Romans 1:16 -The gospel is the power of God for salvation to all
How does a person enter the kingdom? What does it require? What are the steps to gain citizenship? If you look around you in the world, you will find many answers to this question. Let us consult the Bible, and see what God says about entering His kingdom.
God Has Provided for us:
A plan
God has always had a plan. He has always been prepared and ready. And He has been fully successful in carrying out His plan. After all, who can thwart God? His plan took all things into account, and He made all things ready for our salvation.
Genesis 3:15 -First prophecy of Christ
John 19:23-30 -Fulfillment of scripture: indicates preparation
Acts 2:14-21 -The church was a fulfillment and part of this plan
An Atoning sacrifice
Throughout the Old Testament, people offered sacrifices to roll their sins forward. The Father sent His Son to die in our place as a final, perfect sacrifice. It is because of this Sacrifice that we can have entrance into His kingdom.
I John 1:7 -Christ’s sacrifice, atoning of sins, and obedience
I John 4:10 -Christ was sent as an atoning sacrifice for our sins
Grace: what it is and what it isn’t
Grace is a gift. It is something that is extended to us by God. This does not mean that we are forced to take it. Nor does it mean that we do not have to carry out our part. God offers the gift, He makes salvation available. But we have to fulfill the proper conditions and actually reach out for it.
Ephesians 2:4-10 -By grace, not by works that we should boast
Jude 1:4 -Changing the grace of God to a license for immorality
Joshua 6:2-20 -God gives, Israel obeys, Israel takes (conditional)
Instructions
Fortunately, God tells us exactly what we need to do to reach out and take hold of His gift. The Bible contains directions and guiding examples, teaching us exactly what we need to do.
II Peter 1:3 -God has given us everything we need
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All of His instructions are useful and good
James 2:8-13 -We will be judged by the Law of liberty
We Must Respond:
In Faith
We must have faith. Faith serves as a basis for the rest that we must do. After all, if we do something that happens to be right, but don’t have any faith, what good is it? It is an essential part of our walk with God, and it is essential for entrance into the kingdom.
Hebrews 11:6 -Without faith it is impossible to please Him
Hebrews 11:1 -Definition of faith
However, we cannot stop with faith. That is not the full extend of how we must respond to God’s merciful offer. And when you really think about it, faith is a requirement. Having faith is a form of obedience!
John 6:29 -The work of God is to do believe
Some people teach that this passage means that God is doing the work of faith. Let us break it down in context and see who it is that must believe.
John 6:24-27 -Christ teaches the crowd that they must work for the food unto eternal life
John 6:28 -The people ask what they must do to do this work
John 6:29 -Christ tells them the work is to believe
John 6:30 -The people respond and ask what signs they have so that they can believe
Also, if this is the case, then how can I John 3:23 be explained? Faith is a commandment. We know we must believe, and so we do. It is obedience to what was written. If we must obey in this, we must obey in all matters. If we do not have to obey in this, then the Bible is invalidated.
In Obedience
As with faith, we are expected to obey Him in all things, if we wish to enter the kingdom. Let us not balk at obeying the things that have been commanded!
Repentance -II Corinthians 7:10
Confession -Romans 10:9-10
Baptism -Acts 2:38
(Baptism is unto remission of sins, not because of - Matthew 26:28 - was Christ’s blood poured out unto or because of the forgiveness of sins?)
This is what is necessary to enter into the kingdom. Tomorrow night we will talk about what to do after you have become a citizen of the kingdom, and of what is expected of you.
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