Entry into kingdom of God

Entry into the kingdom of God is of vital importance

It is costly

Mt 13:44; Ac 14:22

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

It is a matter of urgency

Luke 9:59–62 ESV

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Conditions of entry into the kingdom of God

Childlike trust

Mark 10:15 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

See also Mt 18:3

To be born again of God’s Spirit

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

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

Obedience to God’s will

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Warnings about entry into the kingdom of God

The way is narrow

Luke 13:24–28 ESV

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

See also Mt 7:13–14; Mt 23:13

The wicked will not inherit the kingdom

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

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

The need for readiness and watchfulness

Matthew 24:42–44 ESV

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

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

Entry is not based on outward appearances nor granted to all who claim to know the Lord

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

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

The kingdom of God is a kingdom of grace

It belongs to those qualified by God

Colossians 1:12–13 ESV

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

See also Lk 12:32; Lk 22:29–30

It belongs to the poor and the poor in spirit

Luke 6:20 ESV

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are 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 ESV

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

It belongs to sinners

Mark 2:17 ESV

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

See also Mt 21:31

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

Matthew 5:10 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It belongs to Gentiles as well as to Jews

Matthew 8:11 ESV

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, 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