The Kingdom of God

What Is the Kingdom of God? Understanding Its True Meaning

The phrase "Kingdom of God" resonates deeply with us, but what does it truly mean? According to Luke 17:21, Jesus declares, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This powerful statement shifts the perspective from a physical realm to an internal, spiritual experience. The illustration continues in Luke 13:21, comparing the Kingdom to “leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” But what is this "leaven"? In Matthew 16:12, the reader is warned against “the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” identifying it as their doctrine. Simply put, the Kingdom of God is a transformative understanding of wisdom rising within us.

The Original Teachings: Parables and Sayings Before the Gospels

Before the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) were written, no narrative of miracles, resurrection, or ascension existed. Instead, the earliest records of Jesus’ teachings were most likely collections of parables and wise sayings. These sayings, often centered on the Kingdom of God, formed the foundation of early Christian philosophy. Written after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Gospels wove these sayings into narratives to support traditional beliefs, but their core rested on philosophical wisdom.

This original wisdom, free from later narrative additions, focused on an inward spiritual journey. For example, the concept of resurrection wasn’t about a physical rising but a spiritual awakening—a “rising up” of understanding within the heart, as promised in Jeremiah 31:33: “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.”

Redefining Death: A Spiritual, Not Literal, Concept

The promise in John 8:51, “If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death,” challenges traditional religious understanding. If the Kingdom of God is an internal experience, then the “death” referenced here isn’t physical but spiritual. This spiritual death is tied to the “righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” (Matthew 5:20), which the Jesus character critiques as insufficient. In Mark 7:9, he condemns their adherence to “your own tradition” over their Deity’s commandments, equating traditional religious law with spiritual stagnation.

The Hebrew Scriptures philosophically define sin and death as the philosophy of rigid religious law. This definition can be found in the New Testament, wherein 1 Corinthians 15:56 states, “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” By embracing the Kingdom of God’s understanding, one can avoid this spiritual death and experience a resurrection of thought, or a renewal of heart and mind, fulfilling the saying, “Create in me a clean heart...and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).

The True Message: Liberation from the Curse of the Law

The narrative of a demigod dying and rising for humanity’s sins is a later addition, not the Hebrew Bible’s core teaching. Yet Galatians 3:13 declares, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.” The crucifixion, in this context, symbolizes liberation from the traditional religious law; the true “sin” and “death.” By focusing on the Kingdom of God experience, one can reject outdated religious traditions/ideals/supposition/ and embrace wisdom sparking spiritual awakening.

This message is revolutionary: adhering to Jesus’ sayings prevents spiritual death by fostering a living, transformative faith. As the doctrine of the Kingdom rises within, it reshapes devotional thought and ignites a resurrection of the soul.

Why This Matters for Your Spiritual Journey

Understanding the Kingdom of God as an internal, transformative experience empowers one to move beyond rigid and useless traditions. We are supposed to be cultivating a belief that is alive, intellectual, and dynamic. The Bible’s original concern of spiritual or inward resurrection; free from the “curse of the law”; offers a path to deeper connection with the intended will and journey of at the core of the scriptures.

Let the Kingdom of God rise within you, transforming your heart and mind.

The Lost Art of Rest: The Bible’s Guide to Mental & Devotional Clarity

Our devotional journey calls us to pause and nurture our inner world. It’s not just about enhancing our spiritual experience; it’s about cultivating a life of mental clarity and emotional peace. The Bible offers a path to this harmony through a concept it calls “rest,” which is a state of mind that aligns beautifully with what modern psychology calls “flow.” In this blog post we will learn how “rest” can guide you to a more mindful, vibrant, and fulfilling devotional life.

A Sound Heart: The Bible’s Wisdom for Well-Being

The Bible gently reminds us, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh…” (Proverbs 14:30, KJV). These words aren’t just poetic; they’re a heartfelt invitation for us to care for our whole being. A “sound heart” is a mind at peace, guiding our personal and devotional thoughts and actions with clarity and understanding. This soundness is to assist us in avoiding what Paul so honestly confesses, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19, KJV). We are not alone, as the Bible points us toward a solution.

What is that solution? Isaiah 30:15 offers this comforting counsel: “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (KJV). The answer to our restlessness, our inner turmoil, is “rest.” This isn’t about physical sleep or inactivity; it’s a call to a deeper, more intentional state of being. The Bible suggests that “rest” is the key to healing what feels out of balance in our character, to soothing the disturbances in our thoughts, and to finding true salvation; not through external rituals, but through the quiet strength of a rested mind.

What Is Biblical “Rest”?

You might wonder, what does “rest” mean in this context? The Bible gives us a clue in Isaiah 28:10-12: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little… This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (KJV). Here, “rest” isn’t about lying down, it’s about engaging deeply with the wisdom of the scriptures. Isaiah 28:9 sets the stage for defining “rest” by asking, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?” (KJV). “Rest” is the act of immersing yourself in the Bible’s words, letting your mind explore its truths, line by line, precept by precept. It’s a dynamic, thoughtful process that brings clarity and renewal to the inward person.

The Modern Mirror: Flow as Biblical “Rest”

If the idea of “rest” as active engagement feels unfamiliar, modern psychology offers a parallel that might resonate: the concept of “flow.” Flow is that magical state where you’re so absorbed in an activity that time seems to melt away, and you feel fully alive. As researchers describe it, flow involves:

·       Intense focus on the present moment

·       A seamless blend of action and awareness

·       A loss of self-consciousness, where you’re not worried about how you’re perceived

·       A sense of control and confidence in handling challenges

·       A distorted sense of time, where hours feel like minutes

·       A deep sense of reward from the activity itself, regardless of the outcome (Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2002).

Flow is like being “in the zone,” where your mind and environment become one, and you gain insights and understanding that feel almost out of this world (in a healthy mindful and educational way). This state mirrors the Bible’s “rest.” When you engage deeply with scripture; running your fingers across its pages, pondering its words, and letting its truths unfold; you enter a flow-like state that refreshes your spirit and sharpens your mind.

Why “Rest” Matters for Your Devotional and Mental Health

The Bible’s call to “rest” is an invitation to a therapeutic practice for your faith’s conscience. Leviticus 23:3 reminds us, “…the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest…” (KJV). This is not a day for church—it’s a space and a period of time for your devotional character, in order for it to reconnect with your inner self, to find peace through active engagement in the mindful exploration of scripture. This “rest” is a gift, a time to let go of the world’s noise and immerse yourself in the quiet strength of the Bible’s wisdom.

In this state of “rest,” you’re not just reading the Bible—you’re conversing with it. You’re allowing its words to speak to your heart, to guide your thoughts, and to bring clarity to your life’s purpose. This practice doesn’t just enrich your devotional life; it fosters mental well-being by grounding you in a sense of purpose and peace. We can, if sincerely engaged, claim this “rest” at any time, yet for therapeutic purposes the Bible, knowing we will not take time out for high mental engagement with it, has sectioned out a period of time during the week for its student.

How to Embrace “Rest” in Your Life

So, how can you bring “rest” into your daily devotional life? Here are a few mindful steps:

1.     Carve Out Quiet Time: Set aside a few moments each day—perhaps on the seventh day for the appointment—to sit with the Bible. Let it be a time of consistently uninterrupted reflection.

2.     Engage Deeply: Don’t just read the words—explore them. Ask questions, cross-reference verses, and let your mind wander through the scriptures, line upon line, precept upon precept.

3.     Embrace Flow: Approach your time with the Bible with curiosity and openness. Let yourself get lost in the process, as you would in a flow state, trusting that the insights will come.

4.     Reflect on Your Inner World: As you engage with scripture, notice how it speaks to your heart. What does it reveal about your thoughts, your struggles, your character?

5.     Be Patient: The Bible acknowledges that not everyone will embrace this “rest” (Isaiah 30:15). That’s okay. Start small, and let the practice grow naturally.

A Call to Rest and Renewal

The Bible’s wisdom and the modern concept of flow converge on a beautiful truth: true rest is a state of mind that heals, strengthens, and transforms. By embracing “rest” in your devotional life, you’re not just nurturing your spiritual connection, you’re fostering a healthier, more centered you. Take a moment today to open your Bible, to let its words guide you into a state of flow, and to discover the peace that comes from so doing.

Will you accept the invitation to “rest”? Your inward person is waiting.

Resources

Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). The concept of flow. In Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 89–105). Oxford University Press.

Reclaiming One's Heart: How Christology Lost Its Devotional Core

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10

This cry, manifesting in the poetic layers of the psalmist’s soul, is the revelation of the Bible’s underlying philosophy. At its core, the Hebrew Scriptures call for inward transformation through a sincere acquaintance with its words: “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace... lay up his words in thine heart” (Job 22:21–22). Knowledge, to the Bible’s mind, is not propositional or metaphysical. It is personal, reflective, and intimate: “...through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9).

But what became of this simple, yet meaningful devotional experience, in early Christianity?

Paul and the Early Shift Toward Metaphysics

According to Marshall (1967), Paul's writings represent a critical theological shift. While Paul's letters include moral exhortations and personal struggles, his Christology primarily conceptualizes the Jesus character as a supramundane figure (p. 78), a being of divine essence who stands in metaphysical proximity to his God. In Galatians 4:4, Paul refers to his Christ as being sent from God, implying a preexistent, divine being rather than a prophetic teacher rooted in human history.

Marshall shows that by the time Paul writes, within only two decades of the Jesus character’s supposed crucifixion, a Hellenistic ontology begins to dominate, even an abstract framework emphasizing this figure’s divinity in cosmic, rather than existential, terms (pp. 86–88). This early Christian turn was not accidental; it was fueled by contact with Greek ideas of the “divine man” and Gnostic notions of a descending redeemer. Jesus was no longer merely to be thought of a real and living man, one who taught his hearers to be clean-minded before God, but a metaphysical solution to “sin”— a celestial ransom.

From Jesus’ Simplicity to Council Complexity

Zachhuber (2021) highlights how this metaphysical focus deepened as Christianity moved into the fourth and fifth centuries. The Church councils, particularly Chalcedon (451 CE), did not just define who the Jesus character was—they codified him into philosophical categories derived from Greek metaphysics, such as physis, ousia, and hypostasis (Zachhuber, 2021, pp. 209–211).

As Zachhuber (2021) laments, Christology became so scholastic and technical that it lost the organic vitality of earlier Jewish spirituality. What once was a moral and relational appeal for a “renewed spirit” became a debate over whether “Jesus” had one nature or two, or whether his hypostasis aligned with divine or human substance. The devotional conversation had been colonized by the conceptual tools of Stoicism and Middle Platonism, not by the philosophy within the Psalms or the Proverbs.

Hellenistic Philosophy and the Loss of Hebrew Intimacy

The shift wasn't merely theological; it was philosophical. Zachhuber (2021) notes how later theologians like Gregory of Nyssa or Cyril of Alexandria absorbed and restructured Christian thought to mirror Platonic and Neoplatonic metaphysics (pp. 212–214). In doing so, the Jesus character was no longer primarily a teacher of the inward way but became the cosmic Logos—the rational principle of the universe.

This is a far cry from the personal yearning of the Hebrew Bible, where true knowledge is internalized in the heart and mind. As Psalm 51 indicates, devotion was never about metaphysical comprehension, but ethical devotional sincerity and inner transformation.

The False Images: Paul's Cosmic Christ and the Gospel Jesus

Both Marshall and Zachhuber help us see that the Christ of Paul—and even the progressively mythologized Jesus of the Gospels—represent a theological departure. As the church absorbed Greek categories, it replaced the Hebrew notion of “acquaintance with God” with allegiance to a doctrinal system.

Jesus becomes functionally divine in Paul’s letters, but that functionality is tied to sacrificial substitution rather than the transformation of character. In the Gospels, Jesus is slowly mythologized as a miracle-working demigod, drawing from Hellenistic Jewish and pagan traditions. The result: the devotional emphasis on the heart and spirit gives way to belief in personhood and doctrine.

Marshall (1967) warns us not to overlook this subtle but powerful transition. He writes, “It would be most curious if the early church had proceeded to use this title [Son of God] in a purely functional manner,” and yet this is precisely what occurred in both Pauline and post-Pauline theology (Marshall, 1967, p. 84).

The Way Back: Knowledge That Delivers

The Bible’s spirituality, as Proverbs teaches, rests on the deliverance brought through knowledge, not metaphysical speculation, but knowing in the Hebrew sense: encountering, internalizing, and embodying. “Acquaint now thyself with Him…” (Job 22:21) is not a call to creeds, but to presence.

Christian theology has spent centuries drifting from this central point. Zachhuber is keenly aware of this when he observes that the technical debates of the fourth century often "exact a real loss of religious meaning as the price for doctrinal sophistication" (Zachhuber, 2021, p. 216). The church may have constructed cathedrals of logic, but it did so on the ruins of Hebrew philosophical devotion.

To reclaim one’s clean heart, the devotional conversation must step away from the illusion of Christological precision and return to the raw, honest prayer of the psalmist’s soul. Not a metaphysical Jesus, nor a politicized Gospel Jesus—but a conversation with the living God, the one whose words renews and delivers.

Let the Heart Speak Again

Christians must reckon with the fact that what has been handed down to them (in their religious theory) is a compromised inheritance—one shaped more by Plato and Philo than by Moses and the Prophets. Paul's Jesus, and also the Gospel Jesus, have been so layered with foreign philosophy that one’s original devotional experience and conscience has been obscured.

But the Psalms still call. The Proverbs still promise deliverance through knowledge. Nothing has changed. And Job still reminds us that peace comes not through theology, but through acquaintance with the Bible’s words. The time has come to let our devotional heart speak again—unmediated, unencumbered, and undistracted by the philosophical scaffolding of a church that forgot how to pray, learn, and reflect.

References

Marshall, I. H. (1967). The Development of Christology in the Early Church. Tyndale Bulletin, 18(1), 77-93.

Zachhuber, J. (2021). Christology in the fourth century: a response.