The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

Chapter 1
The Kingdom of Heaven

The kingdom of heaven is, undoubtedly, one of the most important topics in the Holy Bible. The kingdom of heaven is one of the main themes
contained in Jesus Christ´s teachings. In the New
Testament of the Bible, the phrase, “kingdom of
heaven,” is mentioned 16 times, and the phrase,
“kingdom of God,” appears 25 times. While the phrase, “kingdom of heaven,” is often used in the book of Matthew, other books of the Bible use the words, “kingdom of God,“ to mean the same thing. An example of the reciprocal use of these phrases is seen in Mathew 4:17 and Mark 1:15.
Mathew 4:17 says:

17 From that time Jesus began to preach
and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.”

In Mark 1:15, Jesus said:

…The time is fulfi lled, and the kingdom
of God is at hand. Repent, and believe
in the gospel.

In these verses, Jesus indicated an important
correlation between repentance and the kingdom of heaven. This is because repentance from sin is necessary for a person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance means to regret having committed sin. In the New Testament of the Bible,
the Greek word for repentance, metanoia, literally means to “change one´s mind.”
In the book of John, Jesus taught Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, that a person must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Regarding the new birth, John 3:5-8 says:

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say
to you, unless one is born of water and
the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom
of God.
6 That which is born of the fl esh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and
you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it
goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

In John 3:5, Jesus said that, “unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Most theologians interpret this verse to be a reference to Christian baptism. A person is born again when one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior and is baptized. A born again person has
forgiveness of sins and lives in newness of life.
Jesus Christ´s teachings help us to better understand the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 17:20-21 says:

20 Now when He was asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God
would come, He answered them and
said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See
there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is an
inner reality. After all, the kingdom of heaven is
inside of us.
John 18:36 goes on to say the following:

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of
this world. If My kingdom were of this
world, My servants would fight, so that I
should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
This text teaches us that the kingdom of
heaven is not of this world. Instead, it is a heavenly kingdom. Unlike earthly kingdoms, the kingdom of heaven is essentially spiritual, not material or political.
The Apostle Paul described the kingdom of heaven in Romans 14:17 by saying:

17 for the kingdom of God is not eating
and drinking, but righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

In the upcoming chapters, this book has two main purposes. First, this book will show that the keys to the kingdom of heaven are found in the Holy Bible. Second, this book will help readers to grow spiritually in order to experience the kingdom
of heaven, which according to the Apostle Paul, consists of “…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
It is possible to experience the kingdom of heaven on earth. That´s why, in the prayer popularly known as the “Our Father,” the Jesus taught us to pray the following:

10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
-Mt. 6:10

Study Questions
1) What must a person do to enter the kingdom of
heaven?
2) Do the phrases, “kingdom of heaven” and
“kingdom of God,” mean the same thing? Give
Scriptural references.
3) According to the Apostle Paul, what does the
kingdom of heaven consist of?