How do you think one becomes a subject/servant in the “kingdom of God?”

Also, what form would your book take? A commentary on the text, an exploration of the “kingdom” theme, etc.

7. Had a friend suggest that Kingdom of God would better be understood in contemporary context as “nation.” Originally said “no way” based on images of overt nationalism that I have little stomach for…but he said that was kind of the point. Still letting that digest a bit.

2. Do you think you could expand on this a little. I was listening to a podcast and heard you mention this, and I think I know what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I know what you’re basing it on. Just Luke’s whole narrative?

Robert: One becomes a servant in the kingdom by trying to live the life (with the help of the Spirit) of Jesus. Going to the places he went. Eating with the people he ate with. Speaking on the subjects he talked about.

Great second question . . . still wrestling with that. I don’t want to write another book just to write. I’m leaning towards a meditation approach (here’s my meditation and thoughts on this particular text/story. Of course, I usually show what I believe through story. Telling is not as effective as showing)

Brad
I’ll have to digest kingdom as “nation”–I like order or economy. There has to be an eschatological dimension. That is, here’s what’s about to collide with earth (heaven). Are we ready for that collision?

Also, what I’m trying to get away from is the tendency to reduce Jesus’overall significance to penal substitution. While the cross (and Easter) are the apex of the narrative, ripped out of the narrative they don’t keep the same importance. Talking about God is so abstract. Talking about the God revealed in Jesus (as told in the church, scripture, Spirit, experience, etc.) is particular, tangible and concrete. We need that because we are terribly gnostic.

Josh,

Thanks for the response.

Another question: Couldn’t I try to walk the walk and talk the talk, even though I don’t believe Jesus ever existed? A very moral, altruistic atheist. Certainly I would not be walking with the assistance of God’s Spirit in this case, but wouldn’t I be walking as you say?

Is there something more to it?

What about “You must be born again?”

What about you must have faith?
You must be baptized?
You must call on the name of the Lord?
You must put your trust in Jesus Messiah?

As long as you are listing, might as well include others. All of those things (born again, baptism, faith, following, etc) are about entering into the kingdom (a process not a one time event)

Josh,

What you are talking about sounds like sanctification. But what about being forgiven of my sins (which, take my word for it, are many)? At what point am I justified in God’s eyes, or are you saying that happens over time as I do good works?

And what do you think being “born again” or “born from above” means exactly?

Josh,
Interesting conversation…You commented that to become a servant in the Kingdom is a process of trying to live the life of Jesus with the help of the spirit(good works?). In reference to your former blog, Isn’t that a “belief”?

Are you talking about the doctrine of infused grace ( i.e.,God gives a person the undeserved power by His grace for him to become and stay good enough so God can then accept him in the Kingdom where Jesus is just the example to follow) as opposed to imputed grace?

Since Jesus was reportedly perfect and said “be ye perfect”, your comments about “trying” and “process” naturally lead me to the questions: How hard does one have to try to get in and stay in the Kingdom, and what is the process?

Is there any security or is the Kingdom admission subject to change at any given moment?
How can anything truly good then happen? For isn’t then everyone just ‘trying’ to scramble to get in and stay in; and, ‘love’ is reduced to just using people for credit to maintain your Kingdom membership.

What should we then preach?

Finally, can you explain what you mean by the collision you speak of? What is going to collide?

Thanks

Sure, there are beliefs, but if Acts is normative, beliefs were determined as followers were living/practicing the face. The dichotomy that one chooses between the two is false. But we are in a time that perhaps are beliefs have been so exhausted we need to be more passionate about practicing the life of Jesus, and do theology from the center of that shared life.

The collision . . . the world to come. Jesus is back from the future (another dimension). That world, God’s perfect world, is coming to this world for a collision (that’s how Revelation ends at least). Make sense?

Phil,

I know you asked lots of questions but I honestly think we have a language barrier. I hope when we meet in person we’ll be able to work through this. Thanks for writing. I’ll try to answer your questions as best I can. Hope you are having a good week.

So what comes first? The preaching of the gospel and a call for repentance, or a call for kingdom living? Repentance and faith must come before fruits, or the fruits are not acceptable to God, they are like filth.

And what is our motivation for walking as Jesus walked? Good works should be motivated not by guilt or to atone for bad things we’ve done. Good works should come about because we are grateful that our sins are forgiven. Jesus tells a great story in Luke that illustrates this (Luke 7:36-50).

We must preach the gospel about Jesus and call people to repentance and the forgiveness of sins, because we don’t want them to be judged based on their works. Jesus said we must do this (e.g. Luke 24:36-47). Certainly the church should do good and produce fruits in keeping with repentance. But we aren’t primarily called to preach a message of good works, or kingdom living, or whatever you wish to call it.

You are right that there is no dichotomy between belief and practice. Some beliefs are acquired over time as one walks with Jesus. However, repentance and faith in Jesus–real faith, where you believe that you fully deserve God’s wrath and judgment, that Jesus is your last and only hope to be saved, and that he will indeed save you–comes first. This is a belief that must come before you are even part of the kingdom. A kingdom exists where the king rules. If Jesus doesn’t rule in your heart in this way, you are walking under God’s wrath, not walking in the kingdom. No one in the kingdom is under God’s wrath because Jesus is our propitiation.

In the “marketplace of ideas” today, the gospel is not the most popular message, nor is it popular to talk about Jesus in the public square. However, we are not going to win people to Christ by being “missional”–by doing good works and hoping people will be so attracted to our righteousness that they desire to be Christians. We cannot show ourselves to be righteous through our imperfect works. But if we tell them we are sinners saved by Jesus, many will listen. The Bible says that people must hear the gospel message before they are saved, and that is the means God has ordained to reach them. Salvation is a gift from God by grace through faith, and he has ordained that it comes by hearing the word, not by doing.

I say this because it is very easy for an outsider who does not attend your church, such as myself, to misunderstand your message as teaching salvation by works.

Robert,

Thanks for taking the time to write. I’ve never had anyone accuse me of teaching salvation by works . . .you’ve given me much to think about. I hope we get a chance to meet in person, to clarify our language, meaning, etc.

JG