The Sole Personal Presence and Rule of Christ
in the Soul Defines the Kingdom

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Radical Self-surrender: Everything Must Be Forsaken to Enter the Kingdom

 

Everything must be forsaken to Enter the Kingdom of God and Be a Disciple

Everything and everyone must be forsaken to enter the kingdom: “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” Luke 18: 29,30.

 

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33.

  

Even the Most Precious Thing That Prevents Absolute Self-surrender to Christ Must Be Plucked Up and Cast Away

 

“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” Mark 19:41. The kingdom of God requires the giving up of everything that prevents absolute self-surrender, even if it were as precious as one’s eye.

 

Self-surrender is the Substance of the Teaching of Christ

 

Those who trust in riches instead of God cannot enter the kingdom of God: “How hardly shall they that have riches enter the kingdom of God!” Luke 18:24. Jesus made this comment after the rich young ruler turned away after Jesus told him “sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and come, follow me.” Luke 18:22. Ellen G. White, under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, comments:

 

“Self- surrender is the substance of the teachings of Christ. Often it is presented and enjoined in language that seems authoritative, because there is no other way to save man than to cut away those things which, if entertained, will demoralize the whole being. YI 5-27-97.

 

How the Kingdom of God Takes Root in the Soul and Grows

Jesus described how the kingdom of God takes root and grows in the soul, using the parable:

 

“And his disciples asked him, saying, what might this parable be? And he said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

 

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; that cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while they believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among the thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:9-15.

 

The Kingdom of God is Like a Grain of Mustard Seed

 

“Then he said, unto what is the kingdom of God like? And whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed,which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.” Luke 13:18,19.

 

The Kingdom of Heaven Works Like Leaven

 

And again he said, whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” Luke 13:20,21.

 

The kingdom of God must be received like a little child. “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:17.

Being a Member of the Kingdom is Not an On-again, Off-again Matter

 

A person who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God: “And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62.

 

Notice how many people in our culture today have never planted a seed, used leaven, or guided a plow by hand. Today’s generation is almost totally confined to the computer, movies, and video games, thus removing them far from the descriptive world of the kingdom that Jesus gave. How important country living is to understand the kingdom of God!

 

 

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