Luke 12:32
King James Version
32 Fear not,
little flock;
for it is your Father's good pleasure
to give you the kingdom.
From the previous post, we learned that the kingdom of God was righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (the HOLY SPIRIT).
We also learned the "old" heaven was a firmament, but will be a "new" heaven when God's holy city, the new Jerusalem, comes down from heaven, and God will dwell in our midst.
There will be no more sea, no more curse.
Scripture also testified to the ministry, and healing done by Jesus, as the kingdom come UNTO us, and UPON us, even as many were not aware.
The Lord Jesus also said the kingdom of God was WITHIN us.
We learned, too, that Jesus was going to be our source of strength, and foundation -- our ROCK.
But the next question is, who gets to enter heaven?
As always, the Holy Spirit of God led me to the verses.
We can enter heaven if:
1. We're born again.
John 3:3
King James Version
3 Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2. We're born of water and of the Spirit.
John 3:5
King James Version
5 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.
3. Our righteousness exceeds those of the scribes and Pharisees.
Matthew 5:20
King James Version
20 For I say unto you,
That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
4. We move forward with Jesus.
Luke 9:61-62
King James Version
61 And another also said,
Lord, I will follow thee;
but let me first go bid them farewell,
which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him,
No man,
having put his hand to the plough,
and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God.
5. We find joy in following the Holy Spirit of God.
Romans 14:17
King James Version
17 For the kingdom of God
is not meat and drink;
but righteousness,
and peace,
and joy
in the Holy Ghost.
6. We become of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:50
King James Version
50 Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
7. We open our hearts to Jesus.
Revelation 3:20
King James Version
20 Behold,
I stand at the door,
and knock:
if any man hear my voice,
and open the door,
I will come in to him,
and will sup with him,
and he with me.
8. We are sanctified by the blood of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:11
King James Version
11 And such were some of you:
but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.
9. We have been delivered by the Father, from darkness.
Colossians 1:12-13
King James Version
12 Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:
10. We are diligent in our calling, to serve Christ.
2 Peter 1:10-11
King James Version
10 Wherefore the rather,
brethren,
give diligence
to make your calling and election sure:
for if ye do these things,
ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly
into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
11. Our vile bodies are glorified by the Lord.
Philippians 3:20-21
King James Version
20 For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working
whereby he is able even
to subdue all things unto himself.
12. We repent, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15
King James Version
15 And saying,
The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye,
and believe the gospel.
13. We overcome sin, and temptation.
Revelation 21:7-8
King James Version
7 He that overcometh
shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God,
and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful,
and unbelieving,
and the abominable,
and murderers,
and whoremongers,
and sorcerers,
and idolaters,
and all liars,
shall have their part
in the lake
which burneth with fire
and brimstone:
which is the second death.
14. We are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 21:27
King James Version
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it
any thing that defileth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination,
or maketh a lie:
but they which are written
in the Lamb's book of life.
15. We are poor in spirit.
Matthew 5:3
King James Version
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
16. We are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Matthew 5:10
King James Version
10 Blessed are they
which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
17. We do the will of the Father.
Matthew 7:21
King James Version
21 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.
18. We are converted, as little children.
Matthew 18:3
King James Version
3 And said,
Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted,
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
19. We follow Jesus.
Matthew 19:21
King James Version
21 Jesus said unto him,
If thou wilt be perfect,
go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come and follow me.
20. We are righteous, in God's eyes.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
King James Version
9 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,
10 Nor thieves,
nor covetous,
nor drunkards,
nor revilers,
nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God.
21. We are pure, in God's eyes.
Ephesians 5:5
King James Version
5 For this ye know,
that no whoremonger,
nor unclean person,
nor covetous man,
who is an idolater,
hath any inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ
and of God.
22. We are not ruled by sins of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21
King James Version
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these;
Adultery,
fornication,
uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry,
witchcraft,
hatred,
variance,
emulations,
wrath,
strife,
seditions,
heresies,
21 Envyings,
murders,
drunkenness,
revellings,
and such like:
of the which I tell you before,
as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
23. We continue in the faith.
Acts 14:22
King James Version
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples,
and exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must
through much tribulation
enter into the kingdom of God.
23. We embrace the kingdom of God.
Luke 16:16
King James Version
16 The law and the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom of God is preached,
and every man presseth into it.
24. We love, as Jesus taught us to.
Matthew 25:34-36
King James Version
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,
Come,
ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me meat:
I was thirsty,
and ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger,
and ye took me in:
36 Naked,
and ye clothed me:
I was sick,
and ye visited me:
I was in prison,
and ye came unto me.
Are all these possible?
Of course!
JESUS said so!
Matthew 19:25-26
King James Version
25 When his disciples heard it,
they were exceedingly amazed, saying,
Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them,
and said unto them,
With men this is impossible;
but with God
all things are possible.
Precisely why the Holy Spirit of God was prayed for by Jesus, before He left us.
That the Spirit of God may teach us all things Jesus, all things God, all things righteous.
Next post:
PARABLES on the KINGDOM of HEAVEN
