The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?Burbidge, Edward
Religion
The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?
Burbidge, Edward
Heaven -- Biblical teaching; Jesus Christ -- Kingdom
But one thing is certain. No plan of re-union can succeed which is
not based upon the clear teaching of Holy Scripture. "The Kingdom of
Heaven" is there clearly described. First by the King Himself in His
parables and discourses, before the Kingdom was yet founded; and then
in the history of the Acts of the Apostles, which tells how the
Kingdom or Church of Christ, which had been purchased with His own
Blood, was set up under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. And inasmuch
as no man, nor any body of men, can form a new "Kingdom of Heaven,"
the only position which a Christian can hold, in agreement with Holy
Scripture, is the position of a subject of that Kingdom which was so
founded.
And when we call to mind that "The Kingdom of Heaven" extended to our
own land, by the Providence of God, in early days, we see at once that
our aim, as loyal subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ, must be to win
back those who have separated from us, to act as fellow-soldiers with
us in the one great army of our King, serving under the same flag and
the same officers, and fighting with united energy for the glory of
God.
But as in an earthly kingdom various opinions may be held by different
persons and parties, and yet all may be loyal subjects of the same
King, and earnestly advancing the well-being of the kingdom, so in the
spiritual Kingdom of Messiah unity does not mean that all must think
alike[21]. But there is one necessary condition, namely this,--the
essential unity of the Kingdom must be kept in view. There can be but
one "Kingdom of Heaven." Consequently, to form separate and
independent bodies cannot fail to cause confusion and weakness. To act
in the Name of the King men must be united. If we, who call ourselves
by the Name of Christ, desire to spread His Kingdom with the
irresistible force which belongs to it, we must show to the world
that we are all one in interests--in the common hope of Heaven; all
one in faith--in the common belief in the love of God, as it is
expressed in the work of redemption, through the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost; all one in Baptism into the great Name of the
ever-Blessed Trinity; and, above all other bonds of union, all one in
loyal devotion to the one Lord and King, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
FOOTNOTES:
[18] Let me beg every reader of these lines to pause here, and shoot
up an arrow of prayer that God may lead men to think of the
blessedness of being united, as sons of one Father, brethren of one
family, subjects of one Kingdom. And I would ask those readers who may
be, at present, living in outward separation from the Ancient Branch
of Christ's Church in this land, to consider with themselves what
cause there is in their own case to justify, before God, such a
separation from their Brethren in Christ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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