From: rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Rich men and Heaven
Date: 3 Sep 92 19:07:56 GMT
Organization: CERL-EE, Georgia Institue of Technology

In article <1992Sep3.155822.4021@engage.pko.dec.com> pub@riscee.pko.dec.com (Publius) writes:
>In article <67551@hydra.gatech.EDU> rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts) writes:
>>In article <ksand-010992182825@wintermute.apple.com> ksand@apple.com (Kent Sandvik) writes:
>>|Here's the full cite from Matthew about rich men and heaven:

>> ... This cite is a case in point of 
>>a man not selling his goods - and Jesus saying with man it is 
>>impossible to enter heaven, but with God all things are possible.
>>This, I believe, is effectively the statement in Eph 2:8-9 that
>>salvation is a gift of God and is by faith NOT WORKS, so NO MAN can boast.

>I essentially agree with what Richard Pitts said here.  However, I have to
>point out that in these verses it is NOT 'Heaven' that was mentioned,
>but that 'Kingdom of Heavens'.  'Kingdom of Heavens' is simply the
>rule of Heavens on this earth.

I beg to differ.

The verses start the man asking about eternal life,

   Mat 19:16   Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing
      must I do to get ETERNAL LIFE?"

then we here of treasure in heaven, which is not salavation,

   Mat 19:21   Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your
      possessions and give to the poor, and you will have TREASURE IN HEAVEN.
      Then come, follow me."

then it talks about the kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God and being saved,

   Mat 19:23   Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is
      hard for a rich man to enter the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
   Mat 19:24   Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the
      eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the KINGDOM OF GOD."
   Mat 19:25   When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and
      asked, "Who then can be SAVED?"
   Mat 19:26   Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible,
      but with God all things are possible."

I believe, eternal life, heaven, kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God, and 
being saved are used interchangably here and refer to the same thing.

>God, with His heavenly authority, came to this forsaken earth in
>the person of Jesus, to once again bring this God-alienated earth
>back to the rule of Heavens.  This is what Jesus meant when He
>proclaimed the COMING of the 'Kingdom of Heavens' in Matthew.

The Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God that was near at that time
was Jesus himself, I believe.  However, Jesus is now sitting at the
right hand of God until all things are brought under his power (1 Cor 15)
and Revelation 19-22 reveal this as a future event where there will
be a new heaven and a new earth - 'heaven' will be on the earth, as
a new city comes down from above is described in Revelation.  This
is where only the saved will be - in the holy city - and all the others
will be outside.

>This is also the essential message of Matthew, and now we can
>understand that phrase in the Lord's prayer: " ... Thy Kingdom COME,
>thy will be done on the EARTH, as in the Heavens ..."

Mat 6:10 - the Lord's prayer - says as in the HEAVEN in the NIV and KJV.

>So, where is the 'Kingdom of Heavens'?  It is on this EARTH.  It is
>where God's authority is acknowledged and the Lordship of Jesus is
>honored.  It is in the hearts of the Christians.  It is among us
>when we assemble ourselves together as the Church.  And it is in
>our daily livings when we live in His will.

I think it is better to say, as I say above, the Kingdom of Heaven
will be on the earth - God will be with man.  I understand that
we have the kingdom within, but I believe the passage in Matthew
refers to future events.  Yes, we can and many do have eternal life now.

>For Christ and His Kingdom
>-- Publius

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Richard Pitts

-- 
rpitts@cerl.gatech.edu       |    
Atlanta, GA                --|-- 
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