Which statement is correct: "If we gain eternal life, we will become a servant of heaven" or "If we become a servant of heaven, we will gain eternal life?" At first glance these may seem to say the same thing, but a closer look shows that one statement is based on what Jesus taught us and the other statement is based on what today's local church teaches. The first statement places the focus on us (in this world) and tells us we must first gain eternal life in order to be a servant of God. Anytime we place our focus on ourselves we tend to lose our focus on everything else. The second statement places focus on heaven (above), tells us we must first surrender our lives in this world to become a servant of the kingdom of heaven and in doing so will find eternal life. Anytime we place our focus on heaven and not ourselves we are obeying God's commandments to place Him first, others second, and ourselves last. Furthermore, once becoming a true servant of heaven we're instructed to, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2-3
Jesus mentioned the kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, or His Fathers kingdom over 100 times in the gospels. That does not begin to touch the countless times He mentioned the kingdom that was not included in the scriptures. In contrast, Jesus only mentioned "salvation" or "saved" about a dozen times (depends on what bible translation you reference). It is important to note that Jesus only mentioned the term "born-again" twice. This was during His conversation with Nicodemus (see John 3:3-7). However, in doing so Jesus clearly made the point that no one will see His kingdom unless they are spiritually reborn, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Moreover, nowhere did Jesus ever teach us that we become a servant of the kingdom by praying some form of sinner's prayer. In fact, Jesus never mentioned anything resembling a sinner's prayer. When He did teach us how to pray, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, it was concerning daily intercession between those who are born-again and their Heavenly Father.
Thus, if Jesus did not teach this local church doctrine of a sinner's prayer, what did He teach? Jesus taught us that we must turn our hearts away from this world and selflessly surrender our lives in this world to become servants of His kingdom forevermore. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14. The narrow gate is found through a complete surrender of one's life, not some sinner's prayer. Here is what Jesus said it would take for us to find eternal life, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25
Consequently, the gospel is all about surrendering one's life (completely) to follow Jesus as a servant of heaven. It is not about praying a sinner's prayer, becoming a member of some church, paying your tithes, etc. as is the way of the local church system. "Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (the gospel). For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word (the gospel) that was proclaimed to you." 1 Peter 1:22-25
Jesus mentioned the kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, or His Fathers kingdom over 100 times in the gospels. That does not begin to touch the countless times He mentioned the kingdom that was not included in the scriptures. In contrast, Jesus only mentioned "salvation" or "saved" about a dozen times (depends on what bible translation you reference). It is important to note that Jesus only mentioned the term "born-again" twice. This was during His conversation with Nicodemus (see John 3:3-7). However, in doing so Jesus clearly made the point that no one will see His kingdom unless they are spiritually reborn, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Moreover, nowhere did Jesus ever teach us that we become a servant of the kingdom by praying some form of sinner's prayer. In fact, Jesus never mentioned anything resembling a sinner's prayer. When He did teach us how to pray, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, it was concerning daily intercession between those who are born-again and their Heavenly Father.
Thus, if Jesus did not teach this local church doctrine of a sinner's prayer, what did He teach? Jesus taught us that we must turn our hearts away from this world and selflessly surrender our lives in this world to become servants of His kingdom forevermore. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14. The narrow gate is found through a complete surrender of one's life, not some sinner's prayer. Here is what Jesus said it would take for us to find eternal life, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25
Consequently, the gospel is all about surrendering one's life (completely) to follow Jesus as a servant of heaven. It is not about praying a sinner's prayer, becoming a member of some church, paying your tithes, etc. as is the way of the local church system. "Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (the gospel). For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word (the gospel) that was proclaimed to you." 1 Peter 1:22-25
