Are you qualified to be in the Kingdom of God?

#1 07-02-2007, 11:54 AM

According to Romans 14:17 the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

We almost universally accept that the unrighteous are not qualified to be in the Kingdom of God. What is your position on those who are not at peace regardless of their circumstance or those who are short on joy? Are they any more qualified for citizenship in the Kingdom of God than the unrighteous?

#2 07-02-2007, 12:09 PM

I am sure this will be on page two in record time. It is not about standards but Godliness!

#3 07-02-2007, 12:13 PM

Hmmmm, so in your scenario, even if someone has fulfilled all of the salvation requirements, if they do not have joy and peace in their life then they would not be in the Kingdom of God, which I assume means Heaven?

mfblume · #4 07-02-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

Hmmmm, so in your scenario, even if someone has fulfilled all of the salvation requirements, if they do not have joy and peace in their life then they would not be in the Kingdom of God, which I assume means Heaven?

He was not speaking of not being IN the kingdom, but whether or not someone is more qualified to be in it, if they are, than others in it, if they are.

Timmy · #5 07-02-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philjones

According to Romans 14:17 the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

We almost universally accept that the unrighteous are not qualified to be in the Kingdom of God. What is your position on those who are not at peace regardless of their circumstance or those who are short on joy? Are they any more qualified for citizenship in the Kingdom of God than the unrighteous?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

Hmmmm, so in your scenario, even if someone has fulfilled all of the salvation requirements, if they do not have joy and peace in their life then they would not be in the Kingdom of God, which I assume means Heaven?

As I see it, things like this are the ideals to strive for. Nobody I know of is 100% at peace all the time. Nobody lives in joy 24x7. Nobody is perfect (righteous) all day every day. Everyone needs their feet washed occasionally (John 13:8-10). Also, it's not so much qualifications to be in the Kingdon, but results of arriving there, like fruits of the Spirit. (Over time!)

But the Kingdom is the ideal. Here on Earth, we live in the kingdom (as part of God's family) but imperfectly. Only in Heaven will we be perfected.

The context of Romans 14 is regarding eating meat (and by extension, doing any number of things that would offend weaker brothers, such as wearing jewelry or a beard, perhaps?). Paul is stressing that these things are not what the Kingdom is all about, that's all. The important things are righteousness (in things that matter, such as kindness and honesty), peace and joy. Not the rules, the do's and don'ts.

Rom 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

mfblume · #6 07-02-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

But the Kingdom is the ideal. Here on Earth, we live in the kingdom (as part of God's family) but imperfectly. Only in Heaven will we be perfected.

I disagree strongly. If we walk after the Spirit down here now, we will not fulfil lusts of the flesh. And it is possible to walk after the Spirit.

Timmy · #7 07-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfblume

I disagree strongly. If we walk after the Spirit down here now, we will not fulfil lusts of the flesh. And it is possible to walk after the Spirit.

Congratulations. I bet Paul would envy you (Romans 7:19).

mfblume · #8 07-02-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

Congratulations. I bet Paul would envy you (Romans 7:19).

Ah, if you only knew how Paul was relating past mistakes in chapter 7 and how he learned to be delivered from the body of death through Jesus, by the work of God, Whom he thanked for deliverance. He gave the remedy to chapter 7 in the last three verses, which remedy is what he elaborated upon in chapter 6. Cannot God create in us a new clean heart?

Chapter 7 relates to us his mistake in walking after the flesh to serve God, which he identified through the ordeal. His info in 6:13 shows what he failed to do in times past -- walk after the Spirit by calling upon God's strength to use his members as instruments of righteousness rather than exert strenuous effort to make his flesh serve God in his own power.

#9 07-02-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

Hmmmm, so in your scenario, even if someone has fulfilled all of the salvation requirements, if they do not have joy and peace in their life then they would not be in the Kingdom of God, which I assume means Heaven?

Good insight as always... Now back to the questing, yes ! Why because God said so~

mfblume · #10 07-02-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philjones

According to Romans 14:17 the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

We almost universally accept that the unrighteous are not qualified to be in the Kingdom of God. What is your position on those who are not at peace regardless of their circumstance or those who are short on joy? Are they any more qualified for citizenship in the Kingdom of God than the unrighteous?

No they are not more qualified.

People who disregard the limited advance of others in the Kingdom, and ignore others' weaknesss and flaunt their own liberties are violating the essence of the Kingdom.