are Christians any different that Paul? we have the promise of eternal life, but we have not yet received it, we have redemption from sin because of the cross, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of resurerction.
in short, the working of the spiritual kingdom is no different now than it was anytime post 31ad, and i beleive the spiritual kingdom came in working and power decades before 70ad, which explains the line i tease GW with many times "preterism is not preterist enough"
quote by davo:
"This is where it can "appear" a little clouded at times because Paul does talk in "now and not yet" terms -does that make sense?"
i understand what you mean, but Paul speaking plainly in "now and not yet" terms would only be "clouded" if you try to change the meaning of what he says. he speaks of spiritual redemption in "present" terms:
Ephesians 1:7
In him
we have redemption through his blood , the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
and physical redemption in "not yet terms"
Romans 8:23
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies.
i think a few things are telling, in the first part of Romans 8:23 he mentions "but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit" is a reference to the spiritual redemption mentioned in Ephesians 1:7 which only stands to reason: the gift of grace must be accepted before physical death in order to receive eternal life.
the preterist view has these redemptions being the same one, which would make the "now" and "not yet" terms seem confusing, but the view i present of a physical resurrection takes these verses as literal in the "now" and not yet" sense. the argument GW presents for example is not a "redemption" of the body, but instead the abandonment of one body in favor of another.