What is the "Kingdom of God"?

[MrJim]

This came up in SS. Some looked at it as heaven, some took it as an eschalogical (sp?) event, and I took it as God's work here on earth. What's the general consensus here?

 

[Aaiden]

As far as I can see it... I would say it is heaven... I'm sure it could be looked at other ways. And since I'm by no means a biblical scholar I may be wrong in my interpretation.

 

[Lockheed]

The kingdom of God is the entire sphere of God's work, be it eschatological or within the church now. Scripture states: "seek first the kingdom of God", this doesn't mean "seek heaven" it means seek to glorify God.

The kingdom was present in Christ:

Mat 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

The kingdom of God is the people of God,

Luk 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

The kingdom of God is in effect now.

Luk 9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

 

[MrJim]

The kingdom of God is the entire sphere of God's work, be it eschatological or within the church now. Scripture states: "seek first the kingdom of God", this doesn't mean "seek heaven" it means seek to glorify God.

The kingdom was present in Christ:

Mat 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

The kingdom of God is the people of God,

Luk 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

The kingdom of God is in effect now.

Luk 9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

And who said an anabaptist can't agree with a calvinist?

 

[seebs]

I think it at least includes things we see in this life; otherwise, I have a hard time making sense of all this...

 

[Lockheed]

And who said an anabaptist can't agree with a calvinist?

I'm a 'Reformed' Baptist (as opposed to deformed .) My Presby pals usually accuse me of being an Anabaptist... GASP!

 

[Ave Maria]

To me, the Kingdom of God is Heaven.

 

[SonOfThunder]

Jesus focusses upon God's salvation of the individual but He also taught that God brings His people to the great community of the redeemed - the realm of God's saving sovereignty which Jesus called " the kingdom of heaven'.

In this kingdom (presently expressed in the church) God requires His people to live in brotherly love.

Jesus did not limit the Kingdom to the Jews: Everyone who was 'bringing forth the fruits' belonged to the Kingdom of God. (MAT 21:43)


James

 

[MrJim]

I'm a 'Reformed' Baptist (as opposed to deformed .) My Presby pals usually accuse me of being an Anabaptist... GASP!

I was once one myself-I describe them as presbyterian dunkards

 

[MrJim]

Jesus focusses upon God's salvation of the individual but He also taught that God brings His people to the great community of the redeemed - the realm of God's saving sovereignty which Jesus called " the kingdom of heaven'.

In this kingdom (presently expressed in the church) God requires His people to live in brotherly love.

Jesus did not limit the Kingdom to the Jews: Everyone who was 'bringing forth the fruits' belonged to the Kingdom of God. (MAT 21:43)


James

What a great way to explain-this is a keeper! Anyone disagree? I thought there would be more "Millenial Kingdom" comments-that what I ran into in the SS class. The senior class member was adamant that every mention of the kingdom of God was referring to the future millenial reign.

 

[JM]

I'm a 'Reformed' Baptist (as opposed to deformed .) My Presby pals usually accuse me of being an Anabaptist... GASP!

I consider myself an informed baptist!

 

[JM]

As a dispey I agree with Scofield when he states that the kingdom of God can be distinguished from the kingdom of heaven in five respect:

(1) The kingdom of God is universal, including all moral intelligences willingly subject to the will of God, whether angels, the Church, or saints of past or future dispensations Luke 13:28,29; Hebrews 12:22,23 while the kingdom of heaven is Messianic, mediatorial, and Davidic, and has for its object the establishment of the kingdom of God in the earth (See Scofield "Matthew 3:2") 1 Corinthians 15:24,25.

(2) The kingdom of God is entered only by the new birth John 3:3,5-7 the kingdom of heaven, during this age, is the sphere of a profession which may be real or false. (See Scofield "Matthew 13:3") Matthew 25:1,11,12

(3) Since the kingdom of heaven is the earthly sphere of the universal kingdom of God, the two have almost all things in common. For this reason many parables and other teachings are spoken of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, and of the kingdom of God in Mark and Luke. It is the omissions which are significant. The parables of the wheat and tares, and of the net Matthew 13:24-30,36-43,47-50 are not spoken of the kingdom of God. In that kingdom there are neither tares nor bad fish. But the parable of the leaven Matthew 13:33 is spoken of the kingdom of God also, for, alas, even the true doctrines of the kingdom are leavened with the errors of which the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians were the representatives. (See Scofield "Matthew 13:33") .

(4) The kingdom of God "comes not with outward show" Luke 17:20 but is chiefly that which is inward and spiritual Romans 14:17 while the kingdom of heaven is organic, and is to be manifested in glory on the earth. (See "Kingdom (O.T.)," Zechariah 12:8, note; (N.T.), ; Luke 1:31-33; 1 Corinthians 15:24, note; Matthew 17:2, note.) (See Scofield "Zechariah 12:8") , Luke 1:31-33 See Scofield "1 Corinthians 15:24" See Scofield "Matthew 17:2" (5) The kingdom of heaven merges into the kingdom of God when Christ, having put all enemies under his feet, "shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father" 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (See Scofield "Matthew 3:2")

 

[MrJim]

As a dispey I agree with Scofield when he states that the kingdom of God can be distinguished from the kingdom of heaven in five respect:

OK, so it's one kingdom, with the Kingdom of God now and a fulfillment it the Kingdom of Heaven. Is that a fair analysis?

As far as Kingdom of God is without an "outward show" LK17:20 the following verse says the Kingdom of God is within us. So then it's saying that the Kingdom of God isn't a physical kingdom on earth but the rule of God in His childrens' hearts.

 

[Crazy Liz]

There is no difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. Matthew often substitutes the more Jewish "kingdom of heaven" in exactly the same sayings of Jesus that Mark and Luke record using the phrase "kingdom of God."

I think WRT the kingdom of God/kingdom of heaven the phrase that is most important always to keep in mind is "already and not yet."

 

[MrJim]

There is no difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. QUOTE]

That's how I had been taught...

 

[Andyman_1970]

There is no difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. Matthew often substitutes the more Jewish "kingdom of heaven" in exactly the same sayings of Jesus that Mark and Luke record using the phrase "kingdom of God."

Very well said Liz...............

Technically the phrases "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of heaven" are interchangeable as far as a Jew is concerned. Matthew used "Kingdom of Heaven" because his Gospel was aimed at a predominately Jewish audience, and thus he did not want to offend them with the constant use of the word "God".

One other aspect of the idea of the KoG/KoH is the belief that when a person lived as God intends for them to live they are repairing the world. The idea of repairing the world is the Jewish understanding that God uses His people to bring the world back to what He originally intended it to be (the Garden of Eden).

An interesting aspect of repairing the world is repentance (t’shuva in the Hebrew) and from the Judaic point of view means to “return to what God intended”

 

[MrJim]

Very well said Liz...............

Technically the phrases "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of heaven" are interchangeable as far as a Jew is concerned. Matthew used "Kingdom of Heaven" because his Gospel was aimed at a predominately Jewish audience, and thus he did not want to offend them with the constant use of the word "God".

One other aspect of the idea of the KoG/KoH is the belief that when a person lived as God intends for them to live they are repairing the world. The idea of repairing the world is the Jewish understanding that God uses His people to bring the world back to what He originally intended it to be (the Garden of Eden).

An interesting aspect of repairing the world is repentance (t’shuva in the Hebrew) and from the Judaic point of view means to “return to what God intended”

Fascinating perspective! I have used an example sort of like this when I explain to people (christian and non) our role (non-resistant christians) during wartime. I tell them that after they are done we go in and pick up the pieces and try to put things back together. There is a lot broken pieces out there...