First of all I want to notify
to my vallued visitors that from this week only I will publish my reflections
on Tuesday.
Let's enter matter...
IS IT JESUS CHRIST OR THE CHURCH THE SAME GOD'S
KINGDOM?
The
dictionary defines the term "kingdom" as "subject to the rule of
a king territory." It is outside every reason to think that a person can
simultaneously be king and kingdom. What does the Bible say? For example, in
Lc.11.2: "And he said to them: When you pray, say, Our Father which art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come ... "is he was the same
kingdom of God, why taught to ask him to come, if he was already with them?
Speaking of
himself, of his second coming, (. Mt.24 25-27), said: "So if anyone tells
you, it is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers,
believe it not. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the
west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man. " In other words, the
person of the Savior will be fully evident, localizable, whereas the Kingdom of
God, no. Luke says. 17.20-21: "Asked by the Pharisees, when it was to come
the kingdom of God, 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 "See also 1-Co.15.24:".. Then comes the
end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after he has abolished all
rule and all authority and power "means he himself delivered? Obviously
not.
also notes the
clear distinction made by Paul between the one and the other: "And Paul
dwelt two whole years in a rented house and welcomed all who came to him,
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ Boldly
and without hindrance ". There are tares in the Kingdom of God (Mt.13.41)
but there is not Jesus Christ, as he is king, a person, and kingdom else,
comparable to a tree, a network, etc. It is everywhere, area or dimension where
he exercises sovereignty.
However. The
Church is the Body of Christ (1 Cor.12-12-27;. Ro.12 4-5;. Eph.1 15-23;. Col.
1. 18). The Church is the human part of his Kingdom. Are the believers, the
faithful. The king wishes to exercise its sovereignty, in these particular
individuals, as in the whole of them, considered God's own people, the holy
nation (1-P.2.9-10), so that "speaking the truth in love we grow up in
every way into him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body,
joined and knit together by every joint help each other, according to the
working by which every part does its growth to go edifying of itself in love
", thus creating works that bear witness to the glory of God (Mt.5.14-16).
Jesus said to
those who rejected (Mateo.21.43): "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of
God will be taken from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of
it.". He said to his disciples (Lc.12.32): "Fear not, little flock,
for your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" If the Kingdom of
God is something that can give or take, then obviously that is something
different people to whom it is given or taken away.
Let's see more. Matthew. 25.34 says:
"Then the King will say to those on his right. Come, blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" We
may then ask: How will inherit something if they themselves are that something?
The New Testament says that believers are the Kingdom of God, but declares that
we are "participants" of it (Ap.1.9).
We infer,
therefore, not only by what has been said but by the general context of the
Bible, which is a comprehensive system of government where, based on the
sacrifice of the Lamb of God (1-Co.3.11), intervenes Holy Spirit of God himself,
and collaborate angels Salvador (He.1.14), provided everything under the
teachings and principles of the word of the kingdom (Mt.13.19, 2-P.1.19).
Further notes
that the gospel is preached Kingdom (Mt.4.23; 10.7; Hch.28 31, etc..); Jesus
Christ is preached (Hch.5.42; 8.5; 1-Co.1.23, etc.); But in the Bible the
Church is never preached, nor any particular local church or the universal
Church (what unfortunately does happen today under the trademark representing
some religious institutions).
It is very
clear that the Church is not the same Kingdom of God, but is made up of the
people chosen by God to fulfill both her, the Church, and through her, her
government on Earth (Dn.7 . 22:27; Rev. 2: 26-27)..