Christ’s Standard of Salvation & Discipleship for His Kingdom | Part D

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

The Same Kingdom Gospel Message for All

When the Jews became belligerent and hostile toward Paul and Barnabas, they closed their exclusive ministry to the Jews and turned to the Gentiles (Acts 13:50). Paul’s message to the Jews was right to the point. They needed to accept the Messiah Yahushua who had come: “Let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. And through him all who believe are justified [put right with Yahuwah] in regard to all things, in which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses” (Acts 13:38, 39).

“Eternal life” means “Life in the age of the coming Kingdom.” The Bible nowhere promises “heaven” to believers — much less for disembodied spirits or souls at death. The Bible promises only resurrection (of the whole person) at the future coming of Yahushua (1 Cor. 15:23) who will then reward Christians “at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14). These will be counted worthy of that coming age of the restored Kingdom on earth. “But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age [not ‘go to heaven’!] and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage” (Luke 20:35).

Why does one have to struggle to get churchgoers to believe these simple promises? “Inherit the earth.” Is that clear or not? How rarely if ever are these words promoted or heard among churchgoers? Are pew-sitters listening? Christians are destined not to go to heaven but to inherit the earth. Yes, their reward is currently held in reserve for them, with Yahuwah who is in heaven. But when Yahushua comes back that reward comes from heaven to the earth with the returning Yahushua. If I say I am keeping a beer in the fridge for you when you visit me, says the world’s leading biblical theologian, Bishop Tom Wright, does that mean you are going to have to climb into the fridge to drink it? Do you retire in the bank where you have been saving your money all those years?

Yahushua stated the Christian goal with complete clarity, but no one in church seems to resonate with his words: “Blessed are the meek; they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). “They will reign as kings on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). All this talk about “heaven” is a quick way to become confused in your Bible reading.