I often wondered why Jesus would refer to His Kingdom as the Kingdom of God sometimes and other times the Kingdom of Heaven. I believe it has much to do with Jesus almost expressly using parables to teach and also with what I like to refer to as likening unto’s. He did this because God’s Word is timeless, it had to be. In His wisdom, He well knew this way of teaching would be easily accepted and understood by anyone in the future. Also, He knew that only those who were truly seeking God and His righteousness, would be able to grasp the parables. All others would be left scratching their head. Up until John the Baptist, very few in relation to all of mankind would sell out to God. John like Paul was chosen from the womb to give his all. Jesus came on the scene preaching and teaching the coming of a new Kingdom with a new King. John was chosen as the forerunner to tell all that if anyone desired to be a citizen in this new Kingdom, they would have to exceed the level of righteousness that was the standard of the day set by the Scribes and the Pharisees.
Much of God’s teaching concerning the Kingdom of God/Heaven can be understood if we look at it as actually two parts of the same Kingdom in the same way that salvation and consecration are two separate processes unto a righteous and complete relationship with God. Likewise, because of this, God’s Word confirms in many, many places that we are also made up of two parts-Flesh & Spirit. Very many concepts and Truths in His Word come in twos. While pondering a few of these little Truths, it has come to my attention through my study of God's Word in the 4 Gospels; Jesus delineated between the two and was actually teaching these two parts unto this complete relationship with Abba. He did this partially by using these two words and their multiple forms--~Enter & Inherit —It is unfortunately necessary that I list as many of the witnesses with these two words as I can to show what I mean, but because there are so many, I’ll only list those that are clear in this concept and those that aren’t repeated in another Gospel. So please; Study yourself approved in this. Don’t take my word on it-take His. If there is anything I’ve posted that can’t be clearly verified using only His Word—Please let me know. I know the message is a tad long, so please cut it and read it when you can.
After saying that; Please let me stress this all important point. In order to truly understand this concept or anything else in God’s Word for that matter, it’s very important that we read these in their context and please take notice to whom Jesus was talking and what is the message in His teaching, at the time. Also, He didn’t expressly use one or the other-Kingom of God/Heaven, to define salvation or consecration. He used them both. But the message He wanted those there with Him and us today to grasp is it is a two-step process to reach life everlasting. I will pause from time to time to explain this concept in hopes to keep this as clear as possible.
A Two Step Process
First looking at the words ~ enter in ~ entering ~ enter into.
Matt. 5: 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.Matt. 7: 13 ~ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matt. 7: 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.
Matt. 18: 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.
Matt. 19: 23 & 24 ~ Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 24) And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Matt. 23: 13 ~ But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Mk. 10: 23 - 24 ~ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God! 24) And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
Lk. 13: 24 ~ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Acts 14: 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.
Jn. 3: 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. The two step new birth process.
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Taking a look at the words ~ inherit & inheritance
Just as above, it’s very important that we take notice what it is that Jesus and Paul says will be inherited. So important that our eternity rides solely upon this understanding.
Matt. 19: 29 ~ And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.Please see below the instances Paul speaks of inheriting the Kingdom of God/Heaven. Also, it’s very important to hear and grasp the conditions he lays out in order for one to inherit this concept of Life in the Everlasting. Because as we can easily see in these witnesses here, this inheritance is conditional.Mk. 10 : 17 ~ And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
1 Cor. 6: 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. 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.Some of those in the Corinthian fellowship were idolators, fornicators, thieves, etc.., But he says they are saved---they are set apart for holy service to God---and they are then justified. This use of justified here in the Gk. lexicon is to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be.
1 Cor. 15: 20 ~ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.Gal 5: 19 - 26 ~ 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. 22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
I have to pause to make this point. Paul says this---Will's paraphrase; If we are made alive by the Spirit of God; We are to prove it by walking as if we are alive to God. We do this by the production of and the displaying of the fruits of the Spirit of God. We are known only by our fruits---NOTHING ELSE.
The Advanced Training
Gal. 4: 1 - 7 ~ Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.This son is considered lord of all of the estate, but he cannot assume his place as lord and the responsibility of inheriting the estate until he matures in the things of his father. Here is something else that comes in twos--God's law was a trainer in doing right and being right before God, and still is to some extent. But as soon as something better came to fulfil not to nullify the Law, we are no longer under the former trainer because the Trainer lives within us. Gal. 3: 23 - 25 speaks of and confirms this. This Trainer is Faith. This Trainer is not the Holy Spirit in His complete person. And there's a special purpose for this. When we are saved and receive the indwelling, we are a newborn. It is impossible for a newborn Christian to produce the same fruit as a father in Christ. They have to be trained in walking in the ways of righteousness, or whatever fruit they did manifest would wither.
Any kind of good training that the inexperienced or immature receive is purposed to do one thing and that is to bring that child up in the ways that they should go--—Hopefully so they won’t depart from those ways. But this in no way can guarantee that this child will comply with those ways. This child has to willingly listen to---willingly heed this training. And then use the benefit of this training to advance on to adulthood. They have to continue to walk in them by their own conscious choice and free will. If a wealthy man adopts a 3 year old child; Is the inheritance that is slated for this child’s future turned over to him at the onset of this adoption? No—--This child has much growing and maturing to do. Not to mention he will have to stay loyal to his adoptive father.
Eph. 1: 9 - 14 ~ Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: 10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: 11) In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: 12) That we should live to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13) In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.Look at the above witness, verse 14 in the Amplified translation ~ That (Spirit) is the guarantee of our inheritance (the first fruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage), in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring (complete) possession of it--to the praise of His Glory. Did you hear and understand that brethren? Paul doesn’t say anywhere that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is taking full possession of the inheritance. He says it’s just the down payment. The earnest money. The promise that we will pay the full price to receive or take possession of the goods. This is very misunderstood by many in the church today.
This word earnest is Hebrew in origin but translated in the Greek ~Strong's # 728 arrabwn arrhabon ar-hrab-ohn'
1) an earnest
1a) money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid
This Truth is backed by this well known witness in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the title deed of the inheritance that we hope to receive because we can in no way see it yet.
The Amplified says this ~ Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].This advanced training unto a right and a complete relationship with God comes from this indwelling. If one doesn’t complete their college education they can’t get their diploma. But the college can’t and won’t force this person to comply with their training. God's Word says we receive a title deed of the estate we are to inherit when we enter into life from death through salvation which is confirmed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But the deed is not the estate or the taking possession of the estate. Surely, the Promise has been paid by Jesus. But it isn’t and never was a one-way street in this Kingdom walk. We have always been part of this play. The Kingdom was designed with us built into it. We have always been required to do that which we were created to do. If we expect to inherit—we are expected to continue in the training—unto the end.
Eph. 5: 3 - 6 ~ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 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. 6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Notice---Paul isn’t warning the lost here. He’s warning the church, the saved, the Spirit filled saints to be not deceived and jump back into those raging waters they were pulled from lest they should lose their inheritance, which is everlasting life. The wrath of God is reserved for those who are rebellious and disobedient. Wrath is never measured out to the righteous and obedient.Heb. 9: 14 & 15 ~ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15) And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
The Victor's Crown of Life
Looking at the word crown. I went through my concordance for this word thinking there wasn’t that many witnesses referring to a victor's crown, but I was wrong. I will paste the significant ones here but just look through Job–Psalms–Proverbs–1 Samuel–etc, and read what God was talking about in these chapters when He talked about a crown.
1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. The Amplified text of this 1 Cor. 9: 22 - 27 I have (in short) become all things to all men, that I might by all means (at any costs and in any and every way) save some [by winning them to faith in Jesus Christ]. 23) And I do this for the sake of the Good News (the Gospel), in order that I might become a participator in it and share in its [blessings along with you]. 24) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. 25) Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. 26) Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. 27) But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be approved and rejected as a counterfeit].In the King James; the word that the Amplified translated to counterfeit is castaway Or as the Greek lexicon translates---
Strong's # 96 adokimov adokimos ad-ok'-ee-mosKJV-reprobate 6, castaway 1, rejected 1; 8
1) not standing the test, not approved
1a) properly used of metals and coins
2) that which does not prove itself such as it ought
2a) unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobateThe Greek’s understanding of a victor’s crown is this----The crown or wreath worn by the victors in the Olympic games was made of leaves of the wild olive; in the Pythian games, of laurel; in the Nemean games, of parsley; and in the Isthmian games, of the pine. The Romans bestowed the "civic crown" on him who saved the life of a citizen. It was made of the leaves of the oak. In opposition to all these fading crowns the apostles speak of the incorruptible crown, the crown of life James 1:12---Re 2:10 that fadeth not away 1 Pe 5: 4 Gr. amarantinos; comp. 1Pe 1:4. Probably the word "amaranth" was applied to flowers we call everlasting, the immortal amaranth." See DIADEM Strongs # 24027
I wonder what it would take to receive this crown of life that fadeth not away? Revelation 2: 10 says it requires a diligent, faithful stand unto death. Look what Paul understood it took to receive this symbol of victory.
2 Tim. 4: 1 - 8---1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom; 2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4) And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.The point of this message is that we each have our own individual and separate race to run. It’s not against anyone else, the devil or anything but is competing against our own flesh and carnal nature. No one can run it for us---No one can run it with us. When we make the decision and say—--Yes Lord, We sign up and in effect say--- I will follow you Lord unto the ends of the earth. And we are expected to stay in and complete our training. For one to be a citizen in a natural kingdom or nation; One has to swear allegiance to this nation. If we swear this allegiance and walk in the ways of this nation; We are considered full citizens with full rights. But if we disobey the rules and regulations laid down by the ruler of this nation; Those rights are taken away from us and we are denied this full citizenship.
The Conditions
I heard it once said about salvation; If a man is drowning in a river and a Savior jumps in and brings him to the shore—--would this man reject that salvation or deny that he was indeed saved? I answer—--most assuredly not. But what’s to prevent this man from ever jumping back into the raging waters? Back into that very place of peril? We do this everyday in the church. Even those of us who claim to be Spirit filled. Paul knew this and also dealt with it in all of the churches he fathered. Especially those foolish Corinthians as he called them. He so well knew it was possible he continually warned the churches to stand guard over their faith. What is so sad is many preach today it isn't possible to plunge back into a drowning situation. So in essence they preach that if this person was saved from drowning once, it is impossible for them to ever drown again.
Some believe that this somehow belittles the deity of Jesus. Or that it somehow takes away from His power to hold and keep those that are saved. This thinking comes about from misinterpretting God's Word and many times it is because His Word is taken out of context. Many base a complete stand upon one or two witnesses gleaned from here and there. It comes about from a spirit of false grace that permiates the church of today.
Heb. 9: 23 - 28 says For Christ is not entered into the Holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25) Nor yet that He should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the Holy place every year with blood of others; 26) For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. The last part of the last witness says--Will’s paraphrase—--Christ will appear a second and final time not to deal with sin whatsoever, but to bring to completion the salvation of those and only those who earnestly and hopefully await His arrival, in the Faith.Please understand these next words in regard to verse 27 above--It is appointed for man to die once and only once. This includes one carnal death and one spiritual death. After that spiritual death there awaits nothing but judgment. We are resurrected from spiritual death brought on by the fall through Christ by salvation. But no where in God’s Word does He ever say while we walk this walk we can never die---spiritually. Because, and this is the kicker--- We have never lived spiritually before Christ. See what I mean? So we can most assuredly die that one time spiritually and I assure you as His Word says there awaits no more salvation after that. Fini'—Just judgment.This is a simple concept. So I have to say this here—-Initial salvation does not confer rulership status upon us. And there is no unconditional guarantee that the complete salvation process will be carried out in our lives, because there is a completed salvation spoken of in His Word. It takes our part in this walk to manifest the Promise. The conditions rest in our hands. Salvation only signs us up and guarantees us this crown of Life everlasting IF we persist and stand in the training up in the ways we should go. IF we finish the race. IF we fight the good fight. IF we stand unto the end in the Faith. And IF we are not cast off as a counterfeit, a reprobate or a fake. There is, never was and can never be any other way, brethren. Look in your concordance---Notice how many times Jesus used the little word IF and what He was talking about when He used it. IF is most definitely a conditional word.
John received the revelation to the seven churches in Revelation 2: 1 - 3: 22 To each one of these churches he was instructed to tell them their faults and that there is a condition laid upon those who expect to receive the Crown of Life. These conditions are---- overcoming as Christ overcame or winning the individual race that lay before each one. A steadfast stand unto death in the Faith.
To the first church the reward is the right to eat of the Tree of Life. 2) Is protection from the second death. 3) The understanding into the inner secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom of God. 4) Power and reign over all the nations. 5) His name will not be erased from the Book of Life. 6) to be planted a pillar or a firm immovable fixture in God’s own household. And 7) He will be granted to take upon his head the crown of a ruler and co-reign with Christ on His throne. As co-heir with the full possession of the estate promised by the Holy Spirit formerly in his walk upon earth.So this in reality is a seven part crown because each one of us individually along with Jesus constitutes a church. Each one of us assembling with Jesus in this temple that we individually are---daily, is the sort of worship that pleases our Father in heaven.
God so much desires a relationship with His children in the same way of His relationship with Jesus. Paul understood this relationship and he confirmed it by saying when we have it we can call Him Abba or Daddy with all the excitement as a small child that jumps up into his father’s lap. Jesus called His Father Abba one time and that was on the cross. He knew He was about to jump up into His Father’s lap for all eternity. As Jesus is the Son of God---so are we. Well anyway; God sure does desire us to be called His Sons. But the manifestation of that still rests in our hands.
Judgment or Reward
Col. 3: 23 - 25 ~ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.This understanding into the Kingdom of Heaven is a concept of rewards or judgment. It is not an all or nothing thing. To those whos' names are recorded in the books of the dead and the Book of Life there awaits a stand in front of the white throne to determine the validity of their stand on earth. The Amplified says this about this stand.
Rev. 20: 12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books.There is another book spoken of in Revelation---The Lamb’s Book of Life For ones' name to be recorded here, he will have overcame as Christ overcame. This overcoming or victory entitles him to wear the victor's crown. The Crown of Life Everlasting. If our name is recorded here; It can never be blotted out or erased as is possible in the Book of Life. It is recorded there for eternity.
Rev. 21: 7 [Amp]; Simply says this. And in fact it cannot get any simpler, brethren. But please read the whole of chapter 21 to get the full meaning. He who is victorious shall inherit all these things, and I will be God to him and he shall be My son.Please remember this---Paul never spoke of his crown until he knew his race was finished. Until he knew he had done all that he do for the Kingdom of God. Until he knew his fight was a good fight. Until he knew his lifeblood was about to be poured out for this same Kingdom.
To finish this in short---There will be those who live in the Kingdom but do not sup at the table of the King. There will be those who can never enter into this glorious city. These that are just citizens of the Kingdom will have a limited lifespan. They will not live forever. After salvation---God leaves it up to us. Do we just desire to live in the Light of the New Jerusalem or do we desire to be part of this New City? One is limited life; The other is Life in the Everlasting with Abba—---our Daddy.
I BID YOU HEART PEACE AND SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN CHRIST JESUS!
