Author Topic: What is the kingdom of God  (Read 3677 times)

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Iconoclast

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What is the kingdom of God
« on: July 19, 2018, 08:01:40 pm »
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-the-kingdom-of-God

There is many ways to approach such a subject...it needs to be defined;

here is a bit from this sermon;
1]“The kingdom” is a big theme for Jesus. In the ESV translation, “kingdom” is mentioned 126 times in the Gospels. But then “kingdom” is mentioned only 34 times in the rest of the New Testament.

2]I hear two crucial questions: (1) What is the kingdom of God? (2) Why does it get so much prominent, explicit focus in the teachings of Jesus but far less prominent, explicit focus in the letters of the New Testament?

3]Rule and Reign
I think the most important thing I could say about the kingdom of God that would help people make sense out of all the uses is that the basic meaning of the word kingdom in the Bible is God’s reign — R-E-I-G-N — not realm or people. The kingdom creates a realm, the kingdom creates a people, but the kingdom of God is not synonymous with its realm or its people.

“God decided the kingdom of God would be most gloriously revealed in a crucified and risen king.” Tweet Share on Facebook
For example, consider Psalms 103:19: “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” You can hear the basic meaning of the word kingdom as rule. It doesn’t mean that his kingdom rules over his realm; it means that God’s reign or rule governs all things.

4]He sits as king on his throne of the universe, and his kingly rule — his kingdom and his reign — governs all things. The basic meaning of the word kingdom in the Bible is God’s kingly rule — his reign, his action, his lordship, his sovereign governance.

5]In and through Jesus, God, the king, is coming in a way — a new way — into the world to establish his saving rule. First, in the hearts of his people and in their relationships by triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Then by the exercise of his reign, gathering a people for himself in congregations that live as citizens of a new allegiance of the kingdom — not of this world. Then Christ comes a second time and completes the reign by establishing a new heavens and a new earth.

Iconoclast

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2018, 08:11:05 pm »
Jesus spoke to people  and explained what was necessary to enter into the Kingdom;


3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus explained why He gave the kingdom parables;
mt13;
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Believers are told this;
col1;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

That is now.

Iconoclast

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2018, 08:21:43 pm »
http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols43-45/chs2515.pdf


Moss

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2018, 12:02:28 am »

Quote
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” You can hear the basic meaning of the word kingdom as rule. It doesn’t mean that his kingdom rules over his realm; it means that God’s reign or rule governs all things.

Some of Piper's thought process doesn't quite hold together. If the definition of the kingdom that is referred to throughout the New Testament is all that God reigns over, or has sovereignty over then there is nothing outside of His kingdom.

We are all under God's rule but we are not all in His Kingdom.

Biblical examples:

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.


It Looks Like The Kingdom Is Going To Be A Physical Place.

Iconoclast

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2018, 04:17:13 am »
That is why it is a large area of study. At the end of the age the angels as reapers gather out of the Kingdom all things that offend. They are  removed from it.
Col1 says we are in it. BOTH wheat and tares are in it .Some do not have a wedding garment on. Some do not have oil in their lamp.
I do not always like how John Piper expresses things. I JUST USED THIS AS AN INTRODUCTION.
We can add much to this topic.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2018, 04:22:14 am by Iconoclast »

Moss

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2018, 08:14:38 am »
The end of the age.

“and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Luke‬ 21:24‬ NASB‬‬

Is this the time of the gentiles?

Iconoclast

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2018, 07:24:37 pm »
=Moss
Quote
The end of the age.

“and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Luke‬ 21:24‬ NASB‬‬

Is this the time of the gentiles?

Lk21;
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

This passage is speaking of the Covenant curses from Deut 28-33 coming upon Israel in 70 ad.
Notice the language of vs 32...THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL THESE THINGS BE FULFILLED.

Sounds like it was happening in that generation.

deut28:59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

62 And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God.

63 And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

64 And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

Iconoclast

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2018, 08:05:52 pm »
From A Baptist catechism with Commentary, by W.R Downing..pg290-291...used by permission;

The New Testament church and the kingdom of God are closely related, yet distinct. A thorough study will reveal that the kingdom of God is a comprehensive term for the sovereign rule of God and the realm over which this rule extends.

Scripturally, the kingdom has past (prophetical), present (historical) and future (eschatological) aspects.

 Thus, the kingdom of God is universal and includes all believers.


It also includes a realm in which the power of Divine rule is experienced. These qualities have led some to confuse the kingdom with the church. The distinctions between the kingdom of God and the New Testament church may be seen by contrast. Men “see” and “enter into” the kingdom of
God by regeneration.

 This is quite apart from any direct connection with a church, but is concerned with the sovereign grace and power of God alone in its realization (Jn. 3:3, 5). Entrance into a New Testament church is upon the scriptural prerequisites of conversion, baptism and the vote of the church (Acts 2:41).

The kingdom is universal; the church is necessarily local [i.e., a body, assembly, congregation. Such language would be utterly foreign in reference to the kingdom of God].

 The kingdom is a monarchy; the church is a democracy under the headship of Jesus Christ and the rule of his Word.

There is a gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 9:35), but never a gospel of the church.

The kingdom is an indistinct, unobservable entity (Lk. 17:20–21); the church is observable and quite distinct in all its characteristics (e.g., membership, leadership, ordinances, ministry, etc.).

 The kingdom of God is the inclusive, comprehensive, sovereign and redemptive work of God in the world; the church is an organism within this kingdom, proclaiming its message and furthering its advancement as it has been commissioned (Matt. 16:18–19; Acts 19:8; 20:24–25; 28:23, 31; Col. 4:11; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:4–5).

The kingdom of God will be progressively manifest until it is entirely comprehensive in its revealed or experimental scope, finding its ultimate conclusion in filling the world and in the “new heavens and earth” (Dan. 7:13–14; 1 Cor. 15:24–28; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 11:15; 19:6; 21:1).

 The New Testament church as an institution will end with this economy, finding its fulfillment in the church glorious (Eph. 3:20– 21; Heb. 12:22–23).

Thus, the church is contained within the kingdom, but the kingdom is neither contained within the church nor equivalent to it. Such contrast manifestly distinguishes between the kingdom and the church, and affords no adequate foundation for a “universal, invisible church” theory. It

BCsenior

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Re: What is the kingdom of God
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2018, 07:27:44 pm »
Here's a different slant on it ... perhaps this proves it is the same as heaven?

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you
to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes,
to be cast into hell fire” (Mark 9:47)

“Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world … inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to Me. And these will go away into everlasting punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt 25:34-46)


Entering the kingdom of God appears to be the opposite of being cast into hell.
Inheriting the kingdom of God appears to be for the righteous who gain eternal life.
So, we can consider entering the kingdom of God/heaven as gaining eternal life.