The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Picking up with Paul's warnings 

 

Galatians 1:1-13 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;) And all the brothers which are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God and our Father: To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 


I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the Grace of Christ to another gospel: Which is not another; for there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 
 
I certify you, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:1-8 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brothers brought in unawares, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into (Religious) bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of those who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it made no matter to me: God accepts no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter; For He that worked effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.

Paul here seems to be saying that his and Peters assignments were different and so they were. It this that has in itself caused many errors within the Religious world and thereby causing many to fall, remain bound by their Religion or never acquire God's Grace. Peter, James and John in their respective letters are addressing Jewish converts, believers and the posers of Christ Jesus' ontological essence in the person of the Spirit of Holiness and Truth. James for example tells us that they worked the works of faith through Love. What upsets me, no infuriates me is the fact that oh so many refuse to allow God's change to take place within them because of Religious blindness much as Israel is still under. The next passage describes those like the Religionist and futurist's (those who take and apply God's word literally) of our day and time and is the areason I feel that so many resist God and His designed change.



Galatians 4:8-20, 21-31 Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service to them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereto you desire again to be in (Religious) bondage? To observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you are: you have not injured me at all. You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness you spoke of? for I bear you record, that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well; yes, they would exclude you, that you might affect them. For it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

The Revelation of being Bond or Free

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? (Romans 3:19, Mat. 21:42-44, 22:29-34, John 5:46-47) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. For he who was of the bondwoman is born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman is of promise (spiritually awakened). Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children (to sin and Religions slavery). For Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, barren that bears not; break forth and cry, you that travails not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband. Now we, as Isaac was, are the children of promise (having received freedom from sin and Religions slavery). But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what say the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. So then, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. 

Galatians 6:12-16 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be in them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (parallel passage Galatians 2:20)