[The] New Testament teaches that [the kingdom of God] arrives in two phases. Like its head, the church suffers now in humiliation, under the cross, in order to reign in future glory with Christ (Rom. 8:17). In this intermission, the kingdom is the gospel and the gospel is the kingdom. Wherever Christ is forgiving and renewing sinners by his Spirit through the ministry of the gospel, the King is present and his kingdom is expanding. . . what we have now is a kingdom of grace that is present wherever the gospel is preached and the sacraments are administered. ~Michael Horton, The Gospel Commission