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THE KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN IS WITHIN YOU (really)

10-23-11

(Luke 17:21)  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God  is within [Gk: inside] you.

1.      Commentary: According to Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is the same as the kingdom of God:

2.      (Mat 19:23)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 19:24)  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

(Rom 8:16-19)  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children [Gk: teknon] of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together [Gk: to exalt to dignity in company (i.e. similarly) with]. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory [Gk: (as very apparent)] which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature [Gk: the creation] waiteth for the manifestation [Gk: disclosure: appearing, coming, lighten, revelation] of the sons [Gk: huios] of God.

1.      revealed = Gk: to take off the cover, i.e. disclosed.

(2 Th 1:7-12)  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire [Joel 2:1-11] taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Pet 4:12,13)  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you [“Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality” Amplified Bible], as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

THE RESURRECTION, THE GLORY, AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT GLORY (a quickening spirit)

(1 Cor 15:35-40)  But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened [Gk: made alive], except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain [Gk: a kernel of seed], it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies [Gk: above the sky], and bodies terrestrial [Gk: earthly]: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

(1 Cor 15:41-46)  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars [what effect do these three bodies have in common?]: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption [Gk: decay: ruin]; it is raised in incorruption [Gk: immortality]: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening [Gk: to (re-) vitalize:--make alive, give life] spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

(1 Cor 15:47-50)  The first man [natural] is of the earth, earthy: the second man [spiritual] is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

(1 Cor 15:51-54)  Behold, I show you  a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption [“a wedding garment” Mat 22:11,12], and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1.      (1 Th 4:13-18)  But I would not have you to be ignorant [Gk: not to know (through lack of information or intelligence)], brethren, concerning them which are asleep [Gk: dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [Gk: not precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Gk: to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer:--choose] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Cor 15:55-58)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Amen