Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come,
he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with signs: 21Neither shall they
say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
2007-09-10 13:50:17 · 12 answers · asked by huffyb 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Neither. I am.
2007-09-10 13:53:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The Scriptures you cited (Luke 17:20, 21) have a different understanding that what you are implying.
Jesus was not saying that the kingdom of God was located in the heart. Obviously, since it was the wicked Pharisees that Jesus was speaking to, the Kingdom of God would not have been in their hearts. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was coming. Jesus' answer was "the kingdom of God is within you". The word that is translated "within" in the King James Version is more accurately translated as "among" (see NIV footnote). Note how other translations render this verse:
"For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." -American Standard
"Because God's kingdom is already among you." -The Message
"For the Kingdom of God is already among you." -New Living Translation
Jesus was not telling the Pharisees that the kingdom of God was in their hearts. Rather, Jesus as King-designate of God's kingdom, was among them, or in their midst. Jesus was in effect saying "The kingdom is right here'.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that God's kingdom is a condition of the heart. The Bible plainly states that God's kingdom is set up in the last days (Daniel 2:44; Psalm 2:2, 6-9; 110:1) and that God's kingdom is an actual government in heaven with Christ as king (Daniel 7:13, 14; Isaiah 9:7; Matthew 5:3, 10) True, being subjects of God's kingdom brings about changes in one's personality (Isaiah 11:6-9). But the Bible plainly shows that God's Kingdom is a heavenly government that will bring destruction upon this wicked world in which we live, bring about the conditions that God originally intended for the earth. -Matthew 6:9, 10; Psalm 37:9-11, 29; Revelation 21:3, 4
2007-09-10 14:14:54 · answer #2 · answered by johnusmaximus1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Nothing he said contradicted what was in the Old Testament. He just brought a more enlightened understanding. And the verse says the Kingdom of God is within you, that's not the same as saying God is within you or that you are God.
2007-09-10 13:55:27 · answer #3 · answered by josabee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both. Moses was experiencing an external God. Jesus was preaching about the God who would live in us, thanks to Him. At the end of John 15, and in the midst of John 16, Jesus tells us why:
26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
And so things are a bit different now. That's why we are called, " A New Creation in Christ Jesus."
2007-09-10 14:00:49 · answer #4 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If He believed in an "internal God", explain this:
"Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"
Matthew 17:1-5
2007-09-10 13:58:00 · answer #5 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's because when Moses received the stone tablets which contained the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God, God showed Himself as the burning bush.
Jesus had God in HIM...So God's physical being was shown to Moses (external)...and Jesus had the Spirit of God which Lived in HIM (internal).
2007-09-10 14:56:06 · answer #6 · answered by Linda M 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They're both right. Jesus is human, but with God in Him. Moses was around long before Christ was born.
2007-09-10 13:54:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both
2007-09-10 13:56:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple, 'God' is NOT the same as the 'KINGDOM of God'.
2007-09-10 13:58:46 · answer #9 · answered by flandargo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Islam is the middle path.
A personal relationship with God along with external and internal laws to bring us closer to him.
God loves those who choose his laws above their own desires. That is the real sacrifice and proof of love.
.
2007-09-10 13:53:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Both are correct.
GOD bless
2007-09-10 13:57:43 · answer #11 · answered by Exodus 20:1-17 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋