The Mystery of God's Kingdom: The richness and variety in the Kingdom of Heaven may be seen from the words of Jesus himself. "I tell you this: never has there appeared on earth anyone born of a woman greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he" (Matthew, 11: 11; See also, Matthew, 5: 19-20). Only those who do violence to themselves can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, while a sincere profession of faith in God would be enough to enter eternal life as seen from the promise Jesus made to the crucified thief on his right side (See Matthew, 11: 12; Luke, 23: 42-43). Quoting prophet Joel 2: 32, Paul tells us that all those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (See Romans, 10: 13). The same text of Joel was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost in his address to the people (See Acts, 2: 21). Peter was shown by God in a vision how his relationship to all people should be by the voice that said: "It is not for you to call profane what God counts clean" (Acts, 10: 15). All men and women are cleansed by the blood of Christ and are fit for eternal life, although all will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As the possibility of eternal damnation is real, all may not be in a position even to enter eternal life in spite of the fact that objectively they are made fit by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and his glorification.
True Faith: Jesus accepts the belief of the Jews that they have eternal life in the Scriptures (See John, 5: 39) and is dismayed that their study of the same does not lead them to him. The reason for this anomaly is their lack of true faith. "How can you have faith so long as you receive honor from one another, and care nothing for the honor that comes from him who alone is true God?" (John, 5: 44). Similarly, there was no love for God in them (See John, 5: 43). Jesus exhorted the people who were satisfied with eating bodily food to have a thought for eternal life. "You must work, not for this perishable food, but for the food that lasts, the food of eternal life" (See John, 6: 27).
The food of eternal life is, besides the Word of God, the body and blood of Jesus that consists in his self-giving. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood possesses eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John, 6: 54). Through this food and drink we become one with Jesus the consequence of which should be our self-giving to our brothers and sisters already redeemed by him. All are our brothers and sisters in whose service we are committed to by partaking the body and blood of Jesus Christ (See Corinthians, 10:16).
In Paul: Glimpses of the difference between the Kingdom of God and eternal life may be seen from what Paul tells the Corinthians about the care one should take in building on the foundation already laid. One could build on the foundation that is Jesus Christ himself with gold, silver, fine stone, wood, hay or straw. On the day of judgment when the work each one has done is brought to light, the true worth of the same will be exposed. "For that day dawns in fire, and the fire will test the worth of each man's work. If a man's building stands, he will be rewarded; if it burns, he will have to bear the loss; and yet he will escape with his life, as one might from a fire" (1 Corinthians, 3:, 13-15). This shows that there is a difference between salvation of one's soul and the rewards one might receive in heaven, i. e., between eternal life and the Kingdom of God. Besides, Paul himself testifies how he was taken up into the third heaven that implies the different degrees of bliss in heaven (See 2 Corinthians, 12: 2).
Just like eternal life, the Kingdom of God also starts here in this life. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is among us (See Like, 17: 21) and that there were some standing with him who would not die before they see the Kingdom of God come in power (See Mark, 9: 1). This was a reference to his resurrection from the dead of which his transfiguration before Peter, James and John was only a prefiguration (See Mark, 9: 2-8). The appearances of the risen Lord narrated in the Gospels give us some idea about the nature of the risen body and thereby the nature of the Kingdom of God. Peter testifies that he and the other Apostles ate and drank with Jesus after he rose from the dead (See Acts, 10: 41). Although one does not need to eat and drink after the resurrection, the truth of the resurrection could be empirically proved by eating and drinking in communion with the believers. At the same time, Paul admonishes us not to scandalize our brothers and sisters by our eating habits. "... for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but justice and peace and joy, inspired by the Holy Spirit" (Romans, 14: 17). Paul describes the nature of the risen body in 1 Corinthians, 15: 35-49 and concludes thus: "What I mean , my brothers, is this: flesh and blood can never possess the Kingdom of God, and the perishable cannot possess immortality" (! Corinthians, 15: 50). Paul reminds the Corinthians that it is important to know correctly the way of life in Christ. There are some people with self-importance who are good in talking. But the most important thing is to know whether they have power in them. "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power" (! Corinthians, 4: 20).
Progress in Spiritual Life: The distinction between eternal life and the Kingdom of God leading to their difference in content by virtue of the degree of intensity may be seen from what Jesus told a lawyer who asked him about the most important commandment.. Accepting the answer Jesus gave, "The lawyer said to him, 'Well said, master. You are right in saying that God is one and beside him there is no other. And to love him with all your heart, all your understanding, and all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself - that is far more than any burnt offering or sacrifices'. When Jesus saw how sensibly he answered, he said to him, 'You are not far from the Kingdom of God' " (Mark, 12: 32-34). The lawyer was on the right track to the Kingdom of God, being already in the ambit of eternal life, in virtue of his right understanding of the Word of God. It implies that he has to progress on his way to the Kingdom , although he has a good beginning with the seeds of eternal life germinating within him. The Kingdom of God would be the completion of the eternal life he already enjoys right at that moment. All we want to say about the difference between eternal life and the Kingdom of God is the same as what Jesus implied by his remark about that lawyer. (To be Contd).
True Faith: Jesus accepts the belief of the Jews that they have eternal life in the Scriptures (See John, 5: 39) and is dismayed that their study of the same does not lead them to him. The reason for this anomaly is their lack of true faith. "How can you have faith so long as you receive honor from one another, and care nothing for the honor that comes from him who alone is true God?" (John, 5: 44). Similarly, there was no love for God in them (See John, 5: 43). Jesus exhorted the people who were satisfied with eating bodily food to have a thought for eternal life. "You must work, not for this perishable food, but for the food that lasts, the food of eternal life" (See John, 6: 27).
The food of eternal life is, besides the Word of God, the body and blood of Jesus that consists in his self-giving. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood possesses eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John, 6: 54). Through this food and drink we become one with Jesus the consequence of which should be our self-giving to our brothers and sisters already redeemed by him. All are our brothers and sisters in whose service we are committed to by partaking the body and blood of Jesus Christ (See Corinthians, 10:16).
In Paul: Glimpses of the difference between the Kingdom of God and eternal life may be seen from what Paul tells the Corinthians about the care one should take in building on the foundation already laid. One could build on the foundation that is Jesus Christ himself with gold, silver, fine stone, wood, hay or straw. On the day of judgment when the work each one has done is brought to light, the true worth of the same will be exposed. "For that day dawns in fire, and the fire will test the worth of each man's work. If a man's building stands, he will be rewarded; if it burns, he will have to bear the loss; and yet he will escape with his life, as one might from a fire" (1 Corinthians, 3:, 13-15). This shows that there is a difference between salvation of one's soul and the rewards one might receive in heaven, i. e., between eternal life and the Kingdom of God. Besides, Paul himself testifies how he was taken up into the third heaven that implies the different degrees of bliss in heaven (See 2 Corinthians, 12: 2).
Just like eternal life, the Kingdom of God also starts here in this life. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is among us (See Like, 17: 21) and that there were some standing with him who would not die before they see the Kingdom of God come in power (See Mark, 9: 1). This was a reference to his resurrection from the dead of which his transfiguration before Peter, James and John was only a prefiguration (See Mark, 9: 2-8). The appearances of the risen Lord narrated in the Gospels give us some idea about the nature of the risen body and thereby the nature of the Kingdom of God. Peter testifies that he and the other Apostles ate and drank with Jesus after he rose from the dead (See Acts, 10: 41). Although one does not need to eat and drink after the resurrection, the truth of the resurrection could be empirically proved by eating and drinking in communion with the believers. At the same time, Paul admonishes us not to scandalize our brothers and sisters by our eating habits. "... for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but justice and peace and joy, inspired by the Holy Spirit" (Romans, 14: 17). Paul describes the nature of the risen body in 1 Corinthians, 15: 35-49 and concludes thus: "What I mean , my brothers, is this: flesh and blood can never possess the Kingdom of God, and the perishable cannot possess immortality" (! Corinthians, 15: 50). Paul reminds the Corinthians that it is important to know correctly the way of life in Christ. There are some people with self-importance who are good in talking. But the most important thing is to know whether they have power in them. "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power" (! Corinthians, 4: 20).
Progress in Spiritual Life: The distinction between eternal life and the Kingdom of God leading to their difference in content by virtue of the degree of intensity may be seen from what Jesus told a lawyer who asked him about the most important commandment.. Accepting the answer Jesus gave, "The lawyer said to him, 'Well said, master. You are right in saying that God is one and beside him there is no other. And to love him with all your heart, all your understanding, and all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself - that is far more than any burnt offering or sacrifices'. When Jesus saw how sensibly he answered, he said to him, 'You are not far from the Kingdom of God' " (Mark, 12: 32-34). The lawyer was on the right track to the Kingdom of God, being already in the ambit of eternal life, in virtue of his right understanding of the Word of God. It implies that he has to progress on his way to the Kingdom , although he has a good beginning with the seeds of eternal life germinating within him. The Kingdom of God would be the completion of the eternal life he already enjoys right at that moment. All we want to say about the difference between eternal life and the Kingdom of God is the same as what Jesus implied by his remark about that lawyer. (To be Contd).
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