Psalm 47, Living in the “Already but Not Yet” (1)

“Already but Not Yet” is a way some have described the present living situation for believers in Christ.  The phrase refers to the fact that Christians are already subjects in the Kingdom of God, but at the same time the Kingdom of God is not fully manifested here on earth.

Since we are using this terminology, we should remember how the Bible refers to the “Kingdom of God.”  On the one hand, God rules in all things.  “The earth is the LORD’s and all it’s fullness” (Ps. 24:1-2).  Psalm 47 states this clearly, calling all the people of earth to give praise, For the LORD (YAHWEH, the God of Israel) Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth (47:2). 

But the Psalm goes on to say, He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.  He will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves (47:3-4).  This indicates that the King of all the earth was working through an earthly expression of His Kingdom, the nation of Israel (descendents of Jacob).  He intended to rule through the earthly king of Israel who would rule according to the law of God (Dt. 17:14-20). 

Today, the Kingdom of God on earth exists in what we call a “mystery” form (Mark 4:11).  We have positionally been transferred into the kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13).  Day by day, we are learning to live as proper subjects in the Kingdom of God.  We are learning that the Kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking (Rom. 14:17); it is not just about words but is expressed when the King’s power is evident in our lives (1 Cor. 4:20).  We are, in this sense, still entering the Kingdom of God, as we go through the sufferings of this life (Ac. 14:22).  At the same time, the Kingdom of God is our hope, something we will inherit after this life (1 Cor. 6:9-10; 15:50; Gal. 5:21).  Believers are to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory (1 Th. 2:12; cf. 2 Th. 1:5).  The futuristic references tell us that a day is coming when God’s Kingdom will be worldwide, under the authority of Christ who will rule from the throne of David (Psalm 2; Rev. 11:15; 19:16). 

We have taken time to consider this, when the passage we have come to in Mark (9:9-32) does not even have a reference to the “Kingdom of God.”  Why, you might ask?  It is because we have a great illustration of Jesus living in the kind of world where He is who He was shown to be on the mountain, in His transfiguration (already!), but continues in His incarnation to live in the “not yet.” 

One thing I wish to say concerning the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God is this: the NT never tells us to “advance the kingdom of God.”  In this age, we have joined out Lord in His work which is to “build His Church” (Mk. 16:18).  We are called to do what “edifies” (builds up) the Church (1 Cor. 14:26), which is at it’s core, making disciples and teaching them (Mt. 28:19-20).