Matthew 18:3
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become AS little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Unless you turn to God from your sins, and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].
All the translations repeat the same truth... If you are not CONVERTED, and if you do not BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, ye shall NOT enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Little children do not try and explain away or reason away or change the teachings of Jesus. They do not find excuses nor do they try to fit the sayings of Jesus to fit into thier life, whenever its convenient.
We must TRUST AND BELIEVE Jesus, without trying to explain them with our limited carnal mind and evil hearts. We cannot twist the Truth into a lie. We must not ever attempt to distort the truth. Trust, believe, obey. Simple.
But today the vast majority of Christians are not as little children. Most christians believe in Jesus, but they do not Believe Jesus. Many who claim the name of Christ, God does not even recognize as such.
For many shall say to Me in that day, Lord Lord... but I will say, "I never knew you."
The foolish man hears the words of Jesus and does not do them.. and his house will fall. The wise man hears and does the words of Jesus, his house is upon the Rock. The wheat and the tares, the sheep and the goats, the wise and the foolish. We must all take a closer look at ourselves, let us stop deceiving ourselves, and let us allow the Holy Spirit to truly search our hearts. The true child of God believes and obeys, even when it means having to forsake your family and friends, even through ridicule and persecutions, through trials and tribulations.
Why do you call me Lord Lord, but do not do the things which I say?
Perhaps because they really didn't beleive what He said. They believe in Him, but didn't believe Him. They made the decision to pick and choose which sayings and verses they wanted to keep. Because once they realized that they were not keeping all of Gods commandments and doing whatsoever Jesus had commanded them, they had to distort the word of God... it was either that, or admit to not being a true child of God. And that thought is too horrifying to comprehend.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.. Take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink?... Take no thought for the morrow.
What? Does Jesus really mean that we shouldn't worry about tomorrow? But what about my retirement? What about the future, my investments, the bills... Why, Larry Burkett the so called christian finance counselor told me to..... Ha! Foolishness, ungodliness. A man calls himself a christian and only deals with mammon, takes the principles of God and twists the truth into a lie.
Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
Are you willing to lose all for Jesus? Have you left all for Jesus? Are you doing the will of our Father in heaven? We all must ask ourselves these questions... For what excuse or reason can we give to our Lord, can we plead ignorance? Or perhaps we just never really truly repented and were converted. To hear the Lord say, I never knew you...
Jesus' own family didn't believe Him. His family was not his flesh and blood relatives, but those that did the will of His Father. One day Jesus was teaching and the crowds prevented His own mother and brethren from reaching Him, so they sent word to Him.. and Jesus says, Behold, my mother and brother and sister are those that do the will of God. He was not willing to compromise the Truth, in order to gain friendship with his family nor the world. YOUR FAMILY ARE NOW THOSE WHO DO THE WILL OF OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
How do you think that made them feel? They wanted to speak to Him, and word must have come back to them of what Jesus had said. Don't you think that put some animosity between Mary and the Lords blood brothers? Dont' you think they felt humiliated? Rejected perhaps. Jesus told his brethren, the world cannot hate you, but Me it hateth. Because his own brothers did not believe Him. Else where Jesus says, Because you are not of the world, therefore it hateth you... If you love Jesus the world will hate you. But what a teririble thing to be hated, don't we all want someone to talk to, friends and family who will support us and not condemn us? Which is more important to you? Serving God, or refusing to speak the Truth? Are you ashamed of Jesus?
And all who live Godly will suffer persecution... when was the last time you suffered persecution? I'm not talking about internet chatting... Real Life.
for whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Yes my friends, as little children, believing, trusting and obeying.
Jesus had many disciples, but when Jesus spoke the truth, they always went away. If you do not eat the flesh of the son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgement.
Whoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her, and if a woman shall put away her husband, and marrieth another, she committeth adultery. What shall we do with this verse? What can we do? It is very clear and concise it is not? If you divorce... you cannot remarry. I didn't write the Bible, so if you have a problem with this take it up with Jesus. But the church says its okay... any church that 'takes away' the sayings of the Word of God is a whore and is to be rejected. Quit giving your time and money to an institution which may be sending people to hell.
Are these words too harsh? I am only warning you. That is all I'm trying to do. Wake up out of your slumber and sleep, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
By THIS we know that we love the children of God, when we LOVE GOD, and Keep HIS COMMANDMENTS.
I am writing this not only to you, but also to myself. Have ye converted? Have ye become as little children? Do you Beleive the words of Jesus? Do you follow the words of Jesus? Before you are so quick to answer... ask yourself, "Lord, is it I?" Matt 26:22
Peace my friends
Your brother and servant in Christ Jesus... Eric