HOW DO I JOIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
To become a member of the Kingdom of God is extremely simple or difficult; depending .on one's perspective. It's easy if a person really wants to walk with God, difficult to the extent one does not. For example, Jesus said, "My yoke is easy, My burden is light." But "The way of the transgressor is hard," and "It is a difficult thing to kick against the ox goad." I've often told folks that if I were to swap all my theology for a totally selfish one, I wouldn't change a thing. Look at these promises from the Bible to a man that is in the will of God:
1. "Joy unspeakable and full of glory" I Pet.1 :8b (KJ)
2. "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; and at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" Ps. 16:11 (KJ)
3. "Life. . . abundantly" John 10:10 (KJ).
4. "My joy. . . in you and your joy ... full"John 15:11.
5. "[The overcomers] shall rule. . . over the nations. . . with a rod of iron" Rev. 2:26, 27 (KJ).
6. "God. . . giveth us richly all things to enjoy" I Tim. 6:17 (KJ).
7. "God. . . has blessed us with every spiritual blessing" Eph. 1:3.
-and infinitely more. Tell me, would you trade any of this for an eternity in hell? But it will cost you. Let's look again to see if the price is worth paying. Jesus Christ asked the question, "What will a man give in exchange for his own soul?" and "What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" (Matt. 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25)
Look at the positive side. You want to walk with God. Here's how: First, be born again. In John 3:3,5,7, Jesus promises that unless you are born again, you cannot see, or enter into, the Kingdom of God. Do you remember that religious painting where Jesus is standing outside the door of the cottage, knocking on the door? You'll see there's no latch on the outside. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, "Look, I'm standing at the door of your life and I'm knocking. If any of you will open the door of your life and invite Me to come in as your Saviour and Lord, I will come in and we'll have fantastic fellowship together"(JB). You PRAY THIS PRAYER, "Lord Jesus Christ, I invite You to come into my life and be all that You are, in me. I give You my whole life. I admit that I have displeased You many times and have sinned. I receive Your whole Life in exchange for mine and receive You as my Salvation, my Lord, my Life, my Righteousness, etc.! I ask You, Heavenly Father, to fill me with YOU!! Holy Spirit of love Always. Thank You, Father for sending Thy Son, Jesus Christ, to take the penalty of my sins for me, by dying my death on the cross. I choose to obey You from now on, and to walk close to You, read Your Word, obey You and talk to You often. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Feel better? You're on your way. John 1:12 is interesting. "But as many as received Him [Christ Jesus], to them [you] gave He the power to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His Name." So the potential to make it big in God is yours. Now, let's see how to make it happen.
Review Questions
HOW DO I JOIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD?!
1. Explain what it means to be "born again"? (John 3:3, 5, 7)
2. How long have you been born again?
3. Who was instrumental in your new birth?
4. Why no latch on the outside of the door where Jesus is knocking?
5. If we open the door to our heart and invite Christ to come in, what will happen?
6. When Christ comes in, does He come in as Guest, Roomer, or Total Lord and Master of all the house?
7. How much does it cost to join the Kingdom of God?
8. List at least 12 things that we get in exchange.
9. Can we know that we are saved?
10. Who is our Salvation? (Not what, but Who?)
11. Is salvation a crisis or a process?
12. Does "Works" have anything to do with our salvation?
13. How many productive years do you think you have left before you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ?