The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matt. 11:11. These words tell us that it is extremely great to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. John did not have the opportunity to enter in, but if he had, he would certainly have been great in the kingdom of heaven.

What is required of us to enter into the kingdom of heaven? A dying has to take place. This dying came with Jesus, therefore it is called “the dying of the Lord Jesus.” 2 Cor. 4:10.

Death entered into the world through sin; this is the death that separates us from God, and by means of this death Satan has power. He rules because sin is at work. Jesus came to liberate mankind who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Therefore He had to partake of flesh and blood just like the children, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death. Heb. 2:14-18. Jesus came with a dying that took away the power of the first death; thereby He also took the power away from Satan. This dying leads into the kingdom of heaven. The first death came about because sin came alive and separated us from God and so gave power to the devil. The dying, which Jesus brought, puts sin out of action; thus the first death is destroyed. The dying of Jesus causes Satan to lose his power, and we are led to God.

“In me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . . .” Rom. 7:18. Our self-will—our passions and desires—is in the flesh. Eph. 2:3. It was because of this flesh that the law was powerless. Rom. 8:3. How many times have we not made good resolutions, but when it came to carrying them out, the flesh gained the victory. Sin was at work. When we wanted to draw close to God and obey Him, we would always meet this veil of the flesh. This veil was torn from top to bottom by the death of Christ. Heb. 10:20. Jesus was a partaker of this flesh in which sin was working, against which both the law and man were powerless. But He was not powerless. He put it to death so that the flesh was made powerless. By doing this, He consecrated a new and living way into the Holiest. He invites us to follow Him on this way and take the kingdom of heaven by force.

In the old covenant they received the forgiveness of sins by bringing sacrifices that pointed to Jesus. Now we receive the forgiveness of sins on the basis of Jesus’ death. The kingdom of heaven is: victory over sin, whereas Jesus’ death is the basis for having our sins forgiven. If I want to have victory over sin, it is not sufficient that Jesus died for me, but I must also die with Him. When the dying of Jesus is working in me, sin is put out of action.

The kingdom of heaven consists of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The saints in the old covenant reached a high degree of righteousness. They believed God and lived according to the law. They were able to keep sin back by faithfully believing God. Consequently, the law could not point out or attack them on any point. What the law could not do, Jesus did, by putting sin in the flesh to death. In the new covenant sin is not only to be suppressed, but it is to be put to death. Even today there are many who obtain great results in this legalistic way. All the external things are in order; you cannot point out anything that is wrong. But do they have peace and joy? They keep their mouth shut and keep sin inside when they meet difficult people and are tempted to get angry, but they murmur in their heart. This is the old covenant. Murmuring vanishes where Jesus’ dying is working, and peace and joy arise instead. This is the kingdom of heaven. The law says we shall love our neighbor. Many are generous, but they sigh in their hearts. All sighing vanishes where the dying of Jesus is working. Peace and joy arise instead. Our works can endure the fire if the dying of Jesus is working. In Jesus Christ we have become partakers of this great salvation by which sin is destroyed. If God’s men of old had lived in these days, they would have been great in the kingdom of heaven, but they had to be satisfied with prophesying concerning this salvation. 1 Pet. 1:10-12. The least in the kingdom of heaven is someone in whom the dying of Jesus has been working the least; yet he is still greater than the greatest in the old covenant. The ancients witnessed the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow. We also partake of His sufferings when the dying of Jesus is working in us. May God open our eyes to the glories that follow, so we can regard the sufferings of Christ as greater riches than all the glories of the world. May we practice just as much faithfulness in this salvation as the saints of old did in their salvation. Yes, may God give His people enlightened eyes of the heart so they may see the hope to which He has called us, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Eph. 1:18. Then praises will break forth in all circumstances where people usually murmur, complain, and are anxious. These are the very circumstances in which we have an opportunity to partake of this salvation and this infinitely great glory which eye has not seen and ear has not heard nor has entered into the heart of man. Now we can see the riches that people reject because of unbelief, and the riches that believers can obtain. It was this seriousness and this love for people that compelled Paul to exhort each and everyone with tears—both day and night—and to walk worthy of his calling. Acts 20:31-32.