What are the real things we can do today to get to paradise? Only according to the Bible.

January 28th 2019 | 39092 views 

Three Scriptures use the word paradise. So to determine the way to get there, we need to identify where it is.

Luke 23:43, “Verily, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Rotherham, one of the more accurate translations, places the comma after the word today. On that very day, Jesus was assuring the thief that he would be resurrected. Jesus and the thief could not have entered paradise that day, because Jesus did not ascend to heaven until 40 days after His resurrection. 

2 Corinthians 12:4 says Paul was “caught up into paradise.” Strong’s Exhaustive concordance defines paradise as a ‘park or garden’. Paul’s vision depicted the glorious reign of Christ, both in heaven and on earth.

Revelation 2:7, “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.” A symbolic description of Christ’s kingdom.

There are two aspects of the paradise of Christ’s reign: the earthly phase and the heavenly phase.

Earthly phase:   Acts 3:21 promises “a restitution of all things” through Jesus Christ. As a result of Adam’s sin, mankind lost perfect human life in an Edenic condition. Jesus’s payment of the ransom for Adam guarantees an opportunity to have this restored - in “thy Kingdom [to] come, thy will [to] be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). The Abrahamic promise further establishes this blessing for all. Genesis 22:18, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed….” 

1 Timothy 2:4 teaches, “Who [God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Once this knowledge is received in the resurrection, obedience and growth will be required. Isaiah 35 beautifully describes the Paradise in which mankind will then live.

Heavenly phase:  How can we get to heavenly paradise? Jesus told one who asked, “Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross and follow Me.” (Mark 10:21) This, quite simply, is the way to get the heavenly reward.​

Faithful Christians will become the Bride of Christ, the Church class. These saints will work with Christ in ministering to the human race as it learns to obey the Kingdom rule. Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9​

To participate in this priesthood, a full consecration to the will of God (of the heart, life, possessions - our all) is required.

 

A more detailed study of paradise may be read on the free PDF, The Kingdom of God, at the following link:  "The Kingdom of God"

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