Heaven is the place where God rules and where the angels and saints do God's will. Jesus taught His disciples this, when he taught them to pray: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) The church should be the place where God's will is done on earth, and this is why it constitutes a part of the kingdom of God.
When Jesus overpowered Satan, He said: if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. (Luke 11:20) Today demons can be cast out in the church, demonstrating that the church is part of God's kingdom.
When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20,21) The Pharisees were waiting to see mighty signs, such as smiting the Roman army with fire from heaven. Instead they heard a man teaching them how to be good. In the same way today, Christians in the church, thankfully, are not launching crusades against the heathen, but are quietly going about their business, learning about God and about how to be good. Goodness, not the sword is the mark of the kingdom of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is King of the church in a similar way to that by which the Old Testament kings were kings over Israel. For this reason the church is referred to as: the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)
But even Jesus did not His own will but that which His Heavenly Father taught Him: the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19) We are to follow in Christ's footsteps, obeying the will of our Heavenly Father as taught by Jesus.
If we want to be in the future kingdom of God in heaven, then we must obey the moral law of our Heavenly Father. This Jesus taught when He said: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23) Iniquity means to break God's law by sin. One act of disobedience would not identify someone as a worker of iniquity. According to Macarthur, the word being a present participle in Greek, indicates continuous, regular action, and identifies the unforgiven sin and unrighteous life patterns of those claimers of salvation. Continual and habitual practice of iniquity is the idea. So Jesus is teaching that it is not enough just to be active in Christian work. God commands those who call themselves Christians to cease from sin: Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)
Jesus further stressed the importance of obedience when He said: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-29)
Much of Jesus' teaching and indeed the context in which Jesus spoke these words was that of moral law including the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore our deeds are important, not just our beliefs.
Perhaps it was to counter the heresy which says, ‘our deeds are not important’, that Jesus said: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13,14 NASB) That Jesus is stressing the importance of our deeds is evident from Jesus’ previous words where He said: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Doing the right thing to our fellow man does not replace the Old Testament laws of God, but rather fulfils them: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Romans 13:9) So even the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-7, of which five have just been quoted, teach love and therefore continue in relevance. Jesus taught that not only must we obey the narrowest definitions of these commandments, but also their wider implications. The Ten Commandments illustrate ten principles.
Those who refuse to obey the Ten Commandments, go to destruction, or death, losing their reward of everlasting life, but not facing punishment. But those who oppose those who obey the Ten Commandments, face a time of punishment after death, unpleasant for many, but terrible for the few who are the mighty persecutors of the faith.
Although Jesus is a great King, He is also a humble King. For this reason, if we are being fairly good, He will teach and correct us gently. This gentle teaching is illustrated in John 13:3-11, if we take washing with water to symbolise cleansing with the word: Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God . . . poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet . . . Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knoweth not now; but thou shalt know hereafter . . . If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me . . . He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
After salvation we lead a clean life. But as we are not perfect, Jesus must reveal hidden or small faults and so cleanse us little by little. Washing the feet corresponds to us being cleansed from such faults. We also need cleansing when we are deceived and go astray in some small way. Jesus washes our feet metaphorically speaking, by teaching us what is good and why. If we do not allow Him to do this we have no part with Jesus. Judas, who was the exception to being clean, was so full of sin that a little cleansing would not suffice. But if we are good like Jesus' true disciples, we should not expect Jesus to act differently toward us than when washing His disciples feet 2000 years ago as: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Some people think that it must be very difficult to obey God fully. But God says the opposite; that: the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15) Jesus promises that His way is easy, saying: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) Whilst we should not be lazy when there is work to do, in the light of these words of Jesus, we should not feel as though we must always be carrying heavy burdens (often someone else's) in order to please God. So not only rest of mind and body, but also rest of soul and peace can only be obtained by coming to Jesus in obedience.
The knowledge that we do not have to do anything more than keeping God's commandments can help in bringing this peace and rest. And Solomon assures us of this, saying: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)