Originally posted by ThinkOfOne
So those "born of the spirit" no longer commit sin and are the only ones that can enter into the Kingdom of God.
The same basic concepts expressed in three different metaphors.
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Rather it is those who are born and have become full grown who are presented without blemish before God. If you cannot see this in the third chapter of John you can see it elsewhere in the Gospels.
Notice that in the kingdom of the heavens there are different degrees of renown in the millennial manifestation.
" Therefore whoever annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever practices and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens." (Matt. 5:19)
This is Christ's warning that He did not come to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill (v.17).
The facts must be clear:
1.) Both the man called least in the kingdom and the man called great in the kingdom must be born again.
2.) Both are IN the kingdom of the heavens.
3.) One has matured to a greater level than the other.
Whereas one was lenient towards certain requirements of God and taught others to be lenient, the other was stricter and taught others to be so also.
4.) Though BOTH are participating in the kingdom, one will be known as least in the kingdom while the other will be known as great in the kingdom.
5.) Since some maturity is still wanting for one this must be the kingdom during the age BEFORE the new heaven and new earth when ALL believers have been perfected to the uttermost. That is the kingdom of the heavens in which there is rank according to maturity is that stage of the kingdom during the 1,000 years.
In the eternal age after the millennial kingdom ALL will have been perfected.
"I in them and You in Me, that they may be PERFECTED into one ... " (John 17:23a)
"But He, because He abides forever, has His priesthood unalterable. Hence also He is able to save to the UTTERMOST those who come forward to God through Him, since He lives always to intercede for them." (Heb. 7:24,25)
"That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:27)
"Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love, predestinating us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself ..." (Eph. 1:4,5a)
The important point here is that though ALL arrive at this sinless state, not all will arrive at the same time. He has this age, the next age of 1,000 years.
So Paul says
"until we all arrive ..." and Jesus said that His people eventually will all be PERFECTED.
He has begun a good work in every believer. And He will complete it.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun in you a good work will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus ... " (Phil. 1:6)
Interesting that you say you might have written something like the following yourself. Good to know at least we agree on the following:
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That is correct. Something LIKE it, but not exactly like it. You included the words -
A "son" no longer commits sin, one "born of the spirit" no longer commits sin, a "good tree" no longer commits sin.
My reference to Hebrews 12 showed God's ongoing perfecting discipline upon His SONS. In other words being a SON of the Father does not necessarily imply NO further discipline is needed from the Father.
And if it is complained that the concept in
Hebrews is somehow contrary to the words of Jesus. Jesus called His disciples His brothers after His resurrection. And obviously Peter still needed perfecting. As a representative disciple, the rest of the believers as brothers of the Son of God also need perfecting on the way to maturity.
"Jesus said to her, [at His resurrection appearance to her] Do not touch Me, but go to my BROTHERS and say to them, I ascend to My Father and YOUR FATHER, and My God and YOUR God." (John 20:17)
After this time BROTHER Peter, a child of the Father, a growing son of the divine Father, still backslide, needing scolding from Paul, and correction from Jesus was obviously a son under the Father's continued discipline. He was being perfected to be transformed out of all failure and sinning still.
Since his name is seen on the foundation of the perfect city
(Revelation 21:14), New Jerusalem, in eternity future, we know that Peter and all of us who have believed will eventually be perfected sons of the Father.