The Kingdom of Heaven – I'm Following Jesus

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Friday, November 01, 2019
Chapters: Matthew 20-21
Message: The Kingdom of Heaven

Hello My Friend,

The Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven. What is the difference? The truth is, that they are one in the same, yet different. It is sort of like God being three individual people, and yet one God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (I John 5:7). The Kingdom of God is the body of God’s people, it is not an actual place, rather a spiritual one, in which, it dwells withing the souls of the righteous (Luke 17:20-21), or in other words, those who are saved by grace, through their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour become a part of the Kingdom of God. “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.” – John 3:5.

The Kingdom of Heaven, while temporarily up in the heavens, will be a literal place here on earth, in which upon Christ’s return, He will reign from Jerusalem (Matthew 16:17-19) until Judgment Day (Revelation 20:1-6). Until Christ returns, we who are saved are sent out to preach the Kingdom of God. Why? Without being in the Kingdom of God you will not get to the Kingdom of Heaven. “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, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 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.” – I Corinthians 6:9-11.

“And such were some of you:” I thought about this yesterday actually, we are told that when we get to heaven we are going to see people we never thought it possible. The truth is, whomever we see in heaven we will never know what their sin was because theirs, and likewise ours, has been removed, it is wiped clean, which is how got there. So, we are not going to be saying, “How did you get here?” Rather, we are going to rejoice with each other, for we have all gotten there the same way, through our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus, often explains the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven interchangeably, through parables. Through the parable of an employer, who hired laborers for one payment, regardless of how long they worked, Jesus explains why we all get paid the same to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” – Matthew 20:1,8-16.

“I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.” There is only one way into the Kingdom of Heaven, and that is by first becoming part of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, our employer, paid the same wage for all of us, He gave His life on the cross. Christians tend to start mixing the Law with grace, especially when someone has a hard time repenting of sin. While our works after we are saved are perfectly acceptable as they are what make our lives more bearable while we are here, and lead others to Christ, they are not what saves us nor are they necessary to keep our salvation because Jesus paid the price for us once and for all. “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.” – Hebrews 9:28.

Let me tell you, God does not force anyone to receive His Son, if we choose to accept that, our future lies within Him. If we choose to accept that God does not exist, that is our choice, and if we chose to believe that Jesus is not the Son of God than that is our choice, but we have to live with that decision. That is what freewill is, and God never stops attempting to get the lost to find His Son before He decides when their last breath on earth is. Some people will see the need and receive Him later in life, others never do, and are depending on what they think is right in their own eyes to get them into the Kingdom of God. Jesus explains this further with another parable about a vineyard.

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” – Matthew 21:28-32.

“That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” It is hard for those who base their salvation on their works to believe in the simplicity of the Gospel. First, they are too proud to even admit they are sinners, and second, they cannot trust that one man alone can save them from their sin. It is easier for the publicans and harlots, meaning those who admit they are sinners, to receive Christ, which is doing the will of the Father. Straight is the gate, to the Kingdom of God, and there is only one way through those gates, and that is Jesus Christ. “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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14.

Some people get the idea that God picks and chooses who gets to go to heaven or hell. Well, in a sense He does, but not as the religious believe. God chooses those who believe in and receive His Son as their Saviour. We must understand that God created hell for reprobates, meaning those who are beyond the hope of salvation. Those who are pure evil and beyond the hope of salvation, do in fact, know who God is, but refuse to submit to Him, hence the devil himself. And by the way, God never sends people to hell, they end up there for one reason, pride. Each individual must decide for themselves whether or not they want to believe in and receive Christ. Most of the Jews think of themselves as above everyone else, believing they are automatically are part of the Kingdom of God because they are Jews. Jesus was about to show them wrong through another parable.

“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” – Matthew 21:33,38-44.

“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken:” Did you ever trip on something, knowing that you were going to fall, you positioned yourself so that the fall would not be so hard? Getting saved, while it cleanses us of our sin, does not exempt us from facing difficulties nor keep us from sinning again. What it does do is keep us from God’s wrath as when Jesus returns, He will judge the earth until its eventual destruction. And then, we who are a part of the Kingdom of God, will dwell with Him forever in the Kingdom of heaven, on a new earth, which Jesus is preparing for us right now. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:2-3.

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You are my witness that I not only believe in You, but received You as my Saviour. I know that I am a part of the Kingdom of God solely upon my faith in You and do have the Kingdom of Heaven awaiting me. Until that time, I want to live the richest life I can on earth with You leading the way. Lord, You are the employer, and I am Your laborer, lead me and guide me, fill me with Your power, mercies, grace, and the discernment to preach the Kingdom of God until You either bring me home or return. Let me not be deceived, easily offended, or afraid to tell those I know or come into contact about You. I love You Lord, and ask these things in Your name Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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