From the previous lessons, we have learned that it is not easy to enter the
Kingdom of God in heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ said this about
the only way to heaven and the way to Hell.
"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The
highway to hell* is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the
easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow,
and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:13-14, NLT)
Christ said it not easy to go to heaven.
Man must enter "only through the narrow gate" and travel the narrow
and difficult road to eternal life in the kingdom of God. He was referring to Himself as the
door or gate of the sheepfold, which is the true Church of Christ. Man
must enter by Christ and be a member of His Church. This according to
Him, is the only way to heaven which only few ever find it.
50E.1
What are the distinctive characteristics of those who will be allowed to
enter the holy city?
In Acts 14:22, the Bible says:
They put fresh heart
into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith,
saying, "We must all experience many hardships before we enter the
kingdom of God." (NJB)
The same verse in another version of
the Bible:
strengthening
the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the
faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the
kingdom of God.'' (NKJV)
As true believer we should continue to be
"persevere in the faith" in spite of all
persecutions and hardships we encounter in this life. Through many tribulations, we must
enter the kingdom of God.
50E.2 What is the promise of Christ to help those
who follow His command to "persevere in the faith"?
In Revelation 3:10, this is written:
Because you have kept my commandment to
persevere, I will keep you safe in the time of trial which is coming for
the whole world, to put the people of the world to the test. (NJB)
To those who "persevere in the
faith", the Lord God will help them and keep them safe
in the hour of
trials when He will put the whole world and all its people to the test.
50E.3
What is the promise and assurance of our
Lord Jesus Christ to those who will be successful in overcoming the
many hardships and trials to enter the Kingdom of God?
In the following verses, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His promise to
the faithful members of His Church:
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in
white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book
of Life; but, I will confess his name before my Father and
before His angels." (Revelations 3:5, NKJV)
I will make the one who conquers a pillar
in the sanctuary of my God, and he will never go out of it again. I
will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God
(the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God), and my own new
name. (Revelation 3:12, International Standard Version)
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father
on His throne (Revelation 3:21, NKJV)
Our Lord assures that everyone who
"persevere in the faith" and is victorious in overcoming many hardships
and trials to enter the kingdom of God:
-
He will be clothed in white
garments and will be sure that his name is included
in the Book of Life.
-
He will make them pillars in
the sanctuary of God and assured to stay in the City of
God forever.
-
He will also be granted them
the privilege to sit with Him on His throne. as Christ
has also overcame and now sits down on His Fathers throne.
50E.4
What is the promise of God
to those who will be victorious or successful in overcoming the
hardships while traveling the narrow and difficult road to the
kingdom of God?
In Revelation 21:7, the
promise of God is written:
The
person who is victorious will receive all these things. I will be
his God. And, he will be My son. (IEB)
The same verse in
another version of the bible:
"He who overcomes shall
inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
(NKJV)
Surely as God has
promised—to those who are victorious against all odds in life's travel
to the kingdom of God—will receive or inherit all things as promised.
And above all, God Himself will be His God and He will also be His son.
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Knowing that it is difficult to enter the
Kingdom of God. Man must make sure to enter by Christ in the true Church
of Christ, otherwise he might be in the wrong way to God and jeopardize
his chances for salvation.
As true believers, he should "persevere in the faith" in spite of all
persecutions and hardships. Through many tribulations, man must
enter the kingdom of God. To those who persevere, the Lord will
help them in the hour of trials that will come to this world. Our Lord assures that everyone who is victorious will be
clothed in white garments and will be sure that his name is included in
the Book of Life. Our Lord Jesus Christ
promised those who conquers the hardships and trials to become a pillar
in the sanctuary of God and be assured that he stay in the city of God forever. They
will have a chance to sit with Christ on His throne and they will be
citizens of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem forever and ever. And
above all, God himself will be his God and He will also be His son.
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