đź“– The Kingdom of God: Not of this World

Drawing the boundary line

August 13, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

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The Kingdom of God: Not of this World

Ecco Homo (1871) by Antonio Ciseri

Jesus was arrested, tried, and found guilty of blasphemy.

He was then transferred from the Jewish court to the Roman one - the most authoritative court in the land.

There, Jesus was brought before the Roman governor of Judaea - Pontius Pilate.

The Jews told Pilate that Jesus was disturbing the peace, that His movement had political overtones which threatened the stability of Rome.

When pressed by Pilate as to whether or not this was true, Jesus had this to say:

“My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

(John 18v36)

The Scope of Jesus’ Kingdom

Jesus’ words here make something abundantly clear…

…the Kingdom of God is separate from earthly government.

Despite this, Jesus’ message was coated in the political language of His time:

  • The Gospel (euangelion)

  • The Son of God

  • The Kingdom of Heaven.

Coins imprinted with Imperial propaganda, promoting the Roman Emperor as divine - on the right, divi filius (“son of a god”).

These terms had political overtones that would’ve been instantly recognizable in the Roman Empire. 

And, yet, Jesus makes clear, the politics He’s most concerned about are the politics of Heaven coming to Earth.

Jesus didn’t come to support the nationalistic sentiment amongst some of His fellow Jews nor the imperial program of Rome.

Both were flawed, neither held the answer. Jesus’ government, on the other hand, was concerned with something much more important than nationalism or domination.

Why the Way of Jesus and Nationalism are Incompatible 

Jesus’ Kingdom is concerned with overturning the oppression of sin on the human soul.

And it’s sin that motivates nationalism through and through.

The whole idea of nationalism simply falls apart when we consider the theology of the Image of God. The doctrine that all human beings represent the God who created them, thus making them of equal value.

Regardless of the country they come from.

The Apostle Paul echoes the sentiment well when he writes:

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 

(Galatians 3v28)

Jesus' rejection of the nationalistic goals of some of His countrymen is partially what led to His crucifixion.

Whenever Christianity is being used to support the superiority of one people over another, an oppressive political agenda, or simply any movement that contradicts the character of Christ, it’s not Christian.

Christian nationalism is, ultimately, an oxymoron and a misappropriation of our faith.

But does that mean national identity, or political involvement for that matter, is irrelevant for Christians?

Not in the slightest.

Come back tomorrow as we conclude our series by exploring that more.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter

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