User talk:Pastor Rob

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The Kingdom of Heaven vs the Kingdom of God
Jesus spoke of two kingdoms:

1. The Kingdom of Heaven

2. The Kingdom of God.

What did Jesus say about the Kingdom of Heaven? He said, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)

We enter the Kingdom of Heaven through repentance - which is turning away from

the things of this world and toward God. Repentance is an act of faith because

it is an act which anyone can take at any time. It is taken in the absence of

proof. This is why in Matthew 11:28 - 30 Jesus tells us, "Come unto me, all

ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you

rest."

You do not have to labour to enter the Kingdom of Heaven - You simply have

to repent. That is why the Bible tells us, "And he (the LORD) brought

him (Abraham) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell

the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So

shall thy seed (descendants) be. And he (Abraham) believed in

the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

G

enesis 15:5 - 6) Listen to what Jesus has to say. You do not have to labour to become righteous in the eyes of God.  Jesus says, "for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  You do not have to earn your access to the Kingdom of Heaven with great "works" - simply believe and repent.

What did Jesus say about the Kingdom of God?

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5 - 6)

This is why John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)  We enter the Kingdom of God by being "Born Again." A more accurate translation is - "Born From Above."

How is this rebirth accomplished? Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is not an act of faith accomplished by human beings. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a reward given by God and it requires effort. This is why in Matthew 7:7 - 8 and Luke 11:9 - 10 Jesus tells us, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Find who or what?

Deuteronomy 4:29 - 31 tells us, "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.  When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;  (For the LORD thy God isa merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.  So we must seek

the LORD - which is to say, we must seek truth.

Deuteronomy 4:30 - quoted above - explains everything. It says, "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

We must:

1. Turn to the LORD thy God - repent.

2. Be obedient unto his voice - seek the LORD.

Then we will experience the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and leave the uncertainties of faith behind. Which is to say that we will enter rest - know with certainty.