Built accurately for God

One of the challenges faced by a new believer is finding the right church. There are so many. A faithful Sunday attendance to a church is no guarantee of a place in Heaven.

 

The three conditions for entering the Kingdom of God

 

1. Being born again  

John 3:3-5 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

 

This implies accepting the the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross as a payment for our own sins, believing in Jesus and turning away from our sins.

 

2. The righteousness that surpasses that of Pharisees 

Mathew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

Pharisees were experts in law but like whitewashed tombs, they looked perfect and attractive on the outside but they were full of dead bones on the inside. God expects our hearts to be full of truth. Then out of the overflow of our hearts, our actions and words will be according to the truth. Man judges the actions. God judges the motives behind those actions.

 

3. Doing the will of God 

Mathew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." 

 

Obedience to God’s word is better than offering a sacrifice to God. If we love God, we obey.

 

Proverbs 16:2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

 

These three conditions are where you start. But how do you finish? The key to successful Christian living is being led by the Holy Spirit. God is looking for a church without wrinkle, blemish, or blame. 

 

Ephesians 5:26, 27 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemishes, but holy and blameless.

 

Only by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will gain permanent victory. Those who are led by the Holy Spirit are called sons of God. Son-ship is not based on what you do but what you become. 

 

God is coming back for His sons, not members of a church.

 

The two types of churches we encounter would be 

1. The Blessing model

2. The Building model. 

 

The "blessing model" the church would emphasize God accepting you as you are. His love for you and how He is going to send blessing upon blessing. There is no call for accountability. There is no talk of a mature believer walking with a new believer until he/she understands how to walk with God. 

 

In short, the blessing model is - What can I do to get blessed by God? The center of focus is the man, not God. 

 

The "building model" church raises the standard right from the beginning. You may enter as a babe in Christ but you cannot remain an immature believer. There is a call for accountability. Someone mature in Christ should be allowed to talk into your life in areas such as your marriage, money, motives, and morality. 

 

In the building model, the pattern is – How can I make my life so attractive to God that the favor of His presence rests upon my life? It is our job to build ourselves accurately. It is God's job to fill it with His presence. 

 

Blessings are a by-product of this model because when the lord is with us we shall prosper in everything we do. 

 

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

 

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

 

Starting right is a good thing. But the reward is not given for starting right. It is running the race consistently and having the endurance to FINISH the race that fetches our reward. We cannot do this alone. That is why the Holy Spirit is given to us as our comforter, our helper, the one who guides us into all truth. Truth sets you free. Truth changes the man.

When people get into the kingdom of God if they catch the building model they will finish the race. If they are after blessings they will fall away because they are not built to endure till the end. When we live life fully obedient to the Holy Spirit and fully obedient to the Word then we won't falter through periods of pain and suffering because God walks with us through the trouble and strengthens us. We will finish the race because God ensures we make it through.