How To Receive The Kingdom Of Heaven.

Mt 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  NASU
 

• First Century Paradox

 
Some of the teachings of Jesus were certainly paradoxes. The passage above about the Kingdom of Heaven belonging to the "poor in spirit" can't be correct.
 
Are you kidding me? The teachings in the time of Christ were very clear that God blessed those who were rich not those who were poor. The ones clearly going to heaven were the rich. You are poor because you have been cursed by God. Your poverty is a testimony as to where you stand with God.
 
Jesus comes along and teaches something totally contradictory to this first century belief. He teaches that the "poor in spirit" will be residents in the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
Now that my friends is a paradoxical lesson taught by our Savior Jesus.
 

• What Does That Even Mean?

 
You can be the richest man or the poorest man on earth and be "poor in spirit". How is that possible?
 
The person who is "poor in spirit" is the one who knows he/she is bankrupt spiritually without God. They know that if they are ever going to get to Heaven they are going to get there with God's help (His Grace and Mercy) and not their money or good works.
 
If someone asks you are you going to Heaven when you die there is a way to know for sure. I have asked that question to many people over the years and the majority of the people always say something like "I hope so!"
 
That is the wrong answer my friend. Getting to Heaven is not based on "our hope so" it is based on our faith in Jesus Christ.
 

• Going To Heaven

 
It is possible to know if you are going to Heaven. It all starts with the realization that we're totally bankrupt spiritually. We are in need of God's help.
 
Do you believe you have sinned? If you answered yes that you believe you have
sinned then you need to know that your sin has separated you from God. It was your sin that separated you. You have not inherited anyone's sin.
 
We can't get to Heaven on our own. We need to have faith in God's plan and that plan is that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners.
 

• Do You Believe?

 
Do you believe that Jesus accomplished what the Bible says He accomplished?
 
Do you believe He made atonement for our sins and the sins of the world? If you believe that He did accomplish His mission or purpose for coming to earth then my recommendation is do what He says.
 
John 3:3-6 - Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
 
A person is born of the water and the spirit when he has been baptized. Acts  2:37-38 - Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
A person who has faith in Jesus will do what He says and in being obedient to His commands you will receive the forgiveness of your sins and the Holy Spirit. If you do what Jesus says you will know you can enter into the Kingdom of God aka Kingdom of Heaven.
 
Think About These:
 
We cannot do everything we want to do, but we should do everything God wants us to do.
 
The atheist can't find God for the same reason a thief can't find a policeman.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

​Minister of God's Word