Do you want to be in
the Kingdom of God?
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| Cactus Flower |
Some people are very sure that God is so loving that there
is no exclusion in the Kingdom. It is a choice of the individual but if the
information they are getting is inclusive without basis then this should be
identified. God is God, the I AM. Our opinions if they do not agree with God’s
should be revised to make sure that any who want to be in the Kingdom of God
are included.
Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God
Walvoord puts forward that there is a distinction between
the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven seems to
refer to men alone and to include some who are merely professing Christians. It
is likened to a field where a farmer sowed the wheat and his enemy sowed the
weeds. The wheat and the weeds grow together until the harvest. Then the weeds
will be bundled and burned and the wheat will be gathered into the barn (Matt.
13:24-29). There is a mixture of earthly and spiritual dimensions. In the New
Testament, the kingdom of God only speaks of a spiritual realm and does not
include the unsaved.
This differentiation does not explain the parable of the
Mustard Seed, in Matthew (13:31-32) it is the kingdom of heaven and in Mark it
is the kingdom of God (4:30-32). The kingdom of God is according to John Piper is
“God’s reign — his sovereign action in the world to redeem and deliver a people
and then at a future time finish it and renew his people and the universe
completely”.
As this is such a huge subject this post will be based on the
words of Jesus, “but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). It is
unobtainable through human activity and intervention.
How can someone get
into the Kingdom of God?
Jesus said no-one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are
born again or from above (Jn 3:3). And no-one has been there except the one who
came from there, the Son of Man, Jesus himself (Jn 3:13). Jesus said that He is
the way the truth and the life, no-one can go to the Father except through Him
(Jn 14:6) and that He and the Father are one (Jn 14:11).
Who is eligible to
get into the Kingdom of God?
Righteousness, repentance and believing the Good News (Mt
21:31-32; Mk 1:15; Acts 8:12, 10:34-43) and to follow Jesus (Mk 10:21) as He is
the way. Once believed there is no looking back (Lk 9:62).
Who will not be eligible
to be in the Kingdom of God?
There are lists of people who will not be allowed into the
Kingdom of God and serve as warnings: wrongdoers, sexually immoral, idolaters,
adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards; slanderers nor
swindlers (1 Cor 6:9-10); flesh and blood (1 Cor 15:50); acts of the flesh,
sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy,
drunkenness, orgies (Gal 5:19-21); no immoral, impure or greedy person—such a
person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God
(Eph 5:5).
We are human and the
list of ineligibility is long
The Bible also gives us relief as it says, “And that is what
some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11).
Flee from sexual immorality, as our born of above bodies, are temples of the
Holy Spirit, we are to honour God with our bodies (1 Cor 6:18-20). We can
concentrate on are positives, the fruits of the Spirit which are not against
the law (Gal 5:22-25). Christians can be assured of salvation (Rom 10:9-10) but
it is also our responsibility to stay holy because God is holy (1 Pet 1 13-16).
Jesus doesn’t condemn us, but He does forgive and say “Go and sin no more” (Jn
8:11).
The Bible is very clear what is acceptable and unacceptable
to the Kingdom of God. It is up to the individual to make themselves suitable
according to the doctrines regarding salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and
Saviour. Christian Preachers and Pastors should feel that they are able to warn
of ineligibility and encourage eligibility. If someone wants to be included
they should have no doubt about what is required. We cannot gauge someone's standard on our own, whether holy or not, we gauge it on Jesus Christ who is perfect.
Without holiness, nobody will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). This is a hard verse, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks Ross, it is a hard verse. Hebrews 12:15,16 is also further warning to Christians - "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral," and don't despise your birthright, Esau (OT) gave it up for something physical, (God wants ALL to be saved 1 Tim 4:1-5). We live in an age of grace, but that is God giving us second to the enth opportunity to make sure that we keep holy. We are human and that is a given, but there are things in our power to control and if these things go against requirements for the Kingdom of Heaven then these things should be weighed up. Are they worth it in comparison to the eternal love the Father gives to us?
ReplyDeleteHebrews 12:10
ReplyDeleteOur fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
This verse is contextual with Hebrews 12:14
Is holiness based on our actions or imputed. It is God holiness that we share in which is out worked through the sanctification process of the Holy Spirit. Therefore is holiness a product of God discipling his children and our response obedience. This brings the question is it works or faith, many people live "holy" lives in an out working of their behaviors yet are no more born again than the worst sinner. My conclusion is it is God who saves, he justifys and makes holy by the shed blood of the lamb. Our response is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and allow the Spirit to do His work in us.