It is apparent that men have now incorporated church into their lives and daily routines. It has now become a religious act done weekly for some, and the initial reason for the church has been lost. Unfortunately, regard for holiness is a topic often talked about but never truly manifested in the lives of those who claim to be “saints.” I am reminded of the Pharisees, students and defenders of God’s law. They did not know God when He came in the flesh. How is it that those who studied Him saw Him not and those who did not study Him saw Him clearly? Come with me as we trace the footsteps of Christ back to His Father in Heaven that we, too, may follow His example.
John 3:2-3
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
When I first read verse three my interpretation was incomplete. I interpreted it as if it meant, if you are not born again you will not see the Kingdom when you die.
This is partially true, but Christ was referring to a deeper mystery. Remember in the second verse, Nicodemus had just given Christ his opinion of who Christ was; He called Him a teacher from God. Christ then answered Nicodemus by saying; “except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In essence, Christ was saying, “I am the Kingdom of God but you are not born again so all you can perceive is a teacher from God."
When I say Christ is the Kingdom of God, I am speaking in the sense of Him being the entrance into the Kingdom. My next statement, I am sure, should cause more concern. All those who see the Kingdom do not always possess it. The requirement for seeing the Kingdom is to be born again. Those who are born of the Spirit can walk in the Spirit right now, while the natural body yet dwells on planet Earth.
Galatians 5:25
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Without the Holy Ghost, the world cannot discern the Mystery of Christ; His origin, His reason for coming or the depth of why He had to die. Christ is The Way, The Truth and The Life. To be in the Kingdom is to be in Christ; for in Him we live, move and have our being. If we are complete in Him, we are hid. Yes, Christ is our citizenship in God, but without the Holy Ghost we see Christ as just a man.
THE LEGEND OF CHRIST
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Everlasting life was promised to people who inherited death from their father, Adam; but God in His mercy, sent life through Christ Jesus. Make no mistake Christ is the treasure buried in the field.
Matthew 13:44
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
What is the cost of the field? In the Bible, the great men of God always endured tremendous sacrifice. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, Moses sacrificed his position in Egypt, Job lost everything, Daniel was placed in a lion’s den and the Hebrew boys were placed in a fiery furnace. Christ is not discerned by all or seen by all.
The whole world naturally sees Christ the same way Nicodemus saw Him . . . as a teacher from God. “Which when a man has found he hideth.” This speaks of a man who now sees the Kingdom after he has been born again. He hides his desire to be righteous in his heart that he might possess the kingdom throughout eternity. My brethren, there are many who have become complacent in God. The Bible constantly records those who sacrificed their very lives for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will not purchase the field without sacrificing all that we are.
Mark 10:33-37
33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Brethren, our coming to God through salvation, is like James and John coming to Christ. Through salvation we are trying to secure an eternal place in the Kingdom. No, we are not specifically asking to sit at His right or left hand, but we are hoping for an eternal place in the Kingdom.
Mark 10:38
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Christ was asking James and John basically if they would partake of the same suffering He would endure. This is the cost of the field. What have you sacrificed, that your place in the Kingdom might be secure? What suffering have you endured?
Philippians 1:29
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Because some refuse to suffer the loss of self, false foundations are set and negative, lying mindsets emerge. Mindsets that say, it doesn’t take much to inherit eternal life in the Kingdom. Mindsets that say as long as you are a good man or go to church regularly, you will make it in, but this is not true. This is why Paul said,
Colossians 2:8
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is more than a good conversation piece. IT IS THE GOOD NEWS, and we cannot entreat it nonchalantly and inherit its promises.
2 Corinthians 4:1
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Many of us do faint; meaning we stop pursuing holiness after salvation. In order to secure our place in eternity however, we must fulfill the second verse as well.
2 Corinthians 4:2
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Brethren, by the mercy of God, the Gospel was delivered unto us and those who once did not see it now see the Kingdom. We now see through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit shows us all the things we harbor in our hearts, that we may renounce them. God uses everyday situations to reveal to us that which we have not given up for the sake of this treasure we have stumbled on, called the Kingdom.
Philippians 3:7-8
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Through the loss of all things Paul purchased the field, will you? God bless you.
