I Nephi 15:34 – The Recipe to Enter God’s Kingdom

Have you ever wondered what the requirements are to get into the Kingdom of God?  Well, this is one place where it’s laid out for us.

“ … The kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God.” (I Nephi 15:34)

That’s pretty clear, isn’t it?  No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God.  That also sounds like terrible news, doesn’t it?  I don’t know of any person in the world who can say they are perfectly clean.  In fact, in the Bible (I John 1:8) the Apostle John says;

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 

Again, this is not very good news if the requirement for living with God is to be perfectly clean and without sin … and then to know that we have all sinned L  Where is our hope in this life?

Well, I want to assure you that our hope is in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Because He loves us more than we can imagine He has promised to take our sins and uncleanness away through his atonement.  Amulek was very clear about the Savior’s mission when he taught this great principle in Alma 11:40

“And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.”

I believe and have a spiritual witness that Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to live with Heavenly Father and with our families because of his mission and atonement.  All he asks of us, in return, is that we repent, follow him, and endure to the end.  Now that sounds like a pretty good trade, doesn’t it?

I’m sure there may be times when you might say to yourself, “But I can’t overcome all the temptations I’m faced with.”  It’s true that we live in a world that is relentless.  It never ceases to cast temptations our way and to make matters worse;  Satan knows our weaknesses and is constantly trying to get us to follow him.  So, is there anything the Savior can do besides taking away our sins after we’ve faltered?  The answer there is a resounding, “Yes!”  Alma teaches in Alma 37:33;

“Teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

There it is, right there in the scriptures … not only does our loving Savior take upon Him our sins and mistakes, but if we strengthen our faith in Him, he will help us withstand every temptation of the devil.  So for my hint for the day, I’d like to leave with you a simple recipe for returning to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father:

1)  To be cleansed from our sins call upon the name of JESUS CHRIST.

2)  To be strengthened against temptation against sin increase your faith in JESUS CHRIST.

3)  To endure to the end and live with Heavenly Father as families follow JESUS CHRIST.

I promise you great happiness as you put this simple recipe to work in your life.