GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 26 ~ ~ Matthew 18:3 ~ ~ “and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
John 3:3 ~ ~ “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
(These are synonymous because both require complete submission to Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice, and each requires us to make Him our undisputed Lord. He does the work in us. We submit to it.)
In Dr. Youssef’s book, “How To Read The Bible……..as if your life depends on it, because it does”
This will be the second part of the section, “THE INTOLERABLE CLAIMS OF JESUS”
Many Jews were quite skeptical of – offended by – anyone claiming to be God or godlike in any way. They were not expecting the promised Messiah to be God Himself – someone extraordinary, yes, who was God’s anointed one, but still a mere human being. When Jesus came claiming to be not only the Messiah but the Son of God, the Jews could only interpret His words as blasphemy.
And when he was crucified and laid in the grave, they felt vindicated. If Jesus was truly the Messiah, they reasoned, He would not have allowed the crucifixion to take place. The true Messiah could have come down from the cross (Matthew 27:41-43).
Muslims agree with the Jews on this point, except they maintain that God could not and did not allow this good prophet (whom they call “Isa ibn Maryam” or “Isa, son of Mary”) to suffer and die. The Quran states that Isa didn’t die on the cross but was miraculously spared by God. As Paul declared, the cross is “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1Corinthians 1:23).
Jesus the Messiah summons all people of all nations and ethnicities to become citizens of the Kingdom of God. Because it is the Kingdom of the Suffering Servant, it is a realm of the meek and lowly. Those who would lead in this Kingdom must be willing to “be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Jesus set an example of serving for all believers to follow:
John 13:12-15:
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Those who would enter the Kingdom of God must endure suffering and persecution (Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:20-23). We cannot buy our way into the Kingdom. In fact, wealth and possessions actually keep many people from entering (Mark 10:17-25). The Kingdom belongs to those who shed all pride in their own righteousness, wisdom, accomplishments, and position. In fact, the Kingdom belongs to those who become like little children. (Mark 10:14 and Matthew 18:3).
Entry into the Kingdom of God will probably not bring one public acclamation. In fact, it demands utter self-denial. Over and over, Jesus reminded His disciples – and us – that there is a tremendous cost to the Kingdom life. If the Kingdom demands it, a person must be ready to leave father and mother, home and family, at a moment’s notice (Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:29; Luke 18:29). The world hates and persecutes the Kingdom and all who identify with it (Mark 13:13; Luke 6:22).
To be a citizen of the Kingdom means to be hated, but never to retaliate. When we are struck on one cheek, we turn the other to receive the next blow (Matthew 5:39). Those who heed the Kingdom summons have nothing to look forward to in this life but the cross and servitude (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27).
(But the difference of spending eternity alone in darkness and regret……….forever,…….. compared to living in heaven and the perfect, wonderful new earth with animals, and perfect nature, where no one will ever die, AND have Jesus besides………….why would anyone choose everlasting darkness and torture over joy, light and love? Tell Jesus today that you choose Him and are sorry for your sins. Ask Him to live in you and perfect you.)
Tomorrow, Dr. Youssef will describe the Kingdom of God, and the hesitation of people to accept it.
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Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Matthew 5:18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle (the tiniest letters of Hebrew) will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Matthew 6:20
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:32
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these thing.
(For those who are seeking to “be good enough” to get to heaven, …first of all, no one is perfect, and that’s what it takes……….secondly, you cannot make up for sins with good works or church attendance, sacraments, rituals. Here is how Jesus explains it very simply:
****Matthew 12:48-50
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN is My brother and sister and mother.”
****John 6:28-29
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said to them, “THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD,(will of the Father—See verse above) THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM WHOM HE SENT.”
****(Belief in Jesus and giving your sins to Him for forgiveness because of His sacrifice, IS the work of God. Follow Him because He died for your sins, and He will give you a new heart!!!! It’s as simple as that!)