Understanding the Kingdom of God

1. Understanding the Kingdom of God

2. Class Outline • The Debate • The Old Testament Hope • A False Premise • Fulfillment without Consummation • God’s Reign 1 • God’s Reign 2 • The mystery of the Kingdom • The Kingdom and the Church • The Kingdom and Ethics • The End • The Kingdom without a King

3. Central to Jesus’ teaching • 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 • 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 • 31 [Paul] proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:31

4. Two usages #1: Future reality (not yet) #2: Present reality (already)

5. Two usages (not yet) 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on thatday, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:21-23

6. Two usages (not yet) 16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternallife?” … 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:16, 23-24

7. Two usages (not yet) 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. Mark 9:27

8. Two usages (already) 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has comeuponyou. Luke 11:17-20

9. Two usages (already) 20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in yourmidst.” Luke 17:20-21

10. Two views

11. Issues with the two views A few problems with pure “realized eschatology” • Doesn’t take into account Jesus’ apocalyptic teaching • Places man as the primary agent of the kingdom • Tends to focus on benefits of the kingdom, instead of the King A few problems with pure “consistent eschatology” • Focuses too much on the “when” • Devalues the ethical implications • Leads to a desire to just wait, instead of enjoying present benefits

12. Can the views be reconciled?(A Preview of where we are going) • Kingdom language is complex • The Kingdom is the active reign of God • The Kingdom has a King: the Messiah • Jesus’ very presence itself is the coming of the Kingdom • The Kingdom came when Jesus came to earth, but it came as a mystery • The Kingdom is still active through the working of the Spirit • The Kingdom will be fully realized when Jesus returns