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White Horse Inn: Conversational Theology

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

When Jesus was brought before Pilate, he was essentially accused of being a kind of rival king, a usurper to the throne. But when asked, he said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” What are the implications of this statement for us as Christians? For example, should believers separate themselves from the world? The hosts will also discuss the significance of Pilate’s words when he said, “Behold the man,” as he presented Jesus to the crowd wearing a purple robe and a crown of thorns.


SHOW QUOTE

What do you think that Jesus means here when He says, “My kingdom is not of this world?”

Shane Rosenthal

I think you have to take this in context and I think here in the question of Pilate, “Are you the king of the Jews?” It’s a ridicule kind of question. The question for Jesus is, “Are you coming to claim to be a king in opposition to Caesar?” and Jesus is saying here he has not come to overthrow the emperor. I’m not so convinced Christians today are separate from the world. If anything, our swords are out trying to chop off our neighbor’s ear.

Chris Gordon

TERM TO LEARN

“Two Kingdoms”

Reformed
The two kingdoms doctrine teaches that God rules all things, but rules all things in two fundamentally distinct ways. In the Reformed version of this doctrine, the civil kingdom consists of the state and other cultural institutions and activities of this life. God rules this kingdom as creator and sustainer, bestowing rain and sunshine and all sorts of other earthly goods upon all people and upholding some measure of justice and prosperity in their cultural lives. The spiritual kingdom, on the other hand, is a heavenly, eschatological realm, but one that has also broken into the present world through the ministry and life of the church. God rules this kingdom as redeemer, bestowing not temporal provisions of natural earthly life upon all people but the blessings of salvation and eternal life to his redeemed people.

(From David VanDrunen, “Life Beyond Judgment,” Modern Reformation Oct/Nov 2008)

Lutheran
Of Civil Affairs they teach that lawful civil ordinances are good works of God, and that it is right for Christians to bear civil office, to sit as judges, to judge matters by the Imperial and other existing laws, to award just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers, to make legal contracts, to hold property, to make oath when required by the magistrates, to marry a wife, to be given in marriage.

They condemn also those who do not place evangelical perfection in the fear of God and in faith, but in forsaking civil offices, for the Gospel teaches an eternal righteousness of the heart. Meanwhile, it does not destroy the State or the family, but very much requires that they be preserved as ordinances of God, and that charity be practiced in such ordinances. Therefore, Christians are necessarily bound to obey their own magistrates and laws save only when commanded to sin; for then they ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

(From The Augsburg Confession, Article XVI)

More from this Series: The Gospel of John Year-Long Series

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  2. Eyewitness Testimony in the Gospel of John Listen Now ›
  3. Richard Bauckham on the Reliability of John Listen Now ›
  4. In the Beginning Was the Word Listen Now ›
  5. The Jewishness of John’s Gospel Listen Now ›
  6. The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us Listen Now ›
  7. The Lamb of God Listen Now ›
  8. Climbing Jacob’s Ladder? Listen Now ›
  9. Water into Wine Listen Now ›
  10. An Interview with D.A. Carson Listen Now ›
  11. Money-Changers in the Temple Listen Now ›
  12. God in Our Midst Listen Now ›
  13. Born from Above Listen Now ›
  14. God So Loved the World Listen Now ›
  15. He Must Increase, I Must Decrease Listen Now ›
  16. The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel Listen Now ›
  17. Living Water Listen Now ›
  18. Worship in Spirit & Truth Listen Now ›
  19. Can This Be the Christ? Listen Now ›
  20. An Early Date for John’s Gospel? Listen Now ›
  21. Jesus on Trial Listen Now ›
  22. The Scriptures Bear Witness of Me Listen Now ›
  23. The Bread of Life Listen Now ›
  24. Drawn by God Listen Now ›
  25. If Anyone Thirsts Listen Now ›
  26. The Light of the World Listen Now ›
  27. The Truth Will Set You Free Listen Now ›
  28. I Am the Good Shepherd Listen Now ›
  29. My Sheep Hear My Voice Listen Now ›
  30. I Am the Resurrection & the Life Listen Now ›
  31. Jesus’ Death Foretold Listen Now ›
  32. The Triumphal Entry Listen Now ›
  33. Who Has Believed Our Report? Listen Now ›
  34. The Servant Leader Listen Now ›
  35. The Betrayal Listen Now ›
  36. I Am the Way Listen Now ›
  37. The Spirit of Truth Listen Now ›
  38. I Am the Vine Listen Now ›
  39. Father, Son, & Spirit Listen Now ›
  40. Christ’s High Priestly Prayer Listen Now ›
  41. The Arrest & Trial of Jesus Listen Now ›
  42. My Kingdom Is Not of This World Listen Now ›
  43. The Significance of Golgotha Listen Now ›
  44. Naked, Ashamed, Despised, & Rejected Listen Now ›
  45. Reconciling Accounts of the Resurrection Listen Now ›
  46. Peace Be With You Listen Now ›
  47. The Epilogue of John’s Gospel Listen Now ›
  48. Feed My Sheep Listen Now ›
  49. The Identity of the Beloved Disciple Listen Now ›
  50. The Incarnate Word Listen Now ›
  51. The ‘I Am’ Sayings of Jesus Listen Now ›
  52. The Messiah’s Mission Listen Now ›