Bible Study: Entering The Kingdom of God

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Today is Monday October 11, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the Book of Matthew, chapters 25-26. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-11
In today's Bible reading we will read about, the wise and foolish virgins, the men with the talents, Jesus last supper with His disciples, Jesus being betrayed by Judas Iscariot and captured by the chief priests and elders.

Today's Message: Entering The Kingdom of God
As a Christian it is not always easy to follow the path that Christ is leading you on, there is so much opposition from the world and even our own families, who are supposed to be Christians as well. In fact, the stronger your faith in Christ, the more opposition you face. Why? “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” - I Peter 5:8. Satan hates that we are holding on to Jesus and he will try anything he can to break us away from Him. Can I tell you that, if you know Jesus Christ personally as your Savior than Satan can not break you away from Him. Oh, we could fall off the path from time to time, but Christ is still with you. Even His own disciples had doubts and sinned, but that did not change the fact that they would one day see Him in the Kingdom of God, as those whom have put their faith and trust in Jesus to save them will. “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.


Amazingly many people say that they do believe in Jesus Christ, that He died on the cross, and arose from the dead, but many will not enter the kingdom. Why? Jesus explains through this parable, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:...And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”- Matthew 25:1-2,10-12.

This is not an actual marriage between a man and woman, it is a spiritual marriage, Jesus is the bridegroom, the wise virgins are the ones who received Christ as their Savior and were prepared for His coming. The foolish virgins are the ones who believed in Christ, but had not received Him as their Savior so, when He arrived they were too late because they were not prepared. When we are saved, we are cleansed and made pure in the eyes of God through the blood of Christ. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” -I John 1:7.

To further explain who can enter the kingdom of God, Jesus speaks through another parable, this one is about three servants who were given talents. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.”- Matthew 25:14-18.

Talents are weights in measure, such and silver and gold, these talents did not belong to the servants, but were entrusted to them by their master. The only thing the master required was that they take care of his goods, to the best of their ability and if they did they were blessed. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”-Matthew 25:21. Everyone complied except for the servant who received one talent, instead of taking what he had and doing something with it he decided to bury it and do nothing with it at all. The masters response, “Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”- Matthew 25:26-30.

Why did the master get so upset and cast him away? Well, let's take a deeper look at the parable, the master represents Jesus Christ and the talents represent the Gospel of Christ and the means to be able to reach the lost with the Gospel. This is not about making money, it's about the knowledge and awareness that Christ has entrusted those who serve Him with until He returns. Those whom have that knowledge and continue to tell others increase their talent, in other words become prosperous. The man with one talent represents a person who has heard the Gospel, but did not receive it and just buried it, never knowing Jesus personally. He is the one who will be cast into outer darkness. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” -I Peter 4:10.

Jesus, who knew no sin, took on every sin committed by every person that was, is, and will be born so we do not have to be cast into outer darkness and hell. Everyone has the choice to accept or ignore the fact that there is a heaven and hell and we go to one of two places when our flesh gives out or we die prematurely. Those who choose Christ get heaven and the Kingdom of God. It is not by works, even if you never tell anyone about Christ you will get to heaven, it is about taking the time to receive Him as your Savior yourself. No one can get you in heaven, only you can by praying and asking Jesus to save you. “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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” - Titus 3:5,6. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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