What Makes Us Fit For The Kingdom?

Enoch111 said:

Of course. But that does not make anyone fit for Heaven.

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Hidden In Him said:

Greetings all! Just checking in, and thought I would post on a passage I was studying today and present it as food for thought.

The passage is in Colossians, Chapter 1:

From the day in which we heard we do not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the recognition of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding to walk worthily of the Lord unto all acceptability, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the recognition of God, being empowered with all [supernatural] empowerment by virtue of the dominion of His glory to manifest all endurance and long-suffering with joy, giving thanks to the Father, the One having made you fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12)

What was Paul saying made them fit for a share of the heavenly inheritance here? The context is that these were Gentile believers coming to Christ, and many were not yet fully familiar with the standards of conduct expected by the Jewish God as opposed to the pagan ones, or the social standards of the pagan society they grew up in. This was especially true of sexual standards, which is why Paul told the Thessalonians:

You know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus... You are to abstain from sexual immorality. Each of you is to know to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor - not in the passion of lust as the Gentiles do, who do not know God - so as not to trespass and become [sexually] covetous in one's brother's affairs, because the Lord is an Avenger concerning all such things, even as we told you before and testified. For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:2-7)

Here again, Paul was highlighting that character change needed to take place, and that the lifestyle of the Gentile societies they lived in was not at all acceptable with God. But was not he insinuating that such conduct change (on numerous issues) would be needed to make them fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in Heaven?

God bless to all who respond.
Hidden

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Giuliano said:

Let me try putting it another way. Failing to do it can make someone unfit.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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Hidden In Him said:

the One having made you fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Click to expand...

Hidden In Him said:

Greetings all! Just checking in, and thought I would post on a passage I was studying today and present it as food for thought.

The passage is in Colossians, Chapter 1:

From the day in which we heard we do not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the recognition of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding to walk worthily of the Lord unto all acceptability, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the recognition of God, being empowered with all [supernatural] empowerment by virtue of the dominion of His glory to manifest all endurance and long-suffering with joy, giving thanks to the Father, the One having made you fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12)

What was Paul saying made them fit for a share of the heavenly inheritance here? The context is that these were Gentile believers coming to Christ, and many were not yet fully familiar with the standards of conduct expected by the Jewish God as opposed to the pagan ones, or the social standards of the pagan society they grew up in. This was especially true of sexual standards, which is why Paul told the Thessalonians:

You know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus... You are to abstain from sexual immorality. Each of you is to know to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor - not in the passion of lust as the Gentiles do, who do not know God - so as not to trespass and become [sexually] covetous in one's brother's affairs, because the Lord is an Avenger concerning all such things, even as we told you before and testified. For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:2-7)

Here again, Paul was highlighting that character change needed to take place, and that the lifestyle of the Gentile societies they lived in was not at all acceptable with God. But was not he insinuating that such conduct change (on numerous issues) would be needed to make them fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in Heaven?

God bless to all who respond.
Hidden

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