><> ... The Kingdom and the church distinguished...><>
Consider the following:
1.The subjects of the former are spoken of as "inheriting", or as being "heirs of the Kingdom"; but we cannot speak of inheriting or being heirs of "the church"
2.We read of the possibility of receiving the Kingdom, but in no sense can any church be spoken of as being received.
3.We read of the elders of the churches, messengers or servants of the churches, but never of the elders, messengers, and or servants of the kingdom.
4.We read of the "children (or sons) of the Kingdom" but the Bible knows nothing of the sons of the church.
5. The characteristics of each are distinct.
6.The names and appellatives of "the church" are never used of the kingdom.( Eph.1:23..,2:21..,4:4,16..,5:30..,Col.1:24..,1Tim.3:15)
7.The privilege of "that church" which consists of the partakers of a "heavenly calling"( Heb.3:1, Rev.20:4-6, will be to reign with Christ over the earthly Kingdom, whereas that Kingdom will under the whole heaven Dan.7:27
8.The "church of the prison Epistles (Eph.,Phil.,Col.) is here and now, in the world, and is waiting for its exanastasis, and its "heavenward call"(Phil.3:11,14) whereas the Kingdom is not here because the king is not here (Heb.2:8)
9.The Kingdom is one great subject of prophecy; whereas the church (of the prison Epistles) is not the subject of prophecy, but on the contrary, was kept secret, and hidden in God, until the time came for the secret to be revealed. The beloved Son of God made the head over all things to His ekklesia church...which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Eph.1:10,20-23)...This sovereignty had been kept secret(Rom.16:25.) hid in God, (Eph.3:9) hid from ages and from generations (Col.1:25).But after the Kingdom proclaimed by our Lord and by them that heard Him (Heb.2:4) had been postponed, it was revealed and made known (Eph.3) for the obedience of faith (Rom.16:26).
Will continue again at another time....but there is quite a bit here to prayerfully consider.
Gal 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Have a blessed evening all
Shalom...><> |
