Changes

170:5.18 And so, for centuries, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] has labored under great [[embarrassment]] because it [[dared]] to lay claim to those [[mysterious]] [[powers]] and [[privileges]] of the kingdom, powers and privileges which can be [[exercised]] and [[experienced]] only between [[Jesus]] and his [[spiritual]] believer [[brothers]]. And thus it becomes [[apparent]] that membership in the [[church]] does not necessarily mean fellowship in the kingdom; one is [[spiritual]], the other mainly [[social]].

170:5.18 And so, for centuries, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] has labored under great [[embarrassment]] because it [[dared]] to lay claim to those [[mysterious]] [[powers]] and [[privileges]] of the kingdom, powers and privileges which can be [[exercised]] and [[experienced]] only between [[Jesus]] and his [[spiritual]] believer [[brothers]]. And thus it becomes [[apparent]] that membership in the [[church]] does not necessarily mean fellowship in the kingdom; one is [[spiritual]], the other mainly [[social]].

170:5.19 Sooner or later another and greater [[John the Baptist]] is due to arise [[proclaiming]] " the kingdom of God is at hand "—meaning a return to the high [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[Jesus]], who [[proclaimed]] that the kingdom is the will of his [[heavenly Father]] [[dominant]] and [[transcendent]] in the [[heart]] of the believer—and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible [[church]] on [[earth]] or to the [[anticipated]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:2._THE_MASTER.27S_SECOND_COMING second coming of Christ]. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of [[Jesus]], such a restatement as will undo the [[work]] of his early followers who went about to create a socio-philosophical [[system]] of [[belief]] regarding the [[fact]] of [[Michael]]'s [[sojourn]] on [[earth]]. In a short time the teaching of this [[story]] about [[Jesus]] nearly supplanted the preaching of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] of the kingdom. In this way a [[Tradition|historical]] [[religion]] displaced that teaching in which [[Jesus]] had blended man's highest [[moral]] [[ideas]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]] with man's most [[sublime]] [[hope]] for the [[future]]—[[eternal]] life. And that was the [[gospel]] of the kingdom.

170:5.19 Sooner or later another and greater [[John the Baptist]] is due to arise [[proclaiming]] " the kingdom of God is at hand "—meaning a return to the high [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[Jesus]], who [[proclaimed]] that the kingdom is the will of his [[heavenly Father]] [[dominant]] and [[transcendent]] in the [[heart]] of the believer—and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible [[church]] on [[earth]] or to the [[anticipated]] [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:2._THE_MASTER.27S_SECOND_COMING second coming of Christ]. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of [[Jesus]], such a restatement as will undo the [[work]] of his early followers who went about to create a socio-philosophical [[system]] of [[belief]] regarding the [[fact]] of [[Michael]]'s [[sojourn]] on [[earth]]. In a short time the teaching of this [[story]] about [[Jesus]] nearly supplanted the preaching of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] of the kingdom. In this way a [[Tradition|historical]] [[religion]] displaced that teaching in which [[Jesus]] had blended man's highest [[moral]] [[ideas]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]] with man's most [[sublime]] [[hope]] for the [[future]]—[[eternal]] life. And that was the [[gospel]] of the kingdom.

170:5.20 It is just because the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]] was so many-sided that within a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Early_heresies few centuries] students of the [[records]] of his teachings became divided up into so many [[cults]] and [[sects]]. This pitiful subdivision of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian believers] results from [[failure]] to [[discern]] in [[the Master]]'s manifold teachings the [[divine]] [[Union|oneness]] of his matchless life. But someday the true [[believers]] in [[Jesus]] will not be thus spiritually divided in their [[attitude]] before unbelievers. Always we may have [[diversity]] of [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and [[interpretation]], even varying [[degrees]] of [[socialization]], but lack of spiritual [[brotherhood]] is both inexcusable and reprehensible.

170:5.20 It is just because the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]] was so many-sided that within a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Early_heresies few centuries] students of the [[records]] of his teachings became divided up into so many [[cults]] and [[sects]]. This pitiful subdivision of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian believers] results from [[failure]] to [[discern]] in [[the Master]]'s manifold teachings the [[divine]] [[Union|oneness]] of his matchless life. But someday the true [[believers]] in [[Jesus]] will not be thus spiritually divided in their [[attitude]] before unbelievers. Always we may have [[diversity]] of [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and [[interpretation]], even varying [[degrees]] of [[socialization]], but lack of spiritual [[brotherhood]] is both inexcusable and reprehensible.

170:5.21 Mistake not! there is in the teachings of [[Jesus]] an [[eternal]] [[nature]] which will not [[permit]] them forever to remain unfruitful in the [[hearts]] of [[thinking]] men. The kingdom as [[Jesus]] [[conceived]] it has to a large extent [[failed]] on [[earth]]; for the time being, an outward [[church]] has taken its place; but you should [[comprehend]] that this [[church]] is only the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva larval] [[stage]] of the thwarted [[spiritual]] kingdom, which will carry it through this [[Materialism|material]] [[Epoch|age]] and over into a more [[spiritual]] dispensation where [[the Master]]'s teachings may enjoy a fuller [[opportunity]] for [[development]]. Thus does the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] become the [[cocoon]] in which the kingdom of [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] now [[slumbers]]. The kingdom of the [[divine]] [[brotherhood]] is still alive and will [[eventually]] and certainly come forth from this long submergence, just as surely as the butterfly eventually emerges as the [[beautiful]] [[unfolding]] of its less [[attractive]] [[creature]] of [[metamorphic]] [[development]].

170:5.21 Mistake not! there is in the teachings of [[Jesus]] an [[eternal]] [[nature]] which will not [[permit]] them forever to remain unfruitful in the [[hearts]] of [[thinking]] men. The kingdom as [[Jesus]] [[conceived]] it has to a large extent [[failed]] on [[earth]]; for the time being, an outward [[church]] has taken its place; but you should [[comprehend]] that this [[church]] is only the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva larval] [[stage]] of the thwarted [[spiritual]] kingdom, which will carry it through this [[Materialism|material]] [[Epoch|age]] and over into a more [[spiritual]] dispensation where [[the Master]]'s teachings may enjoy a fuller [[opportunity]] for [[development]]. Thus does the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] become the [[cocoon]] in which the kingdom of [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] now [[slumbers]]. The kingdom of the [[divine]] [[brotherhood]] is still alive and will [[eventually]] and certainly come forth from this long submergence, just as surely as the butterfly eventually emerges as the [[beautiful]] [[unfolding]] of its less [[attractive]] [[creature]] of [[metamorphic]] [[development]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_170 Go to Paper 170]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_170 Go to Paper 170]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 170 - The Kingdom of Heaven]]

[[Category:Paper 170 - The Kingdom of Heaven]]

[[Category: Christianity]]

[[Category: Christianity]]