THE SECOND PETITION.


Thy kingdom come.

_What is meant by this Petition?_

The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself without our prayer; but we
pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

_When is this effected?_

When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace
we believe His holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth and in
heaven forever.

* * * * *

In this Petition we pray that the Kingdom of God may come to us[8] and
to all men; that is, that we all by true faith and a godly life may
become members of the Church on earth and in heaven.

[Footnote 8: Since the Kingdom of God comes to us through the Gospel,
there is a close relation between this Petition and the Third
Commandment, which commands us to "deem God's Word holy and willingly
hear and learn it."]

THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the Kingdom which Christ has founded, and to which
all who believe in Him belong. It is the Kingdom of Grace in this world