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The Kingdom Within

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 5:43 pm
by Paidion
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; "nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21 NKJV)

It seems to be a rather common view among Christians, especially among evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, that when a person "accepts Christ as his personal Saviour," then the Kingdom of God resides in his heart and mind.

Notice that Jesus said these words to the PHARISEES who did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, but believed Him to be an imposter. Surely the Kingdom was not within them in the sense of being in their hearts and minds.

So what DID Jesus mean when he told the Pharisees that the kingdom of God was within them? A kingdom consists of a king and his subjects. Right there, within that group of Pharisees, right in their midst, was the Kingdom of God! The King of that Kingdom was Jesus, and his disciples were his subjects. The Kingdom had come! (in its infant stage). It did not come with signs to be observed, but was right there in their midst, though they did not recognize it.

Re: The Kingdom Within

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:30 am
by Homer
Hi Paidion,

Reinforcing what you wrote, Jesus also said:

Luke 16:16 (NASB)

16. “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Re: The Kingdom Within

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 8:13 pm
by Paidion
Yes, that seems to be a supportive verse, Homer. Thank you for quoting it.

Re: The Kingdom Within

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:55 pm
by psimmond
Other translations say the kingdom of God is "in your midst." If this is correct, it seems Jesus could have been referring to himself as the future ruler of God's kingdom, since all authority was given to Jesus when God raised him and placed him on a throne at his side.

Re: The Kingdom Within

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 7:57 pm
by Paidion
psimmond wrote:Other translations say the kingdom of God is "in your midst." If this is correct, it seems Jesus could have been referring to himself as the future ruler of God's kingdom, since all authority was given to Jesus when God raised him and placed him on a throne at his side.
It's over a year since you wrote this, Psimmond. I'm sorry I didn't notice it earlier.
I think Jesus was referring to Himself (the King) and His subjects (His disciples) as being God's Kingdom within the body of Pharisees right in the day in which He spoke the words. That WAS the Kingdom of God in its infant stage.

However, since that time the has been growing in extent. (Jesus gave parables about its growth). It will continue to grow until the time when "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Anointed One, and he shall reign forever and ever." (Rev 11:15). That will be the final and permanent stage of the Kingdom!