Question about "The Kingdom"

TimothyT

Hi everyone,

We have just come back from our second visit to the Baptist Church. Again, it was fabulous. Since being disfellowshipped, i have only wanted two things: A place to be accepted and a place where i can have good upbuilding bible instruction and discussion. This church is fab for that.

In the sermon, the minister read Matthew 6:33 about seeking the Kingdom first in our lives. Being a JW for 15 years or so, it was my understanding that the Kingdom is something that we are waiting for to come in the future as prayed for in the Lords Prayer. But the minister relayed it in a different way. He spoke of the Kingdom as being inside us. He mentioned that as Christians we want to emulate the qualities of the leader of that kingdom and allow it to enter into us. I find this take very obscure, but quite refreshing to think about. So here is my question:

Is the Kingdom something inside us, is it a Kingdom which will one day come to the earth, or is it both?

Thanks,

Timmy xxx

possible-san

TimothyT.

I think that it is interesting topic.
But, I think that you should just question to the minister of your church if you want to know about the answer of that question.

Well, although I have my own opinion about the explanation "inside us", may I write it here?
Of course, that is an opinion which is unrelated to the Baptist Church.

possible

Perry

The Kingdom of God is just that. Where does God rule? He rules in the hearts of believers when they are born again, and later Jesus will walk into Jerusalem through the east gate and rule from there. So, it is both.

During the Millenium rule, Jesus and the (largely) gentile church will rule over survivors from the Great Tribulation, the 144,000 believing Jews, and both groups' offspring.

journey-on

TT...

Luke 17: 21 says: "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Now the witnesses always translated 'within you" as 'in your midst' so that it would fit in with their doctrine. But, even their own Interlinear translation says "inside you"!!

What is a kingdom? Most will tell you it is a government, but a kingdom is the domain over which a ruler governs. Christ said his laws are written in your heart! That is the domain over which he governs (if you are in the body of Christ). This also goes along with the scripture that informs us that your body is God's temple.

Awen

Form the Gospel of St Thomas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Thomas#The_philosophy_of_the_Gospel_of_Thomas

The Gospel of Thomas emphasizes direct and unmediated experience. In Thomas saying 108, Jesus says, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become as I am; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him." Furthermore, salvation is personal and found through spiritual (psychological) introspection.

In Thomas saying 70, Jesus says, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not bring it forth, what you do not have within you will kill you." As such, this form of salvation is idiosyncratic and without literal explanation unless read from a psychological perspective related to Self vs. ego.

In Thomas saying 3, Jesus says,
...the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty.

Perry

When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known,

This is a heretical statement. Becoming known by God is only through a personal relationship/submission to Jesus and being born again with the very spirit of God himself.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him - 1 Cor. 2

Doug Mason

The topic of The Kingdom of God is of fundamental importance to the NT writers. Jesus spoke more about it than on any other subject. Perhaps a good start is to study Matthew 13, where the kingdom is said to be a person in action - sowing (not reaping), planting good seed, searching, fishing.

The kingdom is dynamic activity, and who is that person doing these things? God.

The Kingdom is past, present and future, because it is the Kingdom of God, it is not the kingdom of humans. The early English meaning of "kingdom" is "kingship", or rulership, which means it is the rulership of and by God. The ekklesia is not the kingdom, but is a product of the kingdom's activity.

You will have much eye-opening enjoyment as you research this topic. I have several challenging books on the subject on my bookshelves.

Doug

Awen

@ Perry

I'm not going to argue with you.

Heresy (from Greek α?ρεση, which originally meant "choice") is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion.

I guess I'm a heretic then. So be it.

Also I think you entirely missed the point. Jesus is clearly speaking to his followers, ones who would already have received the Holy Spirit. So by not letting the HS become active in their lives (by accepting it's direction) they would never know themselves and further they would never know Jesus who poured out the Holy Spirit upon them.

Thus they were in poverty.

Perry

Awen.... the disciples didn't get the Holy Spirit until Pentecost .... after Jesus ascended into heaven. So, it seems impossible that the writer of "Thomas" had this in mind as you suggest.

I am not trying to argue with you. I'm just a little surprised that you could have such strong convictions about something you are unable to biblically explain. And, that is not meant to be personally derogatory. It seems unwise.

Question about "The Kingdom"

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