The kingdom of God

[Diogenes_the_cynic]

Jesus was always talking about the kingdom of God.

Do you think that kingdom has been realized in your personal opinion? I'd say no. I think that's one of the most important parts of the bible, because I believe that the afterlife is tied very much with this life. The importance of repenting, as I see it, is so you can cleanse your view of the universe so to speak and regain control of your "atman". How well, when you're in pain, you're driven to hurt others because you're afraid of more pain. The point, I think, is to realize through repentance that you're only doing it because you're in pain, and that it doesn't benefit you or anyone in any way. Then you can blame the pain completely and actually forgive yourself.

If you really wish you hadn't done it, then on some level you override the fact that you did it. The thing is, I think the kingdom was concieved by Jesus as a place where this would be much easier to achieve, because people would forgive you easier. It's tough to repent and forgive yourself when people hold grudges. We need to work on building a world where people don't do this... Where they see the self as a more fluid thing that changes so often that there's no point.

Basically I think he had a plan to permanently change the nature of human social reality, by eliminating the natural drive to hold grudges.

How? I have no clue. Hopefully we all just get better at it.

 

[wordmagnifiedabovenames]

I agree that the Kingdom of God has yet to be realised, and that it is tied to the afterlife. An interesting study is one of the Kingdom of God, verses the Kingdom of Heaven, verses the Church\Bride\Body of Christ.

However, I disagree that it has anything to do with repentence, insofar as God has being trying to set up some form of "visible kingdom" on earth since Genesis 1:26 (before "the fall," or "the jump" as I like to call it.) As there was no sin at this time, there was no need for repentence. When Adam was made, there was a Theocracy, God said that things were good, the "nature of human social reality" didn't need to change at all.

I agree that God changes people from the inside out, "renewing of the mind" etc, which I suppose would lead to a change in the "nature of human social reality," but when the Bible mentions "the Kingdom of God," I don't think that this change is what it's referring to.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I see that the Kingdom of God refers to three things, a) the state of the soul or self, b) an early manifestation of building fellowship and fraternal love and community (concept of Zion), and c) the Presence of God in the afterlife.


"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

-- Luke 17:20-21


In the first and immediate understanding of the Kingdom of God, it is an inner change of heart, characterised by Metanoia. When that inclination of the heart and mind are purified, we enter into the 'Kingdom of God' a state where we have repented of our sins, and been 'washed by the blood of the Lamb of God' or have accepted that the Atonement of Jesus Christ has salvific merit to our sinful state.

The second significance is a common theme in the understanding of building Zion, or making a Heaven on Earth. Zion embodies a perfect fellowship with one another in the spirit of Faith and in the Pure love of God.

And of course, the third meaning is that of the eternal Presence of God in the spiritual worlds.

Do I think we have realised them in this lifetime? Perhaps not in any group or population, but certainly individuals have received the key of understanding to enter into the Kingdom of God. Only those who have the light of Christ, and have emptied their hearts of the idols of false superstitions and vain imaginings, and accepted the pure love of Christ, have access / will have access into the Kingdom of God.

 

[BigRed]

Jesus was always talking about the kingdom of God.

Do you think that kingdom has been realized in your personal opinion? I'd say no. I think that's one of the most important parts of the bible, because I believe that the afterlife is tied very much with this life. The importance of repenting, as I see it, is so you can cleanse your view of the universe so to speak and regain control of your "atman". How well, when you're in pain, you're driven to hurt others because you're afraid of more pain. The point, I think, is to realize through repentance that you're only doing it because you're in pain, and that it doesn't benefit you or anyone in any way. Then you can blame the pain completely and actually forgive yourself.

If you really wish you hadn't done it, then on some level you override the fact that you did it. The thing is, I think the kingdom was concieved by Jesus as a place where this would be much easier to achieve, because people would forgive you easier. It's tough to repent and forgive yourself when people hold grudges. We need to work on building a world where people don't do this... Where they see the self as a more fluid thing that changes so often that there's no point.

Basically I think he had a plan to permanently change the nature of human social reality, by eliminating the natural drive to hold grudges.

How? I have no clue. Hopefully we all just get better at it.

I don't see the Kingdom.
Jesus said many things that have become popular sayings in our language, but I can't see where Jesus did anything to improve mankind's life. He had an excellent opportunity to pass on knowledge on how to understand disease and how to prevent disease but instead he passed on the silly stories about casting out demons. On TV in flu season they always say to wash your hands. The Pharisees were on the right track with hand washing but Jesus nixed the ritual of hand washing.

But can anyone tell me what Jesus did that we can see that improved mankind's life?
BigRed

 

[kylixguru]

Jesus was always talking about the kingdom of God.

Do you think that kingdom has been realized in your personal opinion? I'd say no. I think that's one of the most important parts of the bible, because I believe that the afterlife is tied very much with this life. The importance of repenting, as I see it, is so you can cleanse your view of the universe so to speak and regain control of your "atman". How well, when you're in pain, you're driven to hurt others because you're afraid of more pain. The point, I think, is to realize through repentance that you're only doing it because you're in pain, and that it doesn't benefit you or anyone in any way. Then you can blame the pain completely and actually forgive yourself.

If you really wish you hadn't done it, then on some level you override the fact that you did it. The thing is, I think the kingdom was concieved by Jesus as a place where this would be much easier to achieve, because people would forgive you easier. It's tough to repent and forgive yourself when people hold grudges. We need to work on building a world where people don't do this... Where they see the self as a more fluid thing that changes so often that there's no point.

Basically I think he had a plan to permanently change the nature of human social reality, by eliminating the natural drive to hold grudges.

How? I have no clue. Hopefully we all just get better at it.

Jesus said very plainly in Acts 1:7 that the Kingdom was NOT going to be established at that time. The core aspect of His plan was to ready the people to receive his Father's Kingdom when in the Father's wisdom it was time to establish it. A catch-22 here is the Father's plan is only possible when the individual agency of all people is honored. This means the people must be willing to turn away from the social constructs they hold to that pit us all against one another (though we think they are the answer) and adopt His Law and way of doing things. Sadly, very few people are prophesied to actually have the intelligence and wisdom to perceive the light when it comes. Rather, it is prophesied that humankind shall consider the Father a quack and run Him down the road (and His Kingdom with Him). Thus, humankind shall leave themselves high and dry in their fallen condition and go on to their ultimate ruination because they rejected the truth and persisted in societal constructs that ultimately self-destruct. I'm not saying all life on this planet ends, just life as we know it will become drastically different as we are plunged back into a greatly regressed state of being as a society. It isn't until the adversarial constructs which opposed the Father's Kingdom are self-destructed, along with all those who built it up, that the Father returns and establishes His Kingdom in power and victory. We are going to be going through the meltdown at some point so we should be looking for the Father's return and for His Kingdom to be established in power. Then, society shall have the laws that knit our society together in ways that doesn't pit us against one another. It isn't complicated stuff, it just goes against conventional wisdom and most of all requires all individuals to be fully responsible for themselves. Very few people actually like that. They want socialized safety nets to guarantee them salvation regardless of their personal choices and they want all of society to bear the burden of their presumed "right" to be irresponsible.

 

[diosangpastol]

How about understanding of the "Keys Of A Kingdom"
Jesus gave Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Lord Jesus and the Apostles always used Idiomatic expressions.

Here the Lord used an Idiomatic expression, shouldn't we understand this gesture in the context of the Jewish Idiom?

or would you rather re-invent this idiom?