It is through these hardships that we are “polished” to better prepare us for the Kingdom of Heaven.
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The Kingdom is not someplace in the future that we work for. The Kingdom is within and it’s now.
The word Kindom:
Strong’s Concordance Kingdom-
basileia: kingdom, sovereignty, royal power.
It’s not a place we go to, it’s a position given to us. Again you’re trying to work your way to God believing that the finished work of the cross needs you to participate.
You’re trying to “polish” yourself, actually make yourself worthy when that was finished on the cross.
God’s relationship with you is not determined by your righteousness. That was the first covenant dictated by the law. The first covenant of righteousness ended on the cross. Jesus became righteousness for all, he doesn’t need your help. As Jesus told Nicodemus; if you don’t understand this how can you understand spiritual things?
Luke 17:20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here [it is]!’ or, ‘There [it is]!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
“Kingdom is translated “Royal Power”
“Midst” is translated “within” Look it up
Stop trying to earn your way. It’s already been paid for
Didn’t say a word about earning my way into Heaven. You made an assumption. We were all saved from certain death by the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ himself. Our individual hardships build character toward hopefully becoming better men, not evil ones, in order to serve God for whatever purposes He has in mind for us. It’s really that simple.