The Gospel Of The Kingdom - The Entrance Into The Kingdom

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                      "THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM"

                     The Entrance Into The Kingdom

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous study we surveyed just a few of the blessings of the
   kingdom...
   a. Blessings in the present
      1) God's forgiveness
      2) God's care
      3) God's family
      4) God's Spirit
   b. Blessings in the future
      1) God's eternal kingdom
      2) God's eternal city
      3) God's eternal presence
      4) God's eternal care
   -- Truly the news about the kingdom is "good news" (gospel)! - e.g.,
      Mk 1:14-15

2. Do you desire to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom, both present and
   future...?
   a. You must be in the kingdom present
   b. You must make your calling and election sure to be in the kingdom
      future

[How does one enter the kingdom?  Bearing in mind that the kingdom
involves the rule and reign of God in the person of Jesus Christ, we
should not be surprised that it...]

I. REQUIRES OBEDIENCE

   A. OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD...
      1. We must do the Father's will to enter the kingdom of heaven 
         - Mt 7:21
      2. It is not sufficient to be religious, even in the name of Jesus
         - Mt 7:21-23
      3. As illustrated in the parable of the two sons - Mt 21:28-32
      -- To enter the heavenly kingdom in the future, we must have done
         the Father's will

   B. OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST...
      1. The Bible often speaks of obeying the gospel - Ro 10:16; 2 Th
         1:8; 1Pe 4:17
      2. Such obedience is not meritorious, but still necessary - cf. Lk
         17:10
      -- Thus obedience is not incongruous to the gospel of the grace of
         God, for it involves the obedience of faith - Ro 1:5; 16:25-26

[What is the will of the Father that we must obey?  What obedience does
the gospel of Christ require?  From the very beginning of the
proclamation of the kingdom, we note that it...]

II. REQUIRES REPENTANCE

   A. REPENTANCE FROM SIN...
      1. Note the preaching of John and Jesus - Mt 3:1-2; 4:17; Mk 1:15
      2. Paul makes it clear what will keep one out of the kingdom 
         - 1Co 6:9-10; Ga 5:19-21
      -- One must therefore make that decision of the mind to turn from
         sin and turn to God

   B. REPENTANCE INVOLVING SACRIFICE...
      1. It requires commitment - Lk 9:62
      2. It requires endurance through trials - Ac 14:22
      3. It may require great personal sacrifice - Mk 9:47
         a. Such as leaving family, even one's wife - Lk 18:28-30; cf.
            Mt 19:12
         b. Such as leaving wealth - Mt 19:23-24
      -- Whatever would keep us from turning to God must be left behind

[When one turns from sin and turns to God, they find that God's will for
them...]

III. REQUIRES SANCTIFICATION

   A. SANCTIFICATION WITH A HIGHER STANDARD...
      1. Sanctification means to be holy, set apart
      2. As God is holy, so we must be holy - cf. 1Pe 1:14-16
      3. Our righteousness is to surpass that of the scribes and
         Pharisees - Mt 5:20
      -- This higher standard we shall examine more closely in our next
         lesson

   B. SANCTIFICATION WITH A NOBLER CHARACTER...
      1. For we have been called to be partakers of the divine nature 
         - 2Pe 1:4
      2. Thus we are to add to our faith various Christ-like qualities 
         - 2Pe 1:5-9
      -- This will ensure an abundant entrance in the everlasting
         kingdom! - 2Pe 1:10-11

[But who is able to live such holy lives?  No one without God's help! 
Thus we find Jesus teaching that to enter the kingdom...]

IV. REQUIRES A NEW BIRTH

   A. A BIRTH INVOLVING CONVERSION...
      1. We must be converted - Mt 18:3; cf. Ac 3:19
      2. In which we become like little children - Mt 18:3-4
      -- A conversion to a childlike humility is what takes to submit to
         the will of God and make the changes He desires

   B. A BIRTH INVOLVING WATER AND THE SPIRIT...
      1. As Jesus told Nicodemus - Jn 3:3,5,7
      2. In which one is born of both water and the Spirit - Jn 3:5
         a. Which takes place in baptism, by the grace and mercy of God
            - Jn 3:5
         b. Which occurs as we rise with Christ in baptism, by the
            working of God - Col 2:11-13
      -- Thus we find the call to baptism to be the proper response to
         the gospel - cf. Ac 2:36-41; 8:12,35-38

CONCLUSION

1. How does one enter the kingdom of God?

2. To enter the kingdom present one must be born again...
   a. Involving faith, repentance and immersion in water on man's part
   b. Involving grace, mercy, and the renewal by the Spirit on God's
      part
   -- Such are conveyed into the kingdom of God's dear Son - cf. Col 1:
      12-14

3. To enter the kingdom future one must make their calling and election
   sure...
   a. With a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and
      Pharisees
   b. With diligence in growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
      Christ
   -- Such will receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting
      kingdom of Jesus Christ - cf. 2Pe 1:10-11

Our next study will review the righteousness of the kingdom expected of
those who submit like children to God's will.  But before you can be a
child of God, you must first be born again.  Have you obeyed the gospel
of Christ, which is also the gospel of the kingdom...? - cf. Ac 8:12
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