The concept of “already but not yet” is a theological idea in Christianity that refers to the current state of God’s kingdom on earth. It conveys the tension between what has already been accomplished through Christ’s death and resurrection, and what is still yet to come in the future completion of God’s kingdom.
The basic idea is that certain aspects of God’s kingdom are “already” here, while other aspects are “not yet” fully realized. Christians believe that Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God during his first coming, but the kingdom will not reach ultimate fulfillment until his second coming. So there is an “already” and a “not yet” dimension to the experience of God’s kingdom in the present age.
Let’s break down the key components of this concept:
The “already” – What has been accomplished
Through Jesus’ life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, he achieved victory over sin and inaugurated the kingdom of God on earth. Here are some of the key things that are “already” true in the present age:
- Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44).
- Jesus preached that the kingdom of God was at hand and had arrived in his own ministry (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17).
- Jesus demonstrated the power of the kingdom by casting out demons, healing the sick, and showing dominion over nature (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20).
- Jesus atoned for sins through his sacrificial death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:12).
- Jesus was raised from the dead in victory over sin and death, inaugurating new resurrection life (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
- The Holy Spirit was poured out on believers at Pentecost, empowering them to spread the gospel (Acts 2:1-4).
- Justification by faith is now available for all who believe in Christ (Romans 3:21-26).
- Believers have been set free from slavery to sin (Romans 6:18).
- Believers have been adopted as God’s children and united with Christ (Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5).
- The church serves as the incarnation of Christ on earth carrying out his mission (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:27).
In summary, Christ’s first coming marked the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth and accomplished definitive victory over sin, death, and evil through his life, death, resurrection, ascension, and outpouring of the Spirit on the church. The benefits of his redemptive work are already available to all who put their faith in him. God’s reign has already begun.
The “not yet” – What is still to come
However, there is also a clear “not yet” dimension to God’s kingdom program. Not everything has been fully accomplished or consummated. Here are some key things that are still awaited in the future:
- The ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants (Romans 11:25-29).
- The national repentance and restoration of Israel (Romans 11:25-26).
- The consummation of the full number of Gentiles coming to salvation (Romans 11:25).
- The glorification of believers and resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
- The visible, bodily return of Christ (Revelation 1:7).
- The judgment of all people before God (2 Corinthians 5:10).
- The final defeat of Satan, death, and evil (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 20:10, 14).
- The creation of the new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
- The eternal state – the ultimate manifestation of God’s kingdom (Revelation 22:1-5).
So while the kingdom has already begun spiritually, it has not yet culminated in the complete renewal of creation and the end of this present evil age. God’s purposes will reach final completion when Christ returns to fully establish his reign forever. The age to come remains in the future.
Living in the tension
For believers living between Christ’s first and second comings, this creates a kind of tension between the “already” and the “not yet.” On one hand, the benefits of salvation and the blessings of God’s reign are already available through faith in Christ. But on the other hand, we still await the full experience of these realities when Christ returns.
The New Testament writers frequently emphasize this tension in passages like:
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23).
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
Christians live in the ambiguity of the “already” and the “not yet.” We have tasted of the powers of the age to come through the Spirit, but we still groan in waiting for the consummation. We have assurance of our future redemption, but still struggle with indwelling sin. We have been set free, yet still feel the effects of the fall. We see glimpses of the kingdom, yet evil still persists in this present darkness.
This calls for patience and hope as we await the return of Christ:
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:7-8).
We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:23-25).
So living in light of the “already but not yet” involves joyfully embracing what has been inaugurated through Christ while also patiently looking with hope toward the future consummation of all things. We live in the tension of fulfillment and expectation.
Implications of “already but not yet”
This paradigm has several important implications for how Christians view a number of things:
Salvation
We have assurance of salvation in the present, but still await the full experience of salvation when Christ returns. Justification is already complete, but sanctification is ongoing.
Spiritual gifts
Gifts like prophecy and healing give a glimpse of future glory, but are only partial foretastes since that which is perfect has not yet come (1 Corinthians 13:9-10).
The presence of sin
Sin’s power has been broken, yet Christians still struggle with sinful desires and fallen natures that await future glorification (Romans 6-7).
The victory of the kingdom
The kingdom has come spiritually, but has not yet fully arrived in visible power and glory. Evil still persists in this present age.
Suffering and persecution
Believers suffer and are persecuted in this age, even though we have been given authority in Christ (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12).
The role of the church
The church is mandated to carry out Christ’s mission of preaching the gospel and making disciples while awaiting his return (Matthew 28:18-20).
So in summary, the “already but not yet” view of God’s kingdom provides a helpful paradigm for understanding redemptive history and the experience of believers living between Jesus’ first and second comings. The blessings of the kingdom have broken into this fallen age through Christ, yet we still live in the tension between current struggles and future hope. But this paradigm fuels endurance, obedience, and mission as we await the fullness of the promises to come.
Common examples of “already but not yet”
Here are some key examples that illustrate the already/not yet tension of God’s kingdom:
Resurrection life
Jesus was raised bodily from the dead as the “firstfruits” and guarantee of the resurrection life to come (1 Corinthians 15:20). Believers have been spiritually raised with Christ to new life (Ephesians 2:4-6; Colossians 2:12). But we still await the future resurrection when our lowly bodies will be made like Christ’s glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). The physical resurrection has begun in Jesus but awaits completion for believers.
Defeat of Satan
The cross decisively defeated Satan (Colossians 2:15), but he still prowls around seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). His final destiny of eternal punishment is certain, but not yet fully realized (Revelation 20:10). His ultimate doom is assured, though he still exerts temporary influence.
Healing
Healing and deliverance from sickness foreshadows the perfect health to come, but sickness and physical brokenness still afflict this fallen world. Complete eradication of disease awaits the consummation (Revelation 21:4).
Holy Spirit
The Spirit was given as the down payment guaranteeing future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), yet believers still await the full experience of the Spirit’s power when Christ returns (Romans 8:23). We have the firstfruits, but yearn for the harvest.
Justification and sin
Justification is a past event with present effects, freeing us from sin’s penalty and power. But sin still influences believers since we retain a fallen nature awaiting future glorification (Romans 6:12-14). Sin’s reign has been broken, yet its residual influence remains.
So in each case, we see evidence of the future kingdom breaking into the present, yet still look ahead to the full realization of these realities in Christ. The “already” has come, but the “not yet” beckons us onward in hope.
Interpreting the Delay Before Christ’s Return
A key issue related to the “already but not yet” is the apparent delay in Christ’s second coming and the final consummation of the kingdom. Why has so much time passed if aspects of God’s kingdom are already here?
Several points help us understand this mystery:
- God operates on a different timescale than us (2 Peter 3:8). What seems slow to us is swift for the Lord.
- The delay displays God’s patience and mercy, allowing more time for unbelievers to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
- God has His perfect timing for culminating history and is sovereign over the exact hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36).
- The delay fosters the maturation and purification of the church as we long for Christ’s return (Romans 8:23-25; 2 Peter 3:14).
- We should maintain expectant vigilance, rather than presuming Christ’s coming is far off or growing complacent (Matthew 24:42-44).
Rather than speculating about God’s timing, our task is to trust in His sovereignty and maintain hopeful readiness however long we must wait.
Avoiding Extremes
In putting together these two aspects of fulfillment (“already”) and expectation (“not yet”), it’s important to avoid two extremes in perspective:
1. “Over-realized eschatology”
Overemphasizing what is “already” fulfilled and downplaying the “not yet” consummation. This view tends toward triumphalism and over-estimates the current experience of God’s kingdom.
2. “Under-realized eschatology”
Focusing so much on future consummation that one denies the inauguration of the kingdom in the present age. This fails to see the “already” breaking in through Christ.
A balanced view affirms that the kingdom is already here spiritually but not yet fully. We shouldn’t swing the pendulum too far in either direction.
Putting It All Together
The paradigm of “already but not yet” provides a helpful framework for understanding the complexities of living in the present age as believers in Christ. In his first coming, Jesus decisively inaugurated the kingdom of God, defeating sin anddeath and bestowing the blessings of salvation on those who put their faith in Him. But the complete consummation of the kingdom awaits His return.
So Christians live in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet” – affirmed by Christ’s finished work yet awaiting its ultimate fulfillment, freed from sin yet still battling its remnants, tasting the firstfruits of eternity yet groaning for the coming redemption. But this paradigm doesn’t paralyze us – instead, it empowers endurance, hope, and mission as we live purposefully in the here and now while looking expectantly toward the horizon of Christ’s return and the dawning of the new creation.
Maranatha! “Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Even so, come Lord Jesus! We join the prayer of the early church in eagerly awaiting the consummation of all things at your return, O King.