A quick question on Romans 5:17

[CC1]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

J


I believe that God will supply all my needs.

I believe God expects us to do our part in allowing him to "supply our needs". He is not magically going to make food and bill money appear. He expects us to use the mind and body he gave us to work.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm still not sure "life" in Rom 5:17 is referring to "this life". I have always understood it to mean "eternal life". But I could be wrong. It could be both...this life and the one to come.

Jesus, the King of kings, did not look like he was reigning on the cross though we know a great victory took place through the cross of Christ. The apostles didn't look like they were "reigning" in this life.

I'm going to have to pray and think about this one.

I believe the kingdom of God is already and "not yet"...somewhat paradoxical.

I agree.

I think it is a dual prophecy, we reign in a spiritual sense in this life and a literal sense in eternity.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

We have been given authority over spiritual principalities and strongholds in life. Although, scripture also references reigning in a future tense in all eternity as well.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by CC1

If someone is trying to use this to justify the "prosperity gospel" it is a stretch that does not pass the smell test. Plus all scripture must be taken in context with other scripture and there is plenty of other scripture in opposition to the so called prosperity gospel. Like that "take up your cross and follow me".

Amen!

I don't think God is opposed to people being successful in this life. Some are given more natural gifts (intelligence, business sense, etc) than others that help them in this area. I don't think that makes them superior to others whose gifts might be intercessory prayer, hospitality, strength for physical labor, etc.

Although, monetary success isn't forbidden it is something for us to beware of. Many times money sets up a stronghold in people's life. I think that is why Jesus makes remarks about the difficulty of a rich man entering into heaven. Interesting thought: I have heard that every middle class American is viewed by much of the world as rich. Mammon is the god of many in our nation.

We must also beware in regards to our successes in life. Many times people's personal success is the very thing that destroys them. Although we must invest our talents, we should never leave our walk of faith. Faith causes people to make investments that far exceed our natural ability because we trust God's provision. IOW, Faith exceeds ability. Charisma is a poor substitute for faith.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by CC1

I believe God expects us to do our part in allowing him to "supply our needs". He is not magically going to make food and bill money appear. He expects us to use the mind and body he gave us to work.

I agree with you on this. If a man don't work he don't eat. Although, people often confuse needs with wants. Most of us are often overly consumed with the material.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by CC1

I believe God expects us to do our part in allowing him to "supply our needs". He is not magically going to make food and bill money appear. He expects us to use the mind and body he gave us to work.

of course

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I think just like in these two passages of scripture. The OT Israel reigned and prospered in the natural, but the New Jerusalem reigns and prospers in the Spiritual. Wise king Solomon was the richest man alive, but a lot of his writings are depressing. He repeatedly says stuff like, "all is vain". Solomon is a man that had all the riches and all the money in the world, but he seems to be miserable. The victory we have in life is not through our earthly prosperity, but the joy that we have outside of this world.



The more prosperity we have in this world, most of the time it just comes with vexation. There is an older gospel song that comes to my mind:

i just started living (I just started living)
I found me a brand new life
it changed my direction (changed my direction)
washed away all my strife
i'm a newborn believer (newborn believer)
it's holy and filling
the days are getting brighter
my load's getting lighter
i just started living

I believe this is what it means to reign here on this earth. I haven't put it all together, but I believe like Bro. Blume this is the kingdom age. The kingdom of God is here right now. We aren't waiting for some apocalyptic event to take place before we can have victory, but we have a treasure in earthen vessels.

I believe there will be a time when the natural and the spiritual will meet on this earth in the millennial reign of Christ in Jerusalem then a later time when ALL things will be restored and fulfilled after the resurrection of the just and unjust and New Jerusalem comes down from heaven when all evil is removed. So right now the kingdom of God is the the already, not yet state.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Wouldn't it be eternal life, which is available to us here and now as a down payment on what's coming?

I'm not sure what you mean. We are going to die or be changed. The eternal life we have now is Christ living in us. How does this explain "reigning in life"?