Posted on 03/11/2011 5:12:17 PM PST by count-your-change
Anyone following the threads on the religious forum could hardly not notice the endless arguments over what constitutes personal salvation, who is the most Christian and the general low level of discourse. Instead Christ's apostle, Paul counceled, "Let your utterance always be gracious, seasoned with salt.." (Col. 4:6) In short, tasty, not dripping with acid. As Jesus gave instructions on how to pray in Mattew 6:9-13 the establishment of the kingdom took priority over anyone's personal savation and it was this that was called "Good News" when Jesus said the 'good news' (or gospel) would be preached in all the inhabited earth. (Matt, 24:14)
But what is the "kingdom" that Jesus said we should pray for? That constituted in its ruling, "good news"? Some might believe it is a condition of the believer's heart or perhaps the nation of Israel being restored to former glory in the Middle East or perhaps even a thousand year rule of "the Church".
But the Bible is not silent on the what "the Kingdom" is. It is a govenment. It has kings ruling under the Christ, "...they will rule as kings over the earth". (Rev. 5:10) The "they" being those Jesus made a covenant with just as his Father had made a covenant with him for a kingdom. (Luke 22:29)
During its rule the dead would be resurrected, both "the righteous and the unrighteous" said Paul at Acts 24:15 and Jesus said those in the memorial graves would be resurrected, though not all with the same outcome. (John 5:28, 29) It was to that hope of being 'remembered', and being resurrected from a memorial tomb, that the criminal hanging beside the dying Jesus could look forward to when Jesus came into his kingdom. (Luke 23:39-43).
Finally said Paul, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death". (1 Cor. 15:24-26). Thus neither ruler or subject in that kingdom would face death in the future.
Truly The Kingdom was Good News!
Ib4j (jihad).
Amen!
I'm hoping taxes was a close second.
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