The Kingdom Within: Part 2

In my last post, I mentioned one of Jesus' teachings about the kingdom of God that I think is very significant, but is often overlooked. This is the teaching found in Luke 17 where Jesus says, "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." [emphasis mine]

By this teaching, we can know that the kingdom of God is not an external reality that we can see. Rather, the kingdom of God is a reality within. The next thing we should notice is that when Jesus says, "the kingdom of God is within you," He is not talking to His disciples, as if to say the kingdom of God is within some people but not others. When Jesus says "the kingdom of God is within you," He is talking to a group of Pharisees, a people that were so vehemently opposed to Jesus that they wanted to have Him killed. Indeed, Jesus tells a group of Pharisees, "the kingdom of God is within you." [emphasis mine]

In my last post, I also mentioned how in Matthew 23, our attention is directed toward another surprising bunch of people in whom Jesus sees the kingdom of God: publicans and harlots! "Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" (Matt 23:28-30).

Now if Jesus sees the kingdom of God within "publicans and harlots" who for obvious reasons are unlikely members of God's kingdom, and also within the Pharisees whose superficial "righteousness" had no value in God's kingdom, we can safely conclude that Jesus sees the kingdom of God within all people. 

If the kingdom of God is a reality that is within all people, then anyone, at any moment can become aware of God's kingdom within, and enter into it. Hence, Jesus' saying "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (See Matt 3:2, Matt 4:17, Mark 1:14...)

Many Christians seem to think Jesus is saying simply, "Repent and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and you will be 'saved.'" In a certain sense, I believe the same because I have personally experienced salvation through Jesus Christ. But I think we ought to recognize by Jesus' more obscure teaching (such as that mentioned above) that the mystery of God's kingdom is not as cut-and-dry as we tend to make it.

To "repent" means to turn away from something, and to turn toward something else. When Jesus says, "Repent," he is telling us to turn away from the kingdoms of this world that our hearts are apt to be following, and to turn toward the kingdom of God instead. Remember, that kingdom is not some far-off place in another world. Jesus is clear in His teaching that God's kingdom is within you.

Now if the kingdom of God is within you, then Christ...

"who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature [emphasis mine] (Col 1:15)

Christ...

who has "chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" [emphasis mine] (Eph 1:4)

Christ...

who "is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" [emphasis mine] (Heb 12:2)

Christ...as an integral part of God's kingdom...is an indwelling reality within every person. Scandalous!

Therefore when Jesus says "the kingdom of heaven is at hand," He is not only speaking of His physical role in bringing about God's kingdom on earth 2,000+ years ago, He is also speaking of Christ's eternal reign in God's kingdom within us. (See Matthew 22:44, Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:55-56, Col 3:1, Heb 8:1, Heb 10:12, Heb 12:2, 1 Peter 3:2 and Rev 3:21).

On one occasion while a group of Pharisees is chastising Jesus for His welldoing, for His miracles which they witnessed with their very eyes, one Pharisee accused Him saying "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."

To this Jesus basically tells them that it is not possible for a sick person to be made well by the power of a devil. He continues saying, "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you...Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." (Matt 12:28-31)

Thus, where we fail to recognize God's kingdom and healing power in others, we fail to honor God's indwelling Spirit. Where we blaspheme (speak or behave irreverently) towards God's Spirit in others, Jesus tells us that we will not be forgiven. 

Notice that every other sin will be forgiven. All but one. Not quite the picture painted by many Christians of an eternity in hell for unrepented sins...

Our prime purpose on earth then is to recognize God's kingdom within ourselves and others,  and to enter into that kingdom where Christ reigns, so that God's kingdom can grow on earth, in ourselves and in others. Only then can we pray "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and sincerely mean it.