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     In the previous articles, we observed that, (1) Jesus said His kingdom would soon come into existence, i.e. in the first century (Matthew 16:18-19), (2) Peter stated that Jesus is the king, who is reigning in heaven (Acts 2:30-36) and (3) the territory of the kingdom is the heart of each person who is a citizen of His kingdom (Philippians 4:7).  The reasonable question is, “How does Jesus rule and maintain control over His kingdom?”  Kings have always governed their kingdoms with monarchial decrees and controlled them with armies.  The kingdom’s order was maintained either by authoritarian rule, i.e., the dictates of the king and / or by law established by legislation.
     The Old Covenant, found in the Bible, was initiated by God, by which ancient Israel agreed to be ruled (Exodus 24).  The New Covenant, also found in the Bible, was initiated by Jesus and is similarly constructed as the Old Covenant.  It has stipulations (laws), benefits and curses for those who agree to become citizens of the kingdom.  Once the Old Covenant and the theocracy were in effect, those who were born into an Israelite family were automatically and immediately subject to the Old Covenant.  They had no choice!  This is like every country today.  For example, if a person is born on US soil, he is an American citizen and subject to the laws of the land.
     The New Covenant of Jesus is different.  It is not limited to a nation or ethnic group, but from its beginning in the first century AD, the New Covenant and Jesus’ kingdom has been available to all people everywhere, who are capable of making a choice.  No one is automatically born into Jesus’ kingdom.  No one is forced into it.  It is by choice and choice alone that a person agrees to become a citizen of the kingdom of Jesus.
     In becoming a citizen, a person is obligated to follow the stipulations of the New Covenant.  They are found in the New Testament, in the books of Acts through Revelation.  Jesus rules through this covenant, not with a stick, but by voluntary submission of the citizens.  It is by this means that Jesus maintains order in His kingdom, His territory – the hearts of His citizens.  Thus we can better understand, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them...” (Hebrews 10:16).

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