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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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misunderst<strong>and</strong>ing it, unless, indeed, <strong>the</strong>y stood in<br />

right relationship to <strong>the</strong> ' Kingdom <strong>of</strong> God.' <strong>The</strong><br />

initial condition requisite was to believe that <strong>Jesus</strong><br />

was <strong>the</strong> Divine Sower, <strong>and</strong> His Word <strong>the</strong> Seed <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Kingdom: no o<strong>the</strong>r Sower than He, no o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Seed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom than His Word. If this were<br />

admitted, <strong>the</strong>y had at least <strong>the</strong> right premisses for<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing ^ this mystery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom.' ^<br />

According to Jewish view <strong>the</strong> <strong>Messiah</strong> was to<br />

appear in outward pomp, <strong>and</strong> by display <strong>of</strong> power<br />

to establish <strong>the</strong> Kingdom. But this was <strong>the</strong> very<br />

idea <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eongdom, with which Satan had<br />

tempted <strong>Jesus</strong> at <strong>the</strong> outset <strong>of</strong> His Ministry.^ In<br />

opposition to it was this ' mystery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom,'<br />

according to which it consisted in reception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Seed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Word. That reception would depend on<br />

<strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soil, that is, on <strong>the</strong> mind <strong>and</strong> heart<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hearers. <strong>The</strong> Kingdom <strong>of</strong> Grod was vrithin:<br />

it came nei<strong>the</strong>r by a display <strong>of</strong> power, nor even by<br />

this, that Israel, or else <strong>the</strong> Gospel-hearers, were<br />

<strong>the</strong> field on which <strong>the</strong> Seed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom was<br />

sown. He had brought <strong>the</strong> Kingdom : <strong>the</strong> Sower

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