Jesus is the one who is inaugurating the messianic kingdom. The kingdom concept brings God's rule over his creation through Messiah and its goal is the extension of God's absolute rule over the Earth and all nations, the sphere of His creation and redemption. (VanGemeren, 1988).
To sum it up the kingdom of God "means God's will being done on earth " in a society, and this kingdom society is what the Church is called to embody. "3 Jesus made it possible for people of this kingdom to be in fellowship with God " to be His children and to be part of a family where everyone is equally valued, appreciated and loved. Jesus came to restore the dominion over the earth that man was given by His Creator, but lost by man's failure of disobedience. (Genesis 1:26).
The Church and the Kingdom.
Ladd explains what the relationship between the kingdom and the church is. The church is not the kingdom, since Jesus was preaching the good news of the kingdom and not of the church. The kingdom creates the church " people enter the kingdom and become part of a community. The church is a witness of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14). The church is the instrument of the kingdom inasmuch as disciples through the Holy Spirit made wonders (Matthew 10:8). And finally the church is custodian of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19).
The Norms of Kingdom of God.
The teaching of Jesus introduces what the kingdom is like, what are its values and norms. Jesus taught through narratives, parables and metaphors. He introduced the idea; vision of the kingdom and He appealed His disciples to follow Him and what he taught. (Matthew 16:24) It is an invitation to have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).
In the beginning of Jesus' ministry He quotes the words of the prophet Isaiah and He presents the purpose of His ministry. He came to "proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God. ... For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you." ... The Romans could not see the difference between the church and the synagogue. ... (Luke 9:27) Jesus always described the Kingdom of God in the here and now. "He said therefore, 'What is the kingdom of God like? ...
He gave the church gifts, and he is preparing the Church to become his bride without blot or blemish. ... We are to address those who have not heard as well as to those who are no longer in living contact with the Gospel, the Good News of the reign of God. It is by fulfilling the mission of Christ that the church, reconciles all things to God. Through its ministry of service and proclamation, the Church participates in and points to the reality of the Kingdom of God. ... There is no doubt that the Church is one, "There is one body and one spirit," Paul wrote, "just as you were called to the...
Baptism is performed through many symbols and rituals which make up the elements and commitments made to God, through Gods instructions performed in the Church. ... The catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you ask of God's Church?" ... Prayers of Exorcism and Anointing before Baptism The Priest recites a prayer over the person being baptized asking God to rid them of any evil spirits that may reside in the community and prepare them to enter into the kingdom of God without bad influences that might turn them away from God. ... Anointing with Chrism The person being baptized ...
Homosexuals and the society within which they live are encouraged by the Church to live harmoniously and to act justly in accordance with God's plan for each one of us. ... It prohibits procreation and consequently rejects God. ... The Catholic Church's beliefs are grounded in God's wisdom upon the issue. Under no condition does the Church approve of same-sex marriage, having strong convictions that it is contrary to God's plan for matrimony. ... This similarity lacks the symbol of God's union with His people and, Christ's union with the Church. ...
The person I interviewed was Miles Carrington, who is an Elder of the church Kingdom Hall. ... Their church meetings are held three times a week regularly. ... The church has about 120 people who attend Kingdom Hall. ... The arrangement of the church was nice and welcoming. ... And he told me that the focus of teaching derives from the Bible as the Kingdom of God as the solution....
I propose that we create a government in the image of the kingdom of God. ... In this glorious kingdom of the Lord All free Men are guaranteed the right to property. ... God shall rule through this holy congragation and the aforemention congregation shall rule through the individual churches, specifically the reverands and ministers. ... In untamed wilds of the west, we are duty bound to bring the word of God to the Heathen Natives and to control them as the church sees fit. ... This is the Divine Will and Manifest Destiny, which is to expand the Kingdom of God from sea to shining to sea. ...
The emperor was portrayed to have been chosen by God. ... The East Orthodox Church were unwilling to accept the popes claim that he was the sole head of the church. So the two leaders of both churches excommunicated each other and the church split into two. ... Like I said in the last paragraph, he was considered to be chosen of God to rule. He had absolute power over his kingdom. ...
The family is so to speak, the first cell of the society and the church, since she helps his members to be, as well, agents of the history of the salvation, and alive signs of the loving plan of God on the world. The family also is at the same time the great mystery of God. Like "domestic church", she is the wife of Christ. ... The Christian family builds in addition the Kingdom to God in history by means of those same daily realities that touch and distinguish their condition of life. ... The love and the life constitute therefore the nucleus of the salvÃfica mission of the Christian...
The movement spread across Europe and supporters of it faced violent persecution in areas such as France and the Italian Kingdoms, which were strictly Catholic. ... The Church was able to "control the taxation of church wealth and appointments to high positions in government.... Kings also wanted to use church-owned lands and thus must gain authority independent from the Church. ... Moreover, priests were seen as a gateway to God, giving them even more influence over society. ... " (McKay, Hill, Buckler, Crowston, Wiesner-Hanks 339) This meant that one only needed to have faith for G...
