Sermon (summary) - Entering into Heaven

Matthew 19: 23-30 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Entering into the kingdom of God. Entering into heaven is not easy, but if we follow the teachings of Jesus it is possible. The most fundamental key is to believe in Jesus and His salvation. Jesus died on the cross bearing our sins and washed us clean by the sacrifice of His blood, and we receive salvation by calling on His name with faith. Then why would Jesus give us many parables about heaven and how we can enter? Jesus tells us that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Is it really possible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? Of course it is impossible. But Jesus tells us "With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible." There were many people of great wealth in the Bible; Abraham, the father of faith, Jacob, Job, Joseph of Arimathea, and Zacchaeus. Bible shows us how a rich man can enter into heaven and also how a rich man does not enter into heaven. Most people consider being rich is having wealth as money, investments, stocks, etc. However, wisdom is also wealth, for by having wisdom one can attain anything. Saul was a man who had it all before he became the apostle Paul. After he met Jesus he gave up everything to follow Jesus. By giving up everything he was able to be filled with Jesus and the things of the Spirit and he became abundant in life of the Spirit. He became a new type of rich person. This kind of rich person can enter into heaven. Like Paul we too need to give up everything for God. The poor widow who offered two copper coins was able to give all she had because she was rich in spirit. Jesus recognized her actions and praised her. She was storing up wealth in heaven by her actions. Whatever I give great or small I must give whole heartedly, and then I am living in abundance. True wealth is not made up of material possessions but rather in things of the Spirit. I must be able to give up everything and not be attached to anything, because it takes the place of Jesus in my heart. We say we believe in Jesus but I do not want Jesus to be my master, we believe in Jesus that stands next to me and lets me do what I want to do. When the rich man came and asked Jesus what he must do to enter heaven and Jesus told him to leave all he had and to follow Him. The rich man failed to accept what Jesus was trying to teach him. He was under the bondage of material wealth. He needed to let go of the material possessions that had a hold of him. We too can come to Christ with our possessions and greed, also need to learn to be free of them while pursuing the things of the Spirit, which will give us life and wealth in the Spirit. To be spiritually blessed is to live a life of a disciple. God is the one who will make this possible when we are determined to give 100% to God. I must live a life that is of quality in faith. It is not a life of mediocre Christianity. My faith must be complete.