Luke 13: 23-27

(Luke 13: 23-27)

『Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 』

Jesus performed many miracles, and people followed him. The rich man came to Jesus and asked him about eternal life. After hearing the words of Jesus, the young man was sorrowful that he left him because Jesus said to him, "Send your wealth to others and follow me." Jesus said.

 

『For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 』 The book of Revelation says that wealth has become a god. The rich young man was an Israeli official and made a lot of money in an unclean way. Jesus tells the rich man, "Send all your unclean money to the poor." The disciples responded to Jesus' words:『 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 』

He who realizes the will of God will impart to others the wealth he has gathered in unclean ways. By the way, few do it. For man is not good, and few seek God. Although people come to church to worship God, sing hymns, and have the assurance of salvation, the Bible says, "Many want to enter heaven, but few can enter." If people are not born again, they cannot enter heaven. For the hearts of men are contaminated with greed. Thus, the Bible says, "Abandon the flesh contaminated with greed, and be born again into the body of God-given spirit."

『Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.』 (Romans 6: 6-7)

If you do not realize this, no matter how long you have been in church, you will not be saved. Jesus 'disciple, Peter, had seen many of Jesus' miracles for three years, but abandoned him before the cross and ran away. All who are not born again act in this way. In order to enter the kingdom of God, we must pass through the cross. For in the human heart there is original sin (greedy). God tells humans that the body of sin dies and is born again as a God-given body. Original sin is greed to want to be like God. There are two kinds of original sin. There are sins in which the evil angels wanted to be like God in the kingdom of God, and sins in which man wanted to be like God in the garden of Eden. The spirits of wicked angels who sinned in the kingdom of God are confined in the dust and become human. So God tells human beings to "turn away from original sin (greedy) and return to the kingdom of God."

Why does God tell sinners to die with Jesus on the cross? This is how God recognizes (baptism). Jesus is the Son of God. So, God forgives those who repent: repentance is to believe that he died with Jesus. God regards Jesus dead on the cross as sinners who repent. The dead Jesus is a sinner. When the Old Testament Hebrews sinned, they brought animals to the sanctuary and killed them. Because the animal meant a sinner, the priest killed the animal instead of the sinner, but the sinner died. The dead lamb is Jesus Christ. If you don't understand this, it's no use. If you want to enter the kingdom of God, you cannot enter that day. So God tells us to return to repentance. Repentance is death with Jesus.

There is a parable of the ten virgins in the Bible. There are five wise virgins and five foolish virgins. The five foolish virgins are women who are trying to enter the marriage feast without preparing oil. Likewise, those who do not know repentance are like foolish virgins. The same is true of Lot's wife, who became a salt lamp in the Bible. The angel warned her, "Do not look back." She looked back because she was curious about the wealth she had left in Sodom. Those who repent do not look back, but go forward to the kingdom of God.

『When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 』(Luke 13: 25-28)

No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he repents of God. People are not interested in why humans lived on earth and what would happen if they did not return to the kingdom of God. After human death, it is useless to regret it. When living in this world, one must repent to God. If you have been in church for a long time and you do not know this, God will say "I do not know you" that day. The Bible says that we cannot love God and riches at the same time. It would be good to have money, honor, and power in this world, but to death it would be of no use. If you do not repent, you are dead before God.

『And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 』 (Revelation 3: 1-5)

White clothes are the clothes of Christ. Christ's clothing can only be worn in the cross. When you wear white, your name will be written in the book of life in the kingdom of God. Only when you are buried with Jesus on the cross can you enter the kingdom of God in white. In the kingdom of God you become like an angel. Speaking in Matthew 22:30.

 『For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 』