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This section of Ursinus' commentary is on Lord's Day 48, specifically focusing on the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come.” This petition is interpreted as a prayer for God to govern people, increase and preserve the Church, and destroy the devil's influence until the kingdom's fullness arrives. The commentary systematically addresses eleven questions about the nature of God's kingdom, including its definition as a spiritual dominion over all creatures and especially the Church, its two forms (grace and glory), and details regarding its King (Christ), subjects, laws, and the benefits enjoyed by its followers. Finally, the commentary discusses the enemies of the kingdom, where it is administered, its eternal duration, how it comes to the faithful, and the reasons why one should pray for its arrival.
Chapter
Contents:
This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the second petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come." The central argument is that this prayer is a multifaceted request for God's active spiritual governance. It asks God to rule believers by His Word and Spirit, to preserve and expand His Church, to vanquish all opposing forces, and to ultimately bring about the final, perfected state of His kingdom where He will be "all in all."
The exposition distinguishes between two primary administrations of this single kingdom: the Kingdom of Grace, which is the current state of the Church on earth being gathered and sanctified through means like the preaching of the gospel, and the Kingdom of Glory, which is the perfected, future state in heaven where such means will no longer be necessary.
Christ is identified as the singular Head and King, ruling both as God and as Mediator. The kingdom's citizens include angels, saints in heaven (the church triumphant), and believers on earth (the church militant), though it also contains "apparent citizens" or hypocrites. Its enemies are defined as the devil and wicked men, both within and outside the Church.
Praying for the kingdom's arrival is presented not as an attempt to alter God's divine decree, but as a necessary act of aligning with His will. This prayer is for God's glory and for the believers' own salvation, expressing a desire for the full gathering of the elect, the end of wickedness, and the complete deliverance and glorification of the Church.
I. Defining the Kingdom of God
The petition "Thy kingdom come" is an appeal for God to govern believers by His Word and Spirit, increase His Church, destroy the works of the devil, and bring His kingdom to its ultimate fullness. The kingdom of God is defined as the domain where God alone rules over all creatures, with a special focus on governing and preserving the Church.
The Universal and Special Kingdom
• Universal Kingdom: God's dominion over all creatures.
• Special Kingdom (The Church): This is the primary focus of the petition. It is a spiritual, not worldly, kingdom. Its establishment and continuation consist of eight distinct parts:
1. The sending of the Son, the Mediator, into the world.
2. The institution and preservation of the ministry by Him.
3. The gathering of the Church from all humanity through the gospel and the Holy Spirit, which work faith and repentance in the elect.
4. The perpetual government of the Church.
5. The preservation of the Church against all enemies in this life.
6. The casting of all enemies into everlasting punishment.
7. The raising of the Church to everlasting life.
8. The glorification of the Church in eternal life, where "God will be all in all."
II. The Twofold Administration of the Kingdom
While the Kingdom of God is one reality, its administration differs between its current and future states. This distinction is commonly understood as the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of Glory.
|
Feature |
Kingdom of Grace (Present) |
Kingdom of Glory (Future) |
|
State |
Begun in this life |
Perfected in the life to come |
|
Administration |
Requires means for gathering and preserving the church (e.g., ministry, preaching, sacraments). |
Requires no means, as the Church will be perfectly glorified and God will communicate Himself directly to the blessed. |
|
Christ's Role |
Christ actively serves as Mediator, gathering, defending, and perfecting His people. |
Christ will "deliver up the kingdom to God even the Father" (1 Cor. 15:24), ceasing the mediatorial form of His administration as its work will be complete. |
|
Condition |
Characterized by conversion, abolishing sin, defense against enemies, and growth. Prophecies, tongues, and partial knowledge are necessary. |
Saints are perfected and glorified. There are no enemies to subdue. That which is perfect has come, and that which is "in part shall be done away." |
As stated in Revelation 21:22-23, in the Kingdom of Glory, there will be no temple, "for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are the temple of it," and no need for the sun or moon, "for the glory of God did lighten, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
III. Governance, Citizenship, and Law
The King and Head
The Head and King of this kingdom is the one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christ holds a particular role as Head in two respects:
1. As God: He sits at the right hand of the Father, ruling with equal power and glory.
2. As Mediator: He is the person through whom God the Father works and gives the Holy Spirit.
The Citizens and Subjects
The subjects of God's kingdom are categorized into four groups:
1. Angels: Those who are confirmed in holiness.
2. Saints in Heaven: The "church triumphant."
3. The Godly on Earth: Converted believers still living in the world, known as the "church militant."
4. Hypocrites: Members of the visible church who are not truly converted. They are merely "apparent citizens" and members "only in name."
The Laws of the Kingdom
The kingdom is administered according to two fundamental laws:
1. The Word of God: The doctrine of the law and the gospel.
2. The Power of the Holy Spirit: The efficacy of the Spirit working and reigning in the hearts of the elect through the Word.
IV. Benefits and Enemies of the Kingdom
Benefits for Subjects
The kingdom bestows unique spiritual and eternal benefits upon its subjects, reflecting Aristotle's observation that "A kingdom is not injury or oppression, but bountifulness." These benefits include:
• True faith
• Conversion
• The forgiveness of sins
• Righteousness
• Perseverance in holiness
• The Holy Spirit
• Glorification and eternal life
The text cites John 8:36, "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed," and Romans 14:17, "The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Enemies of the Kingdom
The enemies of God's kingdom are identified as the devil and wicked men. These are further divided into two types:
• Internal Enemies: Hypocrites within the church who are "pretended friends of Christ."
• External Enemies: Open and avowed opponents outside the church, such as "the Turks, the Jews, the Samosatenians, the Arians, and all those who defend errors that subvert the foundation of our most holy religion."
V. The Kingdom's Progression and Administration
Location and Duration
• Location: The kingdom's gathering phase is administered on earth but is not confined to any single place, being scattered over the whole world. Its perfected state is administered in heaven.
• Duration: The gathering of the kingdom continues from the beginning to the end of the world. Its state of perfection will last for all eternity.
The Fourfold Coming of the Kingdom
The kingdom is understood to "come to us" in four distinct ways:
1. By the Preaching of the Gospel: This reveals the knowledge of true doctrine.
2. By Conversion: God grants faith and repentance to individuals, bringing them into the kingdom.
3. By Increase and Development: Believers make progress in holiness, and spiritual gifts are increased in them.
4. By Perfection and Glorification: The final consummation occurs at the second coming of Christ.
VI. The Rationale for the Prayer
The exposition concludes by explaining why believers should pray for the coming of the kingdom and addresses a key theological objection.
Primary Motivations for Prayer
1. For the Glory of God: Praying for God's kingdom is necessary for the sanctification of His name. Unless God establishes His kingdom in believers, they cannot sanctify His name but will instead defile it.
2. For Our Comfort and Salvation: God gives His kingdom and the Holy Spirit only to those who desire and pray for them.
The Theological Objection and Its Refutation
• Objection: Why pray for something that is already decreed by God and which our prayers cannot hasten or retard?
• Answer: This objection is dismissed based on several points:
1. God has promised blessings with the condition that believers must ask for them. Deliverance will be granted only to those who "desire and long for it."
2. Praying for God to "hasten" the deliverance of the church is also a prayer that all the elect "may speedily be brought in, so that not one may be excluded."
3. This prayer expresses a desire for three key outcomes:
▪ The speedy deliverance of the church and rest for the godly.
▪ The end of all wickedness and the judgment of God's enemies.
▪ The full manifestation of God's glory in the deliverance of His church.
4. Ultimately, those who do not desire and pray for the coming of the Lord will not receive Him as His saints. His coming as Savior is for those who eagerly await Him.
How
does the kingdom of God manifest itself through grace and glory?
The kingdom of God, while being one in reality, manifests itself differently and is commonly distinguished as the Kingdom of grace and the Kingdom of glory. This distinction reflects the different modes of administration here on earth versus in heaven.
Manifestation through Grace (The Kingdom Begun)
The Kingdom of grace is the manifestation of God's rule that is begun in this life. It is administered on earth, although it is not confined to any single location.
The manifestation of the kingdom through grace involves:
Administration and Governance: God governs his subjects by His word and Spirit, compelling them to submit to Him increasingly. This includes the institution and preservation of the ministry of the church.
Means: The kingdom, as it exists in this world, requires means for its establishment and expansion. These means include the preaching of the gospel, which reveals heavenly doctrine, and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual Benefits: The core benefits bestowed upon subjects in the Kingdom of grace are spiritual and eternal. These include:
True faith and conversion.
The forgiveness of sins and righteousness.
Perseverance in holiness and continual increase and development in the gifts peculiar to the faithful.
The Holy Spirit, which is the power and efficacy working and reigning in the hearts of the elect.
Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The Praying Church: When we pray "Thy kingdom come," we desire that the Kingdom of grace be established among and in us in this life. This prayer asks that the ministry be preserved, the church be collected by the word and Spirit, and that God rule and govern the members, conforming them wholly to Himself.
Manifestation through Glory (The Kingdom Perfected)
The Kingdom of glory is the ultimate, highest development of God's rule, which is perfected in the life to come. It is administered in heaven, representing the complete state of development.
The manifestation of the kingdom through glory is characterized by perfection and immediacy:
Ultimate Development: The manifestation of glory occurs when the church is perfectly glorified and delivered from the evil of guilt and punishment. This stage includes the raising of the church to everlasting life and its glorification in eternal life.
Cessation of Means: In its ultimate state, the Kingdom of glory will have no need of the means required in the Kingdom of grace. Because the saints will be perfected and glorified, Christ will cease to discharge the office of Mediator regarding the administration of the kingdom. There will no longer be a need for conversion, the abolishing of sin, defense against enemies, or the gathering of the church. Prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will vanish away because "that which is perfect shall come".
Immediate Divine Presence: In the state of perfection, God will be all in all. This signifies that God will manifest and communicate Himself immediately to the blessed.
Glorious Reign: The church will then reign gloriously with Christ. As seen in the ultimate development, there will be no temple because "the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are the temple of it". The city will not require the sun or moon, "for the glory of God did lighten, and the Lamb is the light thereof".
Continuance: The Kingdom of glory, once perfected through the glorification of the righteous, will continue for all eternity.
Where
is this kingdom administered?
The kingdom of God is administered in different ways, corresponding to its two primary manifestations: the Kingdom of grace and the Kingdom of glory.
As the Kingdom Begun (Kingdom of Grace):
This kingdom, as it respects its beginning and gathering, is administered here upon earth.
It is not confined to any one particular place, island, province, or nation. Instead, it is scattered over the whole world.
A reflection of this universal presence is seen in the practices of the church, where the faithful are instructed to "pray everywhere". Furthermore, Christ's presence is assured where even "two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them".
In this life, the kingdom is established among and in us when we pray, "Your kingdom come".
As the Kingdom Perfected (Kingdom of Glory):
This kingdom is administered in heaven as it respects its complete development.
The transition to this administration is what Christ promised His disciples: "And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also".
The faithful will eventually meet the Lord in the air and "so shall we ever be with the Lord," confirming the location of the perfected kingdom.
It represents the ultimate state of development where the church is perfectly glorified.
What
are the Kingdom's laws?
The laws according to which the kingdom of God is administered are two-fold:
The word of God, which includes the doctrine of the law and the gospel.
The power and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, which is responsible for working and reigning in the hearts of the elect by the word.
These laws govern the administration of the kingdom, which, in its present manifestation as the Kingdom of grace, involves God ruling and governing His subjects by His word and Spirit, compelling them to submit to Him increasingly.
How
does this Kingdom come?
The kingdom of God comes to us in four distinct ways, reflecting both its current progress on Earth (the Kingdom of grace) and its ultimate fulfillment (the Kingdom of glory).
The four ways this Kingdom comes to us are:
By the preaching of the gospel: This involves the revelation of a knowledge of the true and heavenly doctrine.
By conversion: This occurs when individuals are converted to God, and He grants them true faith and repentance. Conversion is part of the process where God gathers the church from the whole human race by His word and Spirit.
By increase and development: This refers to the progress of the godly in holiness, or the continual increase and development of the gifts peculiar to the faithful in those who are converted. This is aligned with the instruction, "He that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy let him be holy still".
By the perfection and glorification of the church: This final coming occurs at the second coming of Christ, completing the Kingdom's ultimate development.
When we pray the petition, "Thy kingdom come," we are desiring that the Kingdom of grace be established among and in us in this life, and that it may be brought to its highest and ultimate development in the life to come. Specifically, this prayer asks that God will rule and govern us by His word and Spirit, causing us to submit to Him "always more and more". It also asks that God will preserve and increase His Church, destroy the works of the devil and every power that exalts itself against Him, until the fullness of His kingdom comes, "wherein Thou shalt be all in all".
What
is God's kingdom?
The kingdom of God is defined as that realm in which God alone rules and exercises dominion over all creatures. While this rule is universal, it is manifested in a special way in His church, which is the primary focus when discussing the Kingdom of God.
Definition and Essence
The special kingdom of God, exercised in the church, consists of several interconnected elements:
Divine Institution: It involves God sending the Son, our Mediator, from the very beginning of the world.
Church Ministry: It includes the institution and preservation of the ministry of the church.
Gathering and Rule: God gathers a church from the whole human race by His word and Spirit, and subsequently rules, preserves, and defends it against all enemies.
Ultimate Glorification: It culminates in God raising the church from death and adorning it with heavenly glory, casting all enemies into everlasting condemnation. This leads to the state where God may be all in all, and be praised eternally by the church.
The kingdom of God, unlike a worldly government, is a spiritual kingdom. It is said of this kingdom, "My kingdom is not of this world".
Particular Parts of the Kingdom
The definition allows for the specification of particular parts of God's kingdom:
The sending of the Son, our Mediator, into the world.
The institution and preservation of the ministry by the Son.
The gathering of the church from the whole human race, achieved through the preaching of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit working true faith and repentance in the elect.
The perpetual government of the church.
The preservation of the church in this life despite the assaults of enemies.
The casting of all the enemies of the church into everlasting punishment.
The raising of the church to everlasting life.
The glorification of the church in eternal life, when God will be all in all.
Distinction and Administration
Although the Kingdom of God is only one in reality, it is commonly distinguished based on its mode of administration:
The Kingdom of grace (Begun in this life): This is the manifestation of the kingdom on earth, where it has need of means (such as the word of God and the Holy Spirit).
The Kingdom of glory (Perfected in the life to come): This is the ultimate, highest development administered in heaven, where the church is perfectly glorified and delivered from guilt and punishment, and there will be no need of the means required in the Kingdom of grace.
The laws according to which this Kingdom is administered are the word of God (the doctrine of the law and the gospel) and the power and efficacy of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of the elect.
Benefits and Subjects
The Kingdom bestows spiritual and eternal benefits upon its subjects, which include true faith, conversion, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, perseverance in holiness, the Holy Spirit, glorification, and eternal life. The kingdom is characterized as "righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit".
The subjects and citizens of this kingdom include:
Angels confirmed in holiness.
The saints in heaven (the church triumphant).
The godly, converted people living in the world (the church militant).
Hypocrites, who are merely members of the visible church in name.
When believers pray, "Thy kingdom come," they are praying for the Kingdom of grace to be established and to increase, and for it to be brought to its highest and ultimate development (glory) in the life to come.
Who
are the Kingdom's enemies?
The enemies of the Kingdom of God are identified as the devil and wicked men.
Specifically, the enemies are categorized based on their relationship to the church:
Enemies within the church (Hypocrites): These are wicked men who exist in the church as hypocrites. They assume the name and title of citizens of the kingdom while being nothing more than the pretended friends of Christhypocrites**. They assume the name and title of citizens of the kingdom while being nothing more than the pretended friends of Christ.
Enemies outside the church (Open and avowed enemies): These are those who are without the church and are its open and avowed enemies. Examples given include the Turks, the Jews, the Samosatenians, and the Arians. This category also includes all those who defend errors that subvert the foundation of our most holy religion.
When believers pray, "Thy kingdom come," they are asking God to "destroy the works of the devil, every power that exalts itself against You, and all wicked devices formed against Thy Holy Word". This prayer also entails asking God to defend the church against all enemies and tyrants, and to cast all His and our enemies into everlasting punishment.
The eventual glorification of the church, which marks the ultimate development of the Kingdom of glory, includes God casting all enemies into everlasting condemnation. When the Kingdom is perfected, there will be no enemies left to subdue.
Who
are the Kingdom's citizens?
The citizens and subjects of the Kingdom of God encompass four distinct groups, ranging from spiritual beings to human beings on Earth:
The angels, specifically those who are confirmed in holiness.
The saints in heaven, who together constitute what is known as the church triumphant.
The godly, or those who are converted and still living in the world. This group, characterized by having "many cares and remains of corruption," composes what is called the church militant.
Hypocrites, who are technically members merely of the visible church without having been truly converted.
While the first three groups represent true citizens and members of the Kingdom, hypocrites are designated as "merely apparent citizens" and members only in name. They may appropriate the title of citizens, but they are considered nothing more than the pretended friends of Christ. The sources note that such persons will ultimately be declared as those who have no place in the kingdom of God.