Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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Ushering In The Kingdom Of God
(Volume 1 - Part 5) - Commentary By: Doug Lawrence
People often confuse the Kingdom of Heaven with the Kingdom of God. The
terms sound similar and are often used interchangeably, but they're different.
The "Kingdom of Heaven" is the place where God dwells with His
angels and saints. Not everyone can live there. God decides.
Only He is the judge. Once admitted, heavenly "citizenship" (as
far as we know) is eternally guaranteed. Existence there is said
to be "glorious".
Romans 8:16 - 18 For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are
the sons of God. And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with
Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. For I
reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory to come that shall be revealed in us.
The "Kingdom of God" is a state of being which exists any time
the Holy Spirit accepts an invitation to take up residence in a
human soul.
From Adam until the time of Christ, the Kingdom of God was manifest on the earth
only when God, Himself chose to make an appearance, to dwell with us over the
Ark of the Covenant, or to abide with us in the Jerusalem Temple. But this was far
from the ideal, for our Creator is a personal
God, not one who chooses to live in tents or
in man made structures.
In the fullness of time, Mary, "full of
grace" became the first "living
temple" of the Holy Spirit since
Adam's fall. The Kingdom had
come!
Luke 17:20 - 21 And being asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God
should come, he answering them and said:
The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say: Behold
here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
With the birth of Jesus, the Eternal Word made flesh; God's
Anointed One; the Kingdom of God became the most powerful
force on earth.
So it was first Mary, and then, Jesus who perfectly accomplished the will of God
on earth, just as it is routinely done in heaven.
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