What is the Kingdom of God?

[Ritajanice]

◄ 2 Peter 1:4 ►

Audio Crossref Comment Greek Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. New Living Translation And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. English Standard Version by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Berean Standard Bible Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires

 

[Episkopos]

You're being coy but it isn't cute, it's just dishonest.

As for me personally I've been hammering on for a long time about the need to leave the foundation and go on to perfection. ....not putting down stakes and camping out indefinitely on the shore of the Red Sea. If we don't keep growing and following the Lord, forgetting what lies behind and reaching for what lies ahead, we will end up like Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt and devoid of life. The truth doesn't seem to be in you, Episkopos, and it doesn't bother your conscience one bit.

You are going in circles here. Are we laying a foundation or forgetting that and reaching for what lies ahead? There is no logic to your ideas. I'm talking about apprehending the kingdom, and you react harshly against that to talk about foundations. Read your own posts.
Anyway I mainly ignore your posts as they are not heading in any one direction. You seem to just like agreeing with whoever is disagreeing with me. And don't be coy about that.

 

[Episkopos]

So in your view Romans 14:17 is false doctrine?

I have ceased to look for any logic in some of the corrosive posts here...unless it is there to defend a superficial name-it claim-it religious agenda that is self-aggrandizing.

The part of some that they are defending is what Paul sought to crucify in order to "win Christ."

God makes no covenant with the flesh. He only holds out His love to the inner man...the gentle part, the humble part.

 

[Ritajanice]

 

[Lizbeth]

So in your view Romans 14:17 is false doctrine?

Not at all brother....why do you ask ? I'm thinking particularly about the foundational doctrine of imputed righteousness.....Epi's doctrine says the imputed righteousness of Christ does not apply to all believers but only to those who are walking a "higher walk".

 

[Ritajanice]

Romans 4

King James Version

​

4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

[Episkopos]

Not at all brother....why do you ask ? I'm thinking particularly about the foundational doctrine of imputed righteousness.....Epi's doctrine says the imputed righteousness of Christ does not apply to all believers but only to those who are walking a "higher walk".

This is not the case. God can impute righteousness on anyone....even non Christians and non-Jews like Abraham.

What is ONLY available for those who have entered into the kingdom realm of the Spirit is to be COVERED by God's righteousness...to walk in His righteousness...His holiness, His power. To be clothed over so as not to be naked.

The problem is that His grace is made perfect in our weakness. So then a repentance and full surrender must precede any kind of elevation into the higher walk. The soul wants to be elevated. That's what I hear in your posts. But the soul...to be saved INTO eternal life NOW, needs to be abased...rebuked...chastened. Whom God loves He chastens their souls in order for the inner man to rise up by faith from within. THAT is the part that is raised up. The soul life force has to be crucified to do that.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Knowing the terror of the Lord we warn people.

Don't skim over these things...study to show yourself approved of God.

 

[Episkopos]

The proper way to receive the gospel of the kingdom is to marvel at it like a child. Not to respond with a "grown-up" skepticism that negates the wonders of God.

The higher walk? Yes...we marvel that God can do that with us weak humans. Praise God for His goodness, mercy and grace.

Rather, so many will rise up in their ego and seek to diminish the gospel to what they have ....fully twisting the words of the bible and accusing truth seekers of what they are doing. Since these live in their soulish ego...they assume all people are just like them. And this is the condemnation...that they prefer to remain as they are...even attacking the Lord's ministers...in order to justify themselves in a man-made religious scheme that sees God thinking they are as righteous as He is.

Monstrous.

Modern doctrines are concocted to uplift the soul...to raise up what God wants torn down. They are crafted to eliminate the higher walk. It is no wonder then that so much of the modern church cannot endure sound doctrine. It stands against the pure doctrine of Christ.

 

[Lizbeth]

This is not the case. God can impute righteousness on anyone....even non Christians and non-Jews like Abraham.

What is ONLY available for those who have entered into the kingdom realm of the Spirit is to be COVERED by God's righteousness...to walk in His righteousness...His holiness, His power. To be clothed over so as not to be naked.

The problem is that His grace is made perfect in our weakness. So then a repentance and full surrender must precede any kind of elevation into the higher walk. The soul wants to be elevated. That's what I hear in your posts. But the soul...to be saved INTO eternal life NOW, needs to be abased...rebuked...chastened. Whom God loves He chastens their souls in order for the inner man to rise up by faith from within. THAT is the part that is raised up. The soul life force has to be crucified to do that.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Knowing the terror of the Lord we warn people.

Don't skim over these things...study to show yourself approved of God.

Read Romans 4, Epi. Righteousness is only reckoned/imputed through faith.

But yes of course we must work out our salvation...out of the deposit/gift we have been given. See the parable of the talents.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Not at all brother....why do you ask ? I'm thinking particularly about the foundational doctrine of imputed righteousness.....Epi's doctrine says the imputed righteousness of Christ does not apply to all believers but only to those who are walking a "higher walk".

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

If one is walking after the flesh and is not being led by the Holy Ghost... which is always based on God's Word (John 16:13, John 17:17).... then they are walking in condemnation

For those that think the last have of Romans 8:1 was added (it wasn't)... then continue reading...

Romans 8:4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:6-8
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:13,14
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

God makes no covenant with the flesh. He only holds out His love to the inner man...the gentle part, the humble part.

And of course we are instructed to do something about our flesh...

Ephesians 4:22-24
put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 13:14
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Colossians 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him:

2 Corinthians 6:17
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

1 Thessalonians 4:4
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

 

[Episkopos]

Read Romans 4, Epi. Righteousness is only reckoned/imputed through faith.

But yes of course we must work out our salvation...out of the deposit/gift we have been given. See the parable of the talents.

Not so....read James. Human righteousness can be imputed by both faith and works. Where faith ONLY comes to play is into the kingdom walk. No one can do works to enter into the kingdom realm of the Spirit. That is ONLY possible by faith. And that is what Paul was talking about. He ONLY cared about winning Christ. Paul was a radical runner in the race of faith. People who read the bible are usually nowhere near that zealous for the high calling...yet they name and claim his standards as if he was laying out a simple system that all can adopt by just having a self-interested human belief.

Truly another gospel.

 

[Lizbeth]

Not so....read James. Human righteousness can be imputed by both faith and works. Where faith ONLY comes to play is into the kingdom walk. No one can do works to enter into the kingdom realm of the Spirit. That is ONLY possible by faith. And that is what Paul was talking about. He ONLY cared about winning Christ. Paul was a radical runner in the race of faith. People who read the bible are usually nowhere near that zealous for the high calling...yet they name and claim his standards as if he was laying out a simple system that all can adopt by just having a self-interested human belief.

Truly another gospel.

So says the gospel of Epi. Read again brother.....it is faith and works working together, not works without faith. And where do our works and righteousness come from, not of our own any more than our faith is of our own, that's for sure....but from the store of what we have been GIVEN.

And your followers just blindly agree with you about everything. Can't they read either? It's not difficult, it is simple.

 

[Episkopos]

So says the gospel of Epi. Read again brother.....it is faith and works working together, not works without faith. And where do our works and righteousness come from, not of our own any more than our faith is of our own, that's for sure....but from the store of what we have been GIVEN.

And your followers just blindly agree with you about everything. Can't they read either? It's not difficult, it is simple.

Who are you to judge? Your own blindness causes you to lash out at others who are clearly far ahead of you in understanding. God gives grace to the humble...so then you have not experienced anything other than the free samples. A shallow soil gets offended...because it has no depth and is easily riled up. You are degrading and insulting people who know how to discern what the bible says compared to what Luther taught. Luther is NOT an apostle...although he is VERY popular with the outer man ego types...But he is NOT qualified to change the gospel into a religious scheme that opportunists can then lay claim to (although this is what happens in so many cases).

Are you upset you are not getting enough likes? Attack me more openly...and you will get what you want. All who live godly and preach the truth will be attacked for it.

You are not wanting to understand. You want to be smug where you are...fine! No one is saying you can't believe what you want to.

The problem arises when you degrade the holy walk in Christ to a mere religious tweaking and how that spending time with the bible is the same as is being in the Spirit.....thus negating any real seeking or acknowledging a higher calling as per the bible......although you never specified whether the bible needed to be open or not.

You upgrade your own devotional time and degrade that of others who disagree with you. So you are doing precisely what you accuse me of...without once considering that I'm actually representing what the Spirit is saying to my fellow believers. Egos would explode at the very thought of this.

 

[Lizbeth]

You are degrading and insulting people who know how to discern what the bible says compared to what Luther taught. Luther is NOT an apostle...although he is VERY popular with the outer man ego types...But he is NOT qualified to change the gospel into a religious scheme that opportunists can then lay claim to (although this is what happens in so many cases).

Are you upset you are not getting enough likes? Attack me more openly...and you will get what you want. All who live godly and preach the truth will be attacked.

You are not wanting to understand. You want to be smug where you are...fine! No one is saying you can't believe what you want to.

The problem arises when you degrade the holy walk in Christ to a mere tweaking and how that spending time with the bible is the same as is being in the Spirit.....thus negating any real seeking or acknowledging a higher calling as per the bible......although you never specified whether the bible needed to be open or not.

You upgrade your own devotional time and degrade that of others who disagree with you. So you are doing precisely what you accuse me of...without once considering that I'm actually representing what the Spirit is saying to my fellow believers. Egos would explode at the very thought of this.

I wonder if your followers notice how you always respond with an attack and digressions when you are confronted with scriptures that you can't refute. Your method is always sand in the eyes, smoke and mirrors, in hopes that some won't notice.

How about we just discuss those scrips instead? Is it not faith and works, working together? Isn't that what the scriptures in James clearly say? Which does not agree with what you said.

 

[Episkopos]

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?I wonder if your followers

Christ followers. You are a Luther follower. Don't confuse the two. Luther is NOT an apostle. He is a bringer of great delusion. ....to the degree that his doctrine immunizes people so that they are unable to endure sound doctrine.

notice how you always respond with an attack and digressions when you are confronted with scriptures that you can't refute.

I post many more times the bible verses than those who use the same verses over and over again without understanding. It's like trying to get a Jehovah' s witness to look at other verses that they are not familiar with...that contradict their take on things. What do they do...ignore. Same tactic, same technique.

Your method is always sand in the eyes, smoke and mirrors, in hopes that some won't notice.

Untrue. You are trying to degrade me and those who agree with me...admit it...and stop projecting your own caustic methods to me. Instead engage the verses that you have NOT been indoctrinated into...and see how they line up with those verses.

How about we just discuss those scrips instead?

Sure. If you look at the video in the OP....you can count how many verses I expound on that bring a beautiful unity...and a consistency that comes from an actual life with God.

Is it not faith and works, working together?

What kind of question is that? You are trying to avoid the idea of being justified by works...which is clearly taught in both testaments.

Maybe this is too detailed and specific for you...but I have said repeatedly what the bible teaches...there is a human righteousness and a righteousness of God. BOTH are laid out plainly. It takes an indoctrination that ignores hundreds of verses to focus on a misunderstanding of a few that have either been mistranslated...or else just misunderstood. The vast MAJORITY of the biblical witness points to Christ and His saints being in a higher realm...a kingdom realm of the Spirit. So much so that common folk thought that if even a shadow of a saint passed over them they could be healed. Superstitious maybe...but the childlike AWE that such were held in shows that they were much closer to the kingdom than most moderns are today.

That kind of awe of God gets in the way of a religious dogmatic scheme....a one size fits all religious formula that is based on creeds and beliefs about creeds... with NO depth or holiness whatsoever. So be it.

Isn't that what the scriptures in James clearly say? Which does not agree with what you said.

"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" James 2:25

I have posted the case of Phinehas MANY times...which many are blind to...they can't see the word PHINEHAS...on their screens it must show up as a blank.

Phinehas is an example of God justifying THE SAME WAY as Abraham...it was imputed to him for righteousness....for killing two transgressors. No belief system there.

PS. The reason why those who agree with me do so...is because they are honest and actually can read what I'm writing. Some may even open their bibles and do a study on Phinehas. Those are like Bereans.

 

[Laurina]

Christ followers. You are a Luther follower. Don't confuse the two. Luther is NOT an apostle. He is a bringer of great delusion. ....to the degree that his doctrine immunizes people so that they are unable to endure sound doctrine.


I post many more times the bible verses than those who use the same verses over and over again without understanding. It's like trying to get a Jehovah' s witness to look at other verses that they are not familiar with...that contradict their take on things. What do they do...ignore. Same tactic, same technique.


Untrue. You are trying to degrade me and those who agree with me...admit it...and stop projecting your own caustic methods to me. Instead engage the verses that you have NOT been indoctrinated into...and see how they line up with those verses.


Sure. If you look at the video in the OP....you can count how many verses I expound on that bring a beautiful unity...and a consistency that comes from an actual life with God.


What kind of question is that? You are trying to avoid the idea of being justified by works...which is clearly taught in both testaments.

Maybe this is too detailed and specific for you...but I have said repeatedly what the bible teaches...there is a human righteousness and a righteousness of God. BOTH are laid out plainly. It takes an indoctrination that ignores hundreds of verses to focus on a misunderstanding of a few that have either been mistranslated...or else just misunderstood. The vast MAJORITY of the biblical witness points to Christ and His saints being in a higher realm...a kingdom realm of the Spirit. So much so that common folk thought that if even a shadow of a saint passed over them they could be healed. Superstitious maybe...but the childlike AWE that such were held in shows that they were much closer to the kingdom than most moderns are today.

That kind of awe of God gets in the way of a religious dogmatic scheme....a one size fits all religious formula that is based on creeds and beliefs about creeds... with NO depth or holiness whatsoever. So be it.

"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" James 2:25

I have posted the case of Phinehas MANY times...which many are blind to...they can't see the word PHINEHAS...on their screens it must show up as a blank.

Phinehas is an example of God justifying THE SAME WAY as Abraham...it was imputed to him for righteousness....for killing two transgressors. No belief system there.

PS. The reason why those who agree with me do so...is because they are honest and actually can read what I'm writing. Some may even open their bibles and do a study on Phinehas. Those are like Bereans.

Amen!!!

 

[Episkopos]

When we have faith in Christ....REAL faith...a faith that God acknowledges and that He is pleased with...THEN we are translated into the kingdom realm. From there we walk in the faith OF Christ...being where He is, walking in His life (blood), walking in His love...walking in His light. His resurrection life uplifts the inner man to be where He is...in the abode prepared for those who abide in Him.

In the Fathers' house are many abiding places. ALL these places are in Christ.

But this grace requires faith to get.. Beliefs about Jesus or His sacrifice?...NO! Creedal acknowledgment? No. Acceptance by men? No.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

 

[Lizbeth]

What kind of question is that? You are trying to avoid the idea of being justified by works...which is clearly taught in both testaments.

(LOL! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.) Why, it's nothing but the pertinent question here to ask of someone who is teaching that people can be saved by their own righteousness apart from faith. And how can you say I'm avoiding the idea of being justified by works when I agree with the bible that faith and works go together which is shown by my very question.

God's word proves you wrong, and He doesn't change, so I strongly advise you to, unless you would rather face His judgment one day 'ere long.

Heb 11:31

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.


Heb 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.


Heb 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.


Jas 2:22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

IT'S SO VERY PLAIN AND CLEAR TO SEE THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO SEE IT UNLESS THE READER HAS SOMETHING ELSE ALREADY IN THEIR EYE THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM SEEING. SUCH AS A LIE AND FALSE BELIEF. WHEN PEOPLE INSIST ON CLINGING TO A LIE WHEN IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY SHOWN OTHERWISE FROM THE WORD OF GOD IT SUGGESTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LOVE OF THE TRUTH, WHICH IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION TO BE IN.

 

[Episkopos]

(LOL! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.) Why, it's nothing but the pertinent question here to ask of someone who is teaching that people can be saved by their own righteousness apart from faith. And how can you say I'm avoiding the idea of being justified by works when I agree with the bible that faith and works go together which is shown by my very question.

God's word proves you wrong, and He doesn't change, so I strongly advise you to, unless you would rather face His judgment one day 'ere long.

Heb 11:31

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.


Heb 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.


Heb 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.


Jas 2:22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

IT'S SO VERY PLAIN AND CLEAR TO SEE THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO SEE IT UNLESS THE READER HAS SOMETHING ELSE ALREADY IN THEIR EYE THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM SEEING. SUCH AS A LIE AND FALSE BELIEF. WHEN PEOPLE INSIST ON CLINGING TO A LIE WHEN IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY SHOWN OTHERWISE FROM THE WORD OF GOD IT SUGGESTS THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LOVE OF THE TRUTH, WHICH IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION TO BE IN.

Smoke-srceening. And strawman-ing. Of course people do what they think is right. Do people do works that they don't believe in?

The premise is that people do things based on a ideological belief system. Only religious people do that.

And you are arguing in favour of human beliefs over faith. Faith is NOT beliefs.

Jesus said faith can move mountains...do the impossible...not just give people religious opinions.

Was Ahab justified because of her religious beliefs? Were her beliefs accurate enough to save her? no. She was justified by what she did.

Was Phinehas justified for his religious beliefs about God. No. He was justified because of what he did.

Was Abraham justified because of his religious beliefs about God? No...his was a case where FAITH was involved...where he believed God for the impossible. And that kind of faith IS necessary to go into the higher walk...from faith INTO faith.

Now an example of faith in our time is to believe God about the higher walk (which many believe is impossible) and trust that it IS possible and even desirable to do so...even if that faithful one seems to be unable at the present time. When Abraham believed God he was still not a father...that's why it is called "faith."

So then you believe that it is impossible to have a higher walk in Christ. Is that faith or unbelief? God said about the Israelites ... "I swore in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest"

Why is that? Unbelief

So to argue over faith and works when a person is looking to smokescreen the real test of faith...is moot.

You would do better to argue FOR works...as faith is lacking.