Entry Into The Kingdom

Matthew 13:47–50 (KJV 1900)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

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1. Entry into the kingdom of God is of vital importance

The Bible talks about an outer darkness, a furnace of fire, and weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is costly

Mt 13:44; Ac 14:22

Matthew 13:44 (KJV 1900)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

See also Mt 8:19–20; Mt 13:45–46; Lk 18:29–30; 2 Th 1:5; Re 1:9

Story of buying a car that I want.

Matthew 13:45–46 KJV 1900

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

It is going to cost us something in order to enter!

It is a matter of urgency

Luke 9:59–62 (KJV 1900)

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Heaven must be our highest priority! This life will end, this is the only guarantee in this life, that there is an appointed time to die.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN!!

2. Conditions of entry into the kingdom of God

Childlike trust

Mark 10:15 KJV 1900

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

See also Mt 18:3

To be born again of water and Spirit

John 3:5 KJV 1900

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

See also Jn 3:5; 1 Co 15:50

Quotation: I am not saved so that I may be born again. I am born again so that I may be saved.

R.C. Sproul

Obedience to God’s will

Matthew 7:21 KJV 1900

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

3. Warnings about entry into the kingdom of God

The way is narrow

Luke 13:24–28 (KJV 1900)

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

See also Mt 7:13–14; Mt 23:13

The wicked will not inherit the kingdom

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 KJV 1900

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

When we’re born into this world, we’re born in sin and wickedness and we must be turned from our ways. Must be translated from darkness into His Marvelous Light.

Acts 26:17–18 KJV 1900

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

We first have closed eyes but when the revelation comes, now we can make a choice!

See also Mt 5:20; Mk 9:43–47; Ga 5:19–21; Eph 5:5

A need for readiness and watchfulness

Matthew 24:42–44 (KJV 1900)

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

See also Mt 24:37–39; Mt 25:13; Lk 12:35–40

Entry is not granted to all who claim to know the Lord

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

See also Mt 13:24–30; Mt 13:47–50; Lk 13:25–27

We must persevere

Matthew 24:13 KJV 1900

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Endure: remain, stay, reside

4. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of Grace

It belongs to those qualified by God

Colossians 1:12–13 KJV 1900

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

See also Lk 12:32; Lk 22:29–30

It belongs to the poor and the poor in spirit

Luke 6:20 KJV 1900

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

See also Mt 11:5; Mt 19:23–24 It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God; Jas 2:5; Jas 5:1

It belongs to the childlike

Matthew 19:14 KJV 1900

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

See also Mt 21:31

It belongs to those who are persecuted for Jesus Christ’s sake

Matthew 5:10 KJV 1900

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

With great tribulation we shall enter the kingdom of God

It belongs to Gentiles as well as to Jews

Matthew 8:11 KJV 1900

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

See also Mt 21:43; Mt 22:8–10 those initially uninvited represent the Gentiles; Lk 14:21–24

Luke 14:21–24 (KJV 1900)

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

It Belongs To Those Who Are Adopted

Romans 8:15–18 (KJV 1900)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Dead or alive, it belongs to those in Christ

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (KJV 1900)

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

It belongs to those who have His Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 KJV 1900

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV 1900

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:13–14 KJV 1900

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.