1. ‘Sons of the Kingdom’ Living in the mystery of the kingdom

2. The Mystery of the Kingdom The KingdomWill come in the future Has come – is now present Is ‘near’ or ‘at hand’ Has been delayed

3. History The End Age to Come P TheChristianLife

4. Christians are ‘Already’ ‘Not Yet’ People

5. This is more than a theology: A known experience We are here, almost here, delayed, future people. We are saved, being saved, and will be saved. Failure to understand this dimension of living leads to much personal struggle.

6. ‘Already’ texts Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor.5:17) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him (2:14)

7. ‘Not Yet’ texts Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (5:2-5)

8. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you (4:11-12) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming (Col.3:5).

9. An ‘Already’ & ‘Not Yet’ Text 2 Cor.6:4-10

10. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything

11. Texts about sin If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1:8). But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him (1 Jn.3:6)

12. What this means – and does not mean The flesh/spirit, old man/new man language is not psychological - it is kingdom language. It is the environment into which we are born.

13. We can attempt to escape it into: Triumphalism or Defeatism The ‘deliverance’ and ‘inner healing’ paradigms. Get used to it. It is not a passing phase.

14. Do not panic, or fall into despair, or hate yourself. It will get harder. It will get better. Do not postpone availability to God until you are ‘OK’.