Lookahead:  So, do we have to go through a training or refinement process in which the Holy Spirit prepares us and makes us fit for the Kingdom of Heaven? I do not believe so. I think that the only prerequisite is that we are a Child of God–we don’t have to go through an extended period of sanctification.  Also, if we are trying to do the sanctification ourselves, we will never get there.  And if some minister has put us on a program of self-sanctification, neither of us will get there. 

Last week’s blog post indicated that just because someone has a spirit of entitlement, this won’t get them into the Kingdom of Heaven, no matter how aggressive their pursuit.  

Previous posts have cited scripture to support Jesus’ revelations that those who are persecuted and/or poor in spirit have the right to enter.

Matthew 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].  (Am including Amplified Bible translation which addresses one facet of what it means to be poor in spirit.  Will pick this thread up later.)

Also, I believe that we become entitled to enter the Kingdom when we accept Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

John 3:5  I speak an eternal truth: Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you will never enter God’s kingdom.

John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him (Jesus), who believed in His Name (Jesus’), He (Jesus) gave the right to become children of God.

Then in Romans 8:14-17 we read, “Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children. You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. If we are his children, we are also God’s heirs.”  

I believe that KOs (Kingdom Occupiers) are all Children of God.  I think Paul confirmed this by essentially defining a dichotomy between the Child of God’s inheritance, and the inheritance of the people group whom he referred to as “Israelites.” 

Romans 8:14-17 … you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. If we are his children, we are also God’s heirs.

In the next chapter, Paul lists the entitlements of the Israelites and you will note that the Holy Spirit is conspicuously absent from the list:  Romans 9:4 They are Israelites, God’s adopted children. They have the Lord’s glory, the covenants, Moses’ Teachings, the true worship, and the promises. 

Side Note:  Paul specifically used the word, Israelite, versus Jews or Hebrews.  The Israelite nomenclature began to enjoy consistent usage in the Hebrew Old Testament from King David’s reign onward.  (1 Chronicles 17:11-14) The term “Hebrews” was only used derogatorily/by Israel’s enemies from that point forward.  “Jews” came into usage after the first diaspora (exile of the Northern Kingdom). 

So I believe that those who sincerely “want in” the Kingdom have the hunger that comes from accepting Jesus’ lordship and absolute kingdom sovereignty. 

Taking this “Child of God” theory a step further, we have to become like children to get in. 

Luke 18:16, 17  But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

And in Matthew 18:3,4 we read: And [Jesus Christ] said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

What does it really mean to “become as a little child?”  Again, there are many interpretations—become totally trusting (vulnerable, to the point of being almost gullible); become totally loving and accepting; become lowest of the low in the societal hierarchy; become humble.  And in the case of the lattermost, Jesus did imply that we would have to humble ourselves—which again addresses last week’s pride reference.  Proud people won’t get into the Kingdom. 

This lines up with the Amplified Bible translation of Matthew 5:3 “Blessed…are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

The Greek word for poor is πτωχός or ptóchos which means destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour; lowly, afflicted; destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture; helpless and powerless to accomplish an end. I think the last two definitions capture it.  Little children are pretty much helpless tabula rasa’s (clean slates).  Essentially, someone who “wants in” must be as dependent on the Holy Spirit as is humanly possible.

Having done that, do we, nevertheless, have to achieve a certain level of fitness to gain admission?  In last week’s Kano analogy, there was a workout scene in which the accountant-turned-coach was instructing his team.  He watched as they played, and he seemed to know every strength and every weakness of every player.  He would shout out verbal instructions in advance, like “Think hard before you swing,” “Catch with both hands,” “Don’t worry about winning; focus on not losing,” etc. to condition each player so that he could gain admission to a place called Koshien. 

So, do we have to go through a training or refinement process in which the Holy Spirit prepares us and makes us fit for the Kingdom of Heaven? I do not believe so. I think that the only prerequisite is that we are a Child of God–we don’t have to go through an extended period of sanctification.  Also, if we are trying to do the sanctification ourselves, we will never get there.  And if some minister has put us on a program of self-sanctification, neither of us will get there. 

On the other hand, people who gain admission have one universal characteristic.  They fully understand that they “haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads them into fear again. Instead, they have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which they call out, “Abba! Father!”  According to Strong’s, Abba is “of Chaldee origin (‘ab)…(but) it has the Greek interpretation subjoined to it; (i.e., it means) father as a vocative.  In this sense, I believe vocative connotes “a term of endearment,” which is why many commentators agree that Abba equates to today’s fatherly term, Daddy. So those who are genuine kingdom candidates fully trust in God’s approachability and LOVE, enough to refer to Him as “Daddy,” and they allow His Perfect LOVE to cast out all fear.