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| REQUIREMENTS FOR
KINGDOM CITIZENSHIP |
#307
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How does one get into the Kingdom of God? What must one
do? And what kind of person must one be? These are the questions
we shall consider in this “study. First of all, becoming a
citizen in the Kingdom of God is much like becoming a citizen in
any other kingdom or nation. Those who are “born” into a kingdom
are immediately considered to be citizens. Jesus said the same
of His kingdom. In John 3:3, Jesus said, “Unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." In verse 5 He
explained: “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This statement of Jesus
refers to “baptism.” For more information about this subject,
review lesson #113, “How Can One Be Born Again?” When we
are baptized into Christ, we are “born again,” thus entering
into the Kingdom of God by right of birth. This is a requirement
for Kingdom citizenship; for without it, Jesus said we “cannot
enter into the kingdom.”
There are also several character traits which are
necessary for Kingdom entrance. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, “Not
everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of
heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
An obedient heart is a requirement for Kingdom citizenship.
Unless one “does the will” of the Father, he cannot “enter the
kingdom of heaven.” Likewise, the Lord desires a humble,
submissive spirit. Jesus said, “whoever does not receive the
kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all." (Mark
10:15). We cannot come to the Kingdom of God on our own terms.
We submit to the King and obey His will, or else we do not
enter. No other sacrifice, no other offering is as pleasing to
the Lord as obedience to His word (I Samuel 15:22). God
considers a disobedient heart to be a rebellious heart, and sees
it as insubordination (I Samuel 15:23). The Bible says, “If you
. . . rebel against the command of the LORD, then the hand of
the LORD will be against you” (1 Sam 12:15).
Another “Kingdom Quality” desired by God is
“Righteousness.” Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter
the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). Well . . . what kind of
righteousness was held by the scribes and Pharisees? If we knew
that, perhaps we could determine the kind of righteousness which
exceeds it. In Luke 18:9, the Pharisees are described as those
who trust in themselves that they are righteous. Any
person who trusts in his own goodness has selected an inferior
Savior. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless our standard
of righteousness is greater than Self. Paul trusted in a
higher standard for his righteousness. In
Philippians 3:9, Paul said that he did not have a righteousness
of his own, “but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” Left
to ourselves, none of us are righteous (Romans 3:10). Only Jesus
Christ lived without sin (Hebrews 4:15) ... and God “made Him
who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).
To enter the Kingdom of God, we must have a righteousness which
comes through faith in Christ.
Righteousness through faith in Christ, coupled with humble
submission and obedience to His word, leads one to a New Birth
in the Kingdom of God. These are the requirements for Kingdom
citizenship.
| Bible
Probe |
REQUIREMENTS
FOR KINGDOM CITIZENSHIP |
307
|
1. “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he ________
________ _____ ___________ ___ _______” (John 3:5).
2. What is required for Kingdom citizenship in Matthew 7:21?
3. What does it mean to “receive the kingdom of God like a
child”? (Mark 10:15)
4. What do you learn about pleasing God from the story of Saul
in I Samuel 15?
5. How did Jesus connect the idea of “righteousness” with
Kingdom entrance? (Matthew 5:20)
6. What kind of “righteousness” did the scribes and Pharisees
have? (Luke 18:9)
7. What kind of “righteousness” surpasses that of the scribes
and Pharisees?
(Philippians 3:9)
8. Name the four requirements for Kingdom Citizenship discussed
in this lesson:
_______________________________________________________
John 3:5
_______________________________________________________
Matthew 7:21
_______________________________________________________
Mark 10:15
_______________________________________________________
Matthew 5:20
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Your Bible questions answered here.