and one of my students who was struggling finally said, "Oh, I see it now." Jesus told Nicodemus, who had just told Jesus what a good master He was, 'You can't understand the Kingdom unless you are born again!" He went on to teach what being born again was, being born of water and Spirit. Some attempt to use this verse to say, "Baptism and Spirit Baptism." This is not the case, for the Lord explained what He meant in the next verse with "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." It is being born of water (natural birth when water sack breaks) and the Spirit (salvation). But in verse 5 Jesus says something interesting,

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So, we see a difference in verse 3 and 5. You can't understand the Kingdom unless you are saved and you can't enter into unless you are born again!
I have met many people who can't understand why I go to church every week, why I like for men to yell the Bible at me, why I look forward to praying so much, why I read my Bible every day, why I don't do certain things they do...it is foolishness to them, they can't understand because they do not understand that the Lord is the King of my life! They will never understand this until they make Him the King of their life-then, it all comes together doesn't it?
In Mark 10:13-15 we see children brought to Christ and the Lord saying "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." The attributes of a child is what makes up the Kingdom? Yes, an obedient, believing faith!
In Luke 16 Jesus is preaching on some money issues and the Pharisees didn't like it and they (vs. 14) 'derided him.' They began attacking Jesus in words. Jesus' response to them in verse 15-16 is:

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail

We see here that the Lord rebukes the Pharisees for trying to justify themselves and their attempt to rationalize their self-righteousness. God knew their heart. The Lord knew that they had themselves upon the throne and not the Lord God.
You see, yes some day the Lord will set up a kingdom for 1,000 years on this earth and that prophecy will be in fulfillment, but the kingdom of God now is a partial fulfillment. We see from Scripture that the Kingdom begins upon being born again, understood after being born again when we are translated out of the power of darkness and into light. That the kingdom is not meat and drink (physical) but righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
Simply stated, we, individual believers, living on this earth have choices every day to do right or wrong. We are a testimony of the Kingdom of God when we have Jesus upon our heart's throne, when our life is one of righteousness, joy, and peace, we are partial fulfillments of what is to come. We are the Kingdom of God living on this earth! Only those who are born again can 'see' the Kingdom of God. Jesus told the pharisees that the Kingdom of God had been preached since John the Baptist (Luke 16). Before that time was the law and the prophets (sorry Dr. Ruckman, John was a New Testament prophet!). Since John, the Kingdom has been preached-allowing God to rule in man's heart!
When we leave this life, we enter Heaven and have no more 'choice' to do wrong. Thus we conclude that the family of God is all believers in heaven and earth; the kingdom of God is all those saved on this earth who has made Him the King of their lives-living a testimony of the day when Jesus will rule and reign upon this earth; and what of the churches of God?
Matthew 16:15-19 reads,

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Our Lord started the church during His earthly ministry here on earth with His disciples. Here our Lord promises the perpetuity of the church and then promises to 'give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven..." The keys speak of authority and the responsibility given to the church. The church has the responsibility to show men how to be born again (enter the kingdom) and then to disciple them to observe all things (allow Him to rule their hearts); thus the church has been given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven-which we have established is not a physical, but instead 'righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost.'
I'm glad I am part of the family of God; I'm glad I 'see' the Kingdom of God; and I must serve through the church to tell others how they can do the same!