"When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son…"
The "fullness of time" should be understood as the
God-established timeframe for mankind to ripe up for acceptance of ideas that
underlie the Kingdom of God among people. As we know, our Lord Jesus Christ in
His conversations and especially in parables called His Church the Kingdom
of God. The Holy Evangelists alternately use similar terms: "Kingdom
of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God." The Kingdom of God relates to
the Church on earth, Church Militant, and the Kingdom of Heaven mostly implies
the heavenly Church Triumphant. In fact, both these spheres make up one Church
of Christ, one Kingdom of God.
Referring to the Church as a Kingdom is a
later usage in the Bible. This term had not existed twenty or fifteen hundred
years before the nativity of Christ, when tribes just started to join into
states. However, by the time of apparition of the Savior, the shape of people's
communities matured. It is especially true for the Roman Empire with its
sophisticated structure of state. Emperor was head of state; there was a
legislative body, Senate, and an elaborate system of judiciary with circumspect
laws. In fact, Roman law laid the basis of legislation of Western Europe and
Russia. The empire was divided into provinces, also called proconsulates. These
were governed by proconsuls, governors and sometimes local 'kings' (like king
Herod of Judea). A well-trained army, organized in legions, led by generals,
chief captains and centurions, guarded the vast empire.
When Jesus Christ used the word 'Kingdom'
referring to the Church, His audience could understand that He meant a certain
society with a well-defined structure. It should be obvious that Jesus called
the society, which He was creating, a Kingdom, because He intended to
provide it with a certain structure that would have some features in common
with kingdoms of men.
This commonness is disclosed in the following
comparisons. A regular kingdom always has one ruler, and all spheres of state's
life are subordinate to him. In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ is one King
and Head of the Church. Each kingdom must have its laws and customs that guide
and regulate its life. It is assumed that one lives in his kingdom, and if one
comes to dislike it due to any reason, he would be free to move to another
country. However, while living in a certain kingdom, one is obliged to obey all
of its laws and customs. In the same manner, one is free to become a Christian
and a member of the Church; nobody would be forced to do it. But being a member
of the Church, one should comply with Her teaching and abide by the
commandments of God. One cannot say that he agrees with some commandments and
disagrees with others, that something suits him and something else does not.
Citizens, abiding by their country's laws, receive
access to a variety of privileges granted by their kingdom. For example, one
objective of every state is to protect its citizens, immunity of their property
and reputation, care for their welfare, children, elders and handicapped
members of society in general. In a similar way, the Church cares about Her
members, i.e. the faithful. And in the first place, the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself takes care of and provides protection to the faithful: "I am
the good shepherd ... neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand…" In
order to bring believers up in the true faith, and lead them to salvation, the
Lord Jesus Christ installed prophets, apostles, bishops and pastors, as it is
written, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the [moral] perfecting
of the saints [Christians], for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-15).
In regular states, every able-bodied citizen would
bear certain responsibilities with respect to the society, pursuant to his
title and position, and everybody would contribute his bit of work in order to
better the life in his country. So in the Church, each member must not be a
'consumer' only, but should also try to be useful for others.
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