How do we who are born again interact with the Kingdom of God now and what does it mean to truly see it? To myself, I interpret this experientially as well as symbolically. I think of the interactions of the members of Christ's body working in unison to nourish and strengthen one another in Love. One may bring comfort or edify or counsel or mend relationships or speak truth, another may provide food and drink, another may help by donating money or items or labour to a church cause, another may provide transportation, go on mission, hand out tracts, or just be a pleasant beacon of charity and represent Christ to the rest of the world.
Does this cooperation constitute how the Kingdom of God operates in heaven?
Ephesians 2:21-22 ...In [Christ] the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:15-16 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
Luke 17:20-21 When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The above passage makes me think that the Kingdom is something that people enter by the leading of the Spirit which is granted on an individual basis. If the Kingdom is in our midst, as Jesus says, then it stands to reason that we may enter into and experience the joys of it before dying here on earth.
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
How does one perceive the Kingdom of God while sojourning here on earth as a new creation in Christ? Does clothing ourselves with Christ mean that the Kingdom is now within us? Since Jesus is Love incarnate can it be said that Jesus is also the Kingdom of God incarnate?
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
If the default state of our hearts is that of static love, are we then abiding in the Kingdom of God?
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Coming near to the Kingdom is connected with healing of the sick; cleansing, washing, renewal. Can it be said that miracle working is a demonstration of the power of the Kingdom? When miracles are worked, can it be said that the Kingdom has come down to earth in an observable way?
Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Does one enter the Kingdom through repentance and good works through the Spirit? Is it okay for us to come near to the Kingdom in this life or must we enter in during this life if we are to obtain salvation in the next?
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.
Do we enter in briefly in prayer and then return to the world after our prayers have finished?
Sorry for asking so many questions. I'm just in a state of awe at the splendor of His majesty right now
Does this cooperation constitute how the Kingdom of God operates in heaven?
Ephesians 2:21-22 ...In [Christ] the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:15-16 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
Luke 17:20-21 When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The above passage makes me think that the Kingdom is something that people enter by the leading of the Spirit which is granted on an individual basis. If the Kingdom is in our midst, as Jesus says, then it stands to reason that we may enter into and experience the joys of it before dying here on earth.
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
How does one perceive the Kingdom of God while sojourning here on earth as a new creation in Christ? Does clothing ourselves with Christ mean that the Kingdom is now within us? Since Jesus is Love incarnate can it be said that Jesus is also the Kingdom of God incarnate?
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
If the default state of our hearts is that of static love, are we then abiding in the Kingdom of God?
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Coming near to the Kingdom is connected with healing of the sick; cleansing, washing, renewal. Can it be said that miracle working is a demonstration of the power of the Kingdom? When miracles are worked, can it be said that the Kingdom has come down to earth in an observable way?
Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Does one enter the Kingdom through repentance and good works through the Spirit? Is it okay for us to come near to the Kingdom in this life or must we enter in during this life if we are to obtain salvation in the next?
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.
Do we enter in briefly in prayer and then return to the world after our prayers have finished?
Sorry for asking so many questions. I'm just in a state of awe at the splendor of His majesty right now
