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| Christ's Kingdom |
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| Written by Ben Winslett |
| Tuesday, 31 August 2010 07:55 |
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From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. - Matthew 4:17 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Matthew 6:33 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. - Romans 14:17 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. - Hebrews 1:8 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. - I Corinthians 15:25 The above verses present the thought that Jesus Christ established His Kingdom during His first advent, nearly 2000 years ago. Rather than the traditional Jewish view, that the Messiah would reestablish Israel as a nation, rule as King, and dominate the region, Jesus' true Kingdom is one that is a Spiritual Kingdom. Notice the present tense reality of God's Kingdom by the usage of words like is, seek, and reign, all words that indicate a present reality, not a future event. Through repentance, we enter in to this Kingdom and dwell within it's walls. This Kingdom is to be sought after. Yet, it is not a physical location, but an experience of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is Christ's Kingdom, and He rules over it as Sovereign King. We enjoy the benefits as it's citizens. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angel, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn...Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace... Hebrews 12:22-23, 28 From this passage in Hebrews, we safely conclude that the "Kingdom" and "Church" are considered synonymous. I would say, that when everything is as it should be in Christ's Church and you commune with Christ through worship, you have experienced life in the Kingdom. |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 08:13 |






Comments
John 18:36...My kingdom is not of this world...now is my kingdom not from hence.
Mat 4:8..the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Acts 1:6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
I do believe He has a plan for Israel.
The Old Testament foretells of how God will turn from them for a time, but will once again restore them and bring them back into their land.
Hos 1, Jer 31:35-37,Hos6:1-2,
Joel3:2,Zep3:19
Rev11:15,Zech14:16-19, Rom 11:1-25
The verse in Acts 1:6, if anything, teaches that one day Jews will enjoy this same church Kingdom. He may very well have a plan for Israel (concerning worship), but it will be according to New Testament principles, not resurrected Old Testament law or worse, the perverted "Jews religion" of the first century (Gal 1:14).
Many of the texts you quoted have to do with redemption of Israel. However, the Israel that was redeemed consists of natural jews and gentiles according to Romans chapter 2. Uncircumcised people who have the circumcision of the heart are Spiritual Jews and a part of Spiritual Israel. You, in God's eyes, are a true Jew. Also, not all that are of Israel are Israel (Romans 9:6). Other of the texts refer to the NT time period in general, especially Jeremiah 31. Hebrews 8 quotes Jeremiah 31 as being the New Testament, which we are in today. When possible, use the New Testament to define and explain the Old Testament. When a NT writer lists something as fulfilled, his sense of the text must be the correct one. This is certainly so in the case of Jeremiah 31/Hebrews 8.
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