Is the Kingdom of God a coming attraction or a present reality? Have citizens of the kingdom experienced a second birth already, or will that birth occur at the Resurrection? Believe it or not, some disciples of Yeshua don't have the right answers to these fundamental questions.
I've become concerned by the rising influence of a handful of teachers who frequently and adamantly proclaim that confessing, baptized believers are neither born again, nor living the kingdom life. These teachers must be studying out of a different kind of Bible than me, because I find plenty of verses to contradict their doctrine.
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Already but Not Yet
According to certain teachers, the kingdom of God is not something we can enter into during this lifetime. Rather, it exists in heaven exclusively until the return of Messiah.
This kind of thinking seems to be a reaction to erroneous views like Preterism, Dominion Theology, and the Social Justice Gospel. To be sure, the Kingdom is not just a way of living or a worldview. It is most certainly also a literal government run by the Deity and his angel armies. That heavenly government will one day be enforced throughout the earth (Rev. 19:11-21; Jud. 1:14; Matt. 25:31; et al.).
However, we should not view the Kingdom as something entirely future and divorced from the here-and-now, because Scripture doesn't support that narrow view.
The only true, holistic doctrine of the Kingdom is this: it is both already here and still to come, simultaneously. It is present in part but not in totality, inaugurated but not consummated.
In the following paragraphs, I will point your attention to an assortment of verses that show the veracity of the "already but not yet" doctrine.
This kind of thinking seems to be a reaction to erroneous views like Preterism, Dominion Theology, and the Social Justice Gospel. To be sure, the Kingdom is not just a way of living or a worldview. It is most certainly also a literal government run by the Deity and his angel armies. That heavenly government will one day be enforced throughout the earth (Rev. 19:11-21; Jud. 1:14; Matt. 25:31; et al.).
However, we should not view the Kingdom as something entirely future and divorced from the here-and-now, because Scripture doesn't support that narrow view.
The only true, holistic doctrine of the Kingdom is this: it is both already here and still to come, simultaneously. It is present in part but not in totality, inaugurated but not consummated.
In the following paragraphs, I will point your attention to an assortment of verses that show the veracity of the "already but not yet" doctrine.
#1
"From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11:12).
The chronological context of this statement is clearly defined within itself. It isn't at all talking about walking into Zion on the Day of the Lord. On the contrary, even in John's day, people were rushing into the Kingdom by faith and repentance.
#2
During his ministry, Yeshua had hard words for the religious leaders of Israel:
"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits" (Matt. 21:43).
The rabbis and sages of Yeshua's day (and certain prior times) were the stewards of Yeshua's parable about the vineyard. They were already operating within God's kingdom, even though that kingdom was "not of this world" (John 18:36).
#3
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live" (John 5:25).
What Yeshua said here strikes most people as very strange. Why would he seemingly contradict himself by saying that something is on its way but already here? The answer is that he's talking about two resurrections: the resurrection of the body at the end of the Age, and the quickening of dead souls who believe the Word of God during the present Age.
(This ties into the discussion later in this post about being "born again".)
(This ties into the discussion later in this post about being "born again".)
#4
"But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Luke 11:20).
Yeshua did not say "the king has come," or "the emissary of God has come," or anything of that sort. He specifically said "kingdom," which is defined as a realm of influence.
#5
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).
Can we agree that what Paul wrote in Romans 14:17 has nothing to do with an eschatological country, but rather the daily lives of Christians?
#6
According to Yeshua, we are to receive the Kingdom into our lives now, before we enter into it:
"Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it" (Mark 10:15).
We won't be able to fully enter into the Kingdom until we have put off mortal flesh and received immortality, but even children can presently bring it into their lives in some sense. No one can literally bring the king's country into himself, but one can put himself under the governing authority of YHVH, thus "receiving" the Kingdom.
#7
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33).
If the kingdom is not currently accessible to some extent, how can Scripture command us to seek it? The verb seek implies that we can locate the object and interact with it in some fashion, which is why it was said, "seek and ye shall find" (Matt. 7:7). We cannot currently find the heavenly Zion, nor the paradise of Eden, but we can find the "reign" (sphere of influence) and righteous precepts of YHVH. That's what Yeshua was asking of us.
It comes down to this: Don't let your eschatology be over-realized or under-realized. Stay on the road and out of the ditches on either side.
Well-known author George Ladd perhaps said it best: “Before the eschatological appearing of God’s Kingdom at the end of the age, God’s Kingdom has become dynamically active among men in Jesus’ person and mission."
It comes down to this: Don't let your eschatology be over-realized or under-realized. Stay on the road and out of the ditches on either side.
Well-known author George Ladd perhaps said it best: “Before the eschatological appearing of God’s Kingdom at the end of the age, God’s Kingdom has become dynamically active among men in Jesus’ person and mission."
Renewal in Stages
Now that we've gained a better understanding of the Kingdom, let's do the same regarding the term "born again." Simply put, the second birth of the spirit precedes the second birth of the body.
Will the Resurrection be a rebirth? Absolutely! We're all yearning to be born again into uncorrupted, immortal bodies, but let us not disregard the amazing rebirth that has already occurred by the Ruach Ha'Kodesh.
Here comes List of Verses, Part Deux. These all demonstrate that believers have already been regenerated.
Will the Resurrection be a rebirth? Absolutely! We're all yearning to be born again into uncorrupted, immortal bodies, but let us not disregard the amazing rebirth that has already occurred by the Ruach Ha'Kodesh.
Here comes List of Verses, Part Deux. These all demonstrate that believers have already been regenerated.
#1
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13).
Notice the past tense use of the word born.
#2
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (1 Pet. 1:3).
...since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God... (1 Peter 1:23).
Twice in the same letter, the apostle Peter points out that we've been born again through trust in what God has already done.
#3
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... (Eph. 2:4-5).
We were dead in sin, but we didn't stay that way. If you were dead, and then you were given an entirely new life (not merely resuscitated), how is that not rebirth?
#4
Paul says the same thing to a different audience:
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with [Yeshua], having forgiven us all our trespasses... (Col. 2:13).
#5
Yeshua's brother even chimes in on this topic:
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (James 1:18).
The phrase "brought us forth" is another way of saying "gave us life."
#6
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).
The old man has died; a new man has been generated. All I can say to that is hallelujah!
CONCLUSION
The verses I've listed above provide a strong challenge to newfangled interpretations of the Kingdom of God and spiritual rebirth.
Sadly, it seems that some teachers these days—even those who have, by the grace of Yah, escaped the doctrines of man handed down to them—are more interested in new doctrine than correct doctrine. They long to set themselves apart by putting a "shocking" spin on the traditional understanding of Scripture. I myself am no stranger to that particular temptation, and I understand how easily one can fall prey to it, so I'm not without pity. Nevertheless, I'm responsible for rebuking false teachings.
Be wary of teachers who buck hundreds of years of well-established doctrine. There are sometimes long-standing dogmas that need to be corrected, but those are the exceptions to the rule. If any of us are going to overturn such things, we'd better have very good reasons for doing so, and we'd better not ignore any verses that challenge our suppositions.
Please don't assume that I'm saying you should have nothing to do with a brother who teaches a wholly future Kingdom and Second Birth. Dis-fellowship is an unwarranted response, too severe in its degree, but I think it is appropriate to challenge them (nicely!), and to be skeptical of their other teachings.
Finally: if you, reader, are one such teacher, I hope you will realize that it is in your best interests to engage in regular, brutal self-examination. Take inventory dispassionately, and ask yourself whether you are guilty of cherry-picking scriptures. If indeed you are, perhaps take a step back from teaching, and wholeheartedly seek the guidance of the Spirit in regards to study and ministry. It is not in vain that Yeshua's brother warned, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1).
Sadly, it seems that some teachers these days—even those who have, by the grace of Yah, escaped the doctrines of man handed down to them—are more interested in new doctrine than correct doctrine. They long to set themselves apart by putting a "shocking" spin on the traditional understanding of Scripture. I myself am no stranger to that particular temptation, and I understand how easily one can fall prey to it, so I'm not without pity. Nevertheless, I'm responsible for rebuking false teachings.
Be wary of teachers who buck hundreds of years of well-established doctrine. There are sometimes long-standing dogmas that need to be corrected, but those are the exceptions to the rule. If any of us are going to overturn such things, we'd better have very good reasons for doing so, and we'd better not ignore any verses that challenge our suppositions.
Please don't assume that I'm saying you should have nothing to do with a brother who teaches a wholly future Kingdom and Second Birth. Dis-fellowship is an unwarranted response, too severe in its degree, but I think it is appropriate to challenge them (nicely!), and to be skeptical of their other teachings.
Finally: if you, reader, are one such teacher, I hope you will realize that it is in your best interests to engage in regular, brutal self-examination. Take inventory dispassionately, and ask yourself whether you are guilty of cherry-picking scriptures. If indeed you are, perhaps take a step back from teaching, and wholeheartedly seek the guidance of the Spirit in regards to study and ministry. It is not in vain that Yeshua's brother warned, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1).
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