Kingdom Tension Part 8

At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Tension,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

This week’s message in the Kingdom Tension series deepens our understanding of what it means to be the Church, especially in light of the biblical framework of the “now and not yet.” The Church exists amid two overlapping realities—the present evil age and the age to come.

Galatians 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle–sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead– 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

In this passage Paul speaks not of an “evil world,” but of an “evil age” (Greek: aion), governed by the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). This age, marked by spiritual blindness and rebellion, stands in contrast to the age to come—when God’s Kingdom will be fully realized.

However, the beauty of the gospel is that the age to come has already broken into the present through Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection inaugurated the Kingdom, offering us a taste of what is still to come. We are not yet fully delivered, but we are being delivered.

Hebrews 6:5 describes this as a “taste of the powers of the coming age”—a genuine experience, not just a future hope.

Hebrews 6:5 (NIV)
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,

This creates tension. We live in a divine overlap—caught between the old age that is passing away and the new age that has begun. If we don’t understand this tension, we can drift into extremes: denying God’s present power or assuming complete victory now, without room for suffering or waiting. But the biblical vision embraces both.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.

In the same way that Paul calls the Holy Spirit a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance”, we live in assurance now because of what is not yet complete. As followers of Jesus, we need to embrace this tension. Our actions don’t earn God’s response—they are a response to His already-secured promise.

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.