Entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom

Did you know that in the Scripture there is a formula listed ending with this promise: “for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11)? Another translation puts it this way “in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” WOW! The preceding verse says that if we do these things – we will never fail!

Do you know the “things” apostle Peter was talking about? Do you know this formula of success?

I had a different blog idea for this week. But when elder Cameron Munro opened the Scripture to 2^nd Peter 1:3-11 to lead our time of prayer this past Wednesday, the passage he had chosen spoke volumes to me and I knew I had to revisit this again.

Apostle Peter in various ways is telling believers in his letter that there are certain qualities, certain elements that must be present in our lives which prove our election and calling sure (v.10) , which testify that our sins are forgiven (v.9), which make a believer fruitful and productive (v.8), which allow us to escape the corruption of this world (v.4). Do you know these “things”?

There are 8 (eight) of them listed in verses 5 through 7:

1. first there is diligence, initiative taking; 
2. then there is caring faith, 
3. spiritual knowledge, awareness of God’s gifts, 
4. disciplined living of surrendered self, 
5. enduring and reliable consistency, 
6. devotion of living in God’s presence, 
7. family-like relationships in the community, 
8. Love.

Peter’s emphasis is on ALL of these “things.” Not some, but having ALL. In the past I’ve paraphrased these in contemporary terms 

1. empowering leadership; 
2. need-solving evangelism; 
3. ministering with awareness of spiritual gifts; 
4. passionate spirituality; 
5. functional and consistent structures; 
6. life inspired in worship; 
7. community groups, 
8. loving relationships.

I see our church having ALL these THINGS. In words of the same apostle from an earlier letter “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)

Meditate on these things. Dream these things! Desire these things. Pray about these. Share with ours your dreams. And live these eight things, so that your entrance into the Kingdom of God would be supplied to you abundantly.