Comments on: Here we go . . . Part II. http://kingdomology.org/kingdom-living/here-we-go-part-ii/ expanding the love of Christ & Kingdom of God the world over Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:25:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Steve http://kingdomology.org/kingdom-living/here-we-go-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Steve Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:00:15 +0000 http://kingdomology.org/?p=59#comment-29 Eric, I would initially go with “all three without contradiction.” -Present rule in the hearts of men. That’s a huge part of it that I want folks to really understand. -God’s sovereignty in the affairs of men throughout time. -I would however approach the “future social and political Kingdom” study with caution though. I don’t quite understand this subject yet, but I do find some erroneous ideas in the “Left Behind” series and the like. Most of the OT interpretations of the Messiahs’ coming actually refer to Christ’s first coming and not the rebuilding of the Jewish state in 1948. I think Christianity would be a lot healthier in the West if scholars stopped trying to figure out when and how Jesus comes back and start teaching on obedience to the things we already understand. If I were pinned to the wall and forced to make a decision, I would probably place myself in the Amillennialist camp. Either way, Jesus wins and I hope we can draw as many folks to his side before that day as possible. Eric,
I would initially go with “all three without contradiction.”

-Present rule in the hearts of men. That’s a huge part of it that I want folks to really understand.

-God’s sovereignty in the affairs of men throughout time.

-I would however approach the “future social and political Kingdom” study with caution though. I don’t quite understand this subject yet, but I do find some erroneous ideas in the “Left Behind” series and the like. Most of the OT interpretations of the Messiahs’ coming actually refer to Christ’s first coming and not the rebuilding of the Jewish state in 1948. I think Christianity would be a lot healthier in the West if scholars stopped trying to figure out when and how Jesus comes back and start teaching on obedience to the things we already understand. If I were pinned to the wall and forced to make a decision, I would probably place myself in the Amillennialist camp. Either way, Jesus wins and I hope we can draw as many folks to his side before that day as possible.

]]> By: Eric W http://kingdomology.org/kingdom-living/here-we-go-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Eric W Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:41:59 +0000 http://kingdomology.org/?p=59#comment-28 Form critics find a problem in that John has a realized eschatology in which the kingdom is not coming as in the Synoptics, but has arrived in the eternal Christ. However, John also has futuristic elements (5:28 and 11:25, resurrection from the dead). It is important to know that there are several uses of the word “kingdom” and there is no contradiction if a different sense is involved in these different contexts. The kingdom may refer to God’s providential rule over all, to Christ’s present spiritual rule in the hearts of believers, and to a future social and political kingdom. It is quite possible that the gospels teach all three without contradiction. Gordon R. Lewis, “A Comparison of Form Criticism and Classical Criticism of the Gospels,” in More Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Historical Evidences for the Christian Scriptures, edited by Josh McDowell (San Bernardino, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc., 1975), 338. Form critics find a problem in that John has a realized eschatology in which the kingdom is not coming as in the Synoptics, but has arrived in the eternal Christ. However, John also has futuristic elements (5:28 and 11:25, resurrection from the dead). It is important to know that there are several uses of the word “kingdom” and there is no contradiction if a different sense is involved in these different contexts. The kingdom may refer to God’s providential rule over all, to Christ’s present spiritual rule in the hearts of believers, and to a future social and political kingdom. It is quite possible that the gospels teach all three without contradiction.

Gordon R. Lewis, “A Comparison of Form Criticism and Classical Criticism of the Gospels,” in More Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Historical Evidences for the Christian Scriptures, edited by Josh McDowell (San Bernardino, California: Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc., 1975), 338.

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