"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world....My kingdom is not from here (this world); [it has no such origin or source]." (John 18:36, Amplified Bible)
The Greek word, "ek," is translated here as, "from." Most Bible translations I have checked, however, translate the same word as, "of." The NAS Concordance says that the Greek word, "ek," is "a primary preposition denoting origin." Another source says "it is one of the most under-translated (and therefore mis-translated Greek prepositions. [It] has a two-layered meaning ('out from and to') which makes it out-come oriented (out of the depths of the source and extending to its impact on the object)." In my opinion, this "mis-translated" passage has led to one of the greatest theological errors in Church History. Too many say, "See, Jesus said My kingdom is not of this world,'" and as a result, they confine themselves to their own religious circles and parochial theology which keeps them in church buildings and out of the nations. It justifies and promotes a "personal," or "deeply private" religion with personal and deeply private motives.
It is central, of course, to, "the faith of Jesus," that our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed, saved the individual, "through the blood of His Cross." Jesus once said to a religious leader, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," and, "....unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." While our Lord speaks here of the, "one," He goes on to say that this, "one...born again," will, "see the Kingdom of God," and, "enter the kingdom of God." Could we say, "He will see something bigger and enter something much bigger than himself?" Yet modern evangelicalism has virtually eliminated, "the kingdom of God," and The, "My Church." As a result, many professing Christians take their new birth experience and live their lives by the gospel according to me, go to conferences, the sole purpose of which is to build up the individual to be a better individual, and make religious celebrities very rich by an inordinate quest on how I can be better me, rather than better Him.
If people who claim to "be saved," or, "born again," would vote and work as, "My Church," and, "the Kingdom of God," we could take over America. "But that's not the objective of evangelism." Really? What does, "Go into all the world and make disciples," mean?--- compromise? democratic thinking? proclaim that My Words are just one "of the World's great religions?" No. It means, "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples"(CEV), not Mohammed's disciples, nor ethnicity disciples, nor Republican disciples. Here's a paraphrase: "Neither, 'My Kingdom,' nor, 'My Church is...from here,' nor from you. It is "out from" My Father, from Me, from the Holy Spirit. "It is out-come oriented '(out of the depths of [Me] and extending'...My impact on individuals and nations."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I am overcome by how small I think sometimes. Amen.
The Greek word, "ek," is translated here as, "from." Most Bible translations I have checked, however, translate the same word as, "of." The NAS Concordance says that the Greek word, "ek," is "a primary preposition denoting origin." Another source says "it is one of the most under-translated (and therefore mis-translated Greek prepositions. [It] has a two-layered meaning ('out from and to') which makes it out-come oriented (out of the depths of the source and extending to its impact on the object)." In my opinion, this "mis-translated" passage has led to one of the greatest theological errors in Church History. Too many say, "See, Jesus said My kingdom is not of this world,'" and as a result, they confine themselves to their own religious circles and parochial theology which keeps them in church buildings and out of the nations. It justifies and promotes a "personal," or "deeply private" religion with personal and deeply private motives.
It is central, of course, to, "the faith of Jesus," that our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed, saved the individual, "through the blood of His Cross." Jesus once said to a religious leader, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," and, "....unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." While our Lord speaks here of the, "one," He goes on to say that this, "one...born again," will, "see the Kingdom of God," and, "enter the kingdom of God." Could we say, "He will see something bigger and enter something much bigger than himself?" Yet modern evangelicalism has virtually eliminated, "the kingdom of God," and The, "My Church." As a result, many professing Christians take their new birth experience and live their lives by the gospel according to me, go to conferences, the sole purpose of which is to build up the individual to be a better individual, and make religious celebrities very rich by an inordinate quest on how I can be better me, rather than better Him.
If people who claim to "be saved," or, "born again," would vote and work as, "My Church," and, "the Kingdom of God," we could take over America. "But that's not the objective of evangelism." Really? What does, "Go into all the world and make disciples," mean?--- compromise? democratic thinking? proclaim that My Words are just one "of the World's great religions?" No. It means, "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples"(CEV), not Mohammed's disciples, nor ethnicity disciples, nor Republican disciples. Here's a paraphrase: "Neither, 'My Kingdom,' nor, 'My Church is...from here,' nor from you. It is "out from" My Father, from Me, from the Holy Spirit. "It is out-come oriented '(out of the depths of [Me] and extending'...My impact on individuals and nations."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I am overcome by how small I think sometimes. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
