Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 21 March 2023 10:02

Kingdom living (Part Two)
Entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven was preached and greatly desired in the days of John the Baptist and Jesus. When John preached, people definitely desired information concerning the kingdom and how to enter it. John began preaching in the Judean Wilderness, “Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Those familiar with Old Testament prophecies concerning the Kingdom flocked to hear him. Their reaction to the message is recorded in Matthew 3:5-6, “Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the regions round about the Jordan; and they were baptized in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”

What is the explanation of John’s phenomenal success? No doubt it was partly because people were seeking knowledge of and entrance into the kingdom of which John was speaking. This explanation is legitimate when we consider: Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” When men heard about the Kingdom, they became frantic with desire to enter it. Jesus’ message was the same according to Matthew 4:17 and He too was tremendously successful. When this Kingdom was established on Pentecost, we’re told that about 3000 entered in one day (Acts 2:41)

It’s noteworthy that Jesus pinpointed the Kingdom to that particular generation: Mark 9:1 “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” Therefore, the Kingdom was to come with power during the life time of some in that audience. In Acts 1:4–8, the Apostles were to wait in Jerusalem to be endued with power from on high. In Acts Chapter Two we read of the power of the Holy Spirit that came upon Peter and the other eleven. Peter used the keys of the Kingdom, and when he did, they were added to the church (Acts 2:47). When they were added to the church, they were equally becoming Kingdom Citizens: Colossians 1:13 (KJV) “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

During His Personal Ministry, Jesus announced that a New Birth Was Necessary to Enter His Spiritual Kingdom: John 3:3-5 (KJV) 3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus 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. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

There are some deductions we can make from this statement. One must be born anew before we can enter the kingdom. Just as we become members of a human family by fleshly birth, so we become members of the family of God by experiencing a new, spiritual birth. This spiritual birth involves two elements, water and Spirit. It’s noteworthy that the new birth of water and the Spirit into the Kingdom is identical to the means by which one becomes a member of the Lord’s church. What it took to gain entrance into the one is said to have gained entrance into the other as well. Titus 3:5-7 ( KJV ) 5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

The very same baptism that was essential for one to be saved and become a member of the Lord’s Church (Acts 2:38, 47) is the same washing of new birth (regeneration) spoken of in Titus 3:5-7. These were the “born again” who entered the kingdom of God in John 3:3-5.

The author can be reached for comments at 256.574.2489.

-Terry Broome | Broad Street Church of Christ