The apostle Paul equated paradise to the “third heaven” and the Lord Jesus made it even plainer that paradise is identical to the kingdom when the he promised the repentant thief, in answer to the latter’s request “Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”, that he should be in paradise.
How, then can we enter into the kingdom? Jesus made three “except” statements in this regard, and we will find the necessary requirements when we examine each of these.
First, to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This is the basic or fundamental requirement. Sadly, by the close of the gospel narrative, Nicodemus had not responded, although we find him in at least two encouraging episodes. “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51). After the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus…there came also Nicodemus (John 19:38-39). It would have been the ideal place to mention if Nicodemus had been a disciple! Do we not know people who have a high regard and sympathy for the cause of Christ, and yet hesitate to make the ultimate commitment? There can be no replacement for the command, “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit”. What may have hindered Nicodemus, “a man of the Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews”? (John 3:1). Apparently he had gone up the social ladder, from a “man” to a “ruler”. Was Pharisaic pride the stumbling block?
Second, Jesus taught his disciples, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the Kingdom” (Matt 5:20). Two factors are indicated by this requirement: disciples must have a degree of righteousness, and this quality must not be a justification of self. Jesus on another occasion upbraided the Pharisees, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men” (Luke 16:15). Ezekiel wrote of three notable men, Noah, Daniel and Job, “who shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness” (Ezek 14:14, 20). Peter highlights Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2Pet 2:5), and adds Lot to the list (v. 8). Daniel is described thus: “he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Dan 6:4). “Job …[was] a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8). Where do we stand against this backdrop? At our baptism, we “fulfilled all righteousness”, but have we been able to maintain a clean slate or have we developed, unwittingly, self-righteousness? Rom 6:13, 16, 18, 19, 20 should be of tremendous help in this post-baptismal process. How Judah must have been embarrassed by the undeniable evidence of his sin against his daughter-in-law! “And Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She hath been more righteous than I” (Genesis 38:26).
Finally Jesus told his disciples, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom” (Matt 18:3) at a time when they were debating who is the greatest in the Kingdom! So, the emphasis here is HUMILITY: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom.”(v 4). Little children do not bear grudges, and they operate on the basis of deep friendship being necessary in a communal setting. Is this how we behave? Many otherwise good kings lacked humility: “their hearts being lifted up” is a sad commentary of their downfall. But Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:8).
At the cross, many one-way statements were made, such as “he saved others, himself he cannot save!” (Matt 27:42). But there was one significant dialogue, between a man who was dying for his own sins, “and we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds” (Luke 23:41) and one who was dying for the sins of others.
“Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” And the response: “Thou shalt be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
On what basis is the thief granted a place in the kingdom? Was he “born of water and of the spirit”? Did his “righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees”? Can it be said that he was “converted and became as a little child”? The whole country had come to John’s baptism (Luke 3:7, 10, 12, 14). Why not this man who knew Jesus and the certainty of the coming kingdom (“Lord, come into thy Kingdom”)? Unlike most of the Pharisees who could not recognize Jesus of Nazareth, this man acknowledged that Jesus “had done nothing amiss”. What better example of “conversion” than when we can say we deserve death because of our sin and ask for forgiveness — “Lord, remember me…”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One