HoG: John 3:3 says that to see (perceive) the Kingdom, you must be born from above. (Literally, "from the top".) It's the nature of the birth that is focal. What must I do to be saved? Believe. Mental assent. Born into the family.
Just how do you explain the difference between here seeing the Kingdom and below, Kingdom not come yet.
HoG: He has been anointed king. But, in the picture of Jesus and Satan we are given in David and Saul, when was David anointed in relation to his taking the throne? Was it immediately
The following scriptures suggest Christ already has a Kingdom.
1Ti 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jhn 12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, t
hy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
Jhn 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews,
Behold your King!
Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion,
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
1Th 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the
kingdom of his dear Son:
Hbr 12:28 Wherefore
we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
9: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I understand what you are saying HoG;,but I believe the Kingdom is within the believers and someday it will all come together, seeing part of it has already gone to Heaven to be with the Lord until the resurrection, then God will bring them back to be reunited with their bodies and then both soul and body will take a Heavenly flight to meet the Lord in the air, and to everly be with Him, in Heaven.
Then, in John 3:5, we have to be born of water and spirit (we've already been born from above in verse 3) to enter (particpate) the Kingdom. Being faithful is involved. I have taught for years that this is the concept of being "born again" that is in 1 Peter.
I believe the church has already received the Water and the Spirit by being born again.
Now, as to the "within/among" you thing. Even the notes of the 1611 translators offers that as an alternate translation
If the scripture "within you" was the only scripture we had, then you might persuade me, but there are all the other scriptures above which speak of the Kingdom being now.
Then we have the following scripture.
20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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