6) What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God; the Resurrection; and eternal life?

This one is fun...

6) What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God; the Resurrection; and eternal life?

            The Kingdom of God is a reality that is both coming and already here.  Christ proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was here (Matt. 11:12, Luke 8:1, Luke 10:9, Mark 1:15) and that we are called to proclaim it now (Luke 9:60).  Paul also speaks in Colossians as though we are already a part of the Kingdom (1:13, 4:11).  While we await the time when God’s Kingdom is fully realized, God is calling us to show glimpses of what the Kingdom will look like (Wright 208).  We see a picture in Revelation of God’s Kingdom, where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passes away” (Rev. 21:4).  HHHHhasdflkjHHThe Kingdom will be for the righteous, those who have believed and obeyed Christ’s commands (Matt. 25:34, 1 Cor. 6:9, Eph. 5:5).

            Scripture is clear that there will be a resurrection day.  Jesus spoke of this day (Matt. 22:30, Luke 14:14), as did Paul (Rom. 6:5, 1 Cor. 15:13).  The early Christians almost never spoke of going to heaven when they died.  Instead, their hope centered on resurrection, a belief which was consistent with their Jewish roots (Wright 41).  Since Christ was bodily resurrected, we believe that we will be bodily resurrected as well.  This resurrection comes through Christ (John 11:25) and by the power of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1).

            Eternal life is promised to all who believe in Christ (John 3:16).  Eternal life is peace with God, a life spent in the presence of God, as opposed to eternal death, which is separation from God.  While heaven is a temporary holding place, eternal life will be spent with God in the new heaven and the new earth where Christ reigns (Wright 41).  Eternal life is granted by Christ (John 10:28; Rom 5:21) as God has given him the authority to grant it.