The means of reconciliation between God and humans is only through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no way to be reconciled to God except through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only grace given to humanity for receiving salvation, by which people can be reconciled to God freely. This reconciliation is not because of good deeds or our merits. That is why Paul stresses that we should not boast. (Eph. 2:8–9), For by His grace we obtain salvation, and by His grace we also receive reconciliation with God. However, the realization of peace with God in an ideal and true sense—according to the content and purpose for which that reconciliation was established—is not easy and does not happen automatically. There must be a struggle of believers to make it real.
If we can share in God’s holiness, if our character is transformed so that we put on the divine nature, then we can get along with God. Without holiness, there is no true peace. Without holiness, the content and purpose of reconciliation are not fulfilled. In this regard, we are not only sanctified from sinful deeds, but we must also become persons who are holy in character. Truly, we are not only justified or considered righteous, but we must genuinely be righteous in our state. The Kingdom of Heaven is indeed given freely, not because of human good works. Yet, to live in the Kingdom of Heaven, to possess and enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven, one must experience renewal of life and a change of nature. There must be a change of nature, from a sinful nature to a divine nature, or a change of character to become like Jesus. From a human standpoint, this is impossible, but for God, nothing is impossible.
When the Bible speaks of impossibility in Matthew 19, it actually means a change of character. It concerns a change of nature—how someone attains eternal life or a life of quality. That is the divine nature. Keeping the Mosaic Law is good. When someone asks, “Lord, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Keep the law.” That is good. However, when the rich young man said, “All these I have kept from my youth; what do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, sell all you have, give to the poor, come, and follow Me.” That means learn from Jesus; only then can one possess and enjoy eternal life. For that, the sacrifice of one’s whole life is required.
In Luke 14:33, the Lord Jesus says that a believer must renounce all his possessions to become a disciple, so that his life may be transformed. The price of the Kingdom of Heaven for Jesus was His whole life. He bought it and secured it with His blood. He sacrificed Himself so that the Kingdom of Heaven would be opened to humanity. Likewise, for a believer to enjoy and possess life in the Kingdom of Heaven, he must surrender his whole life. It is not only believing that Jesus died on the cross to atone for sins and provide heaven, but also risking one’s whole life to experience transformation, to enjoy and live in that Kingdom of Heaven.
Many Christians are actually mistaken. They feel it is enough to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, then assume they automatically possess the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet the price of the Kingdom of Heaven is one’s whole life. Indeed, the Kingdom of Heaven is given freely, but what is free is actually the opportunity or potential to possess and experience the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is similar to Jesus’ words, “Peace I leave with you; the Peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” That Peace is given freely, but to taste and enjoy that Peace, our tastes and life orientation must first be transformed. If Jesus had not died on the cross, the Kingdom of Heaven would have remained tightly shut, and no one could have opened it except Him. Now the Kingdom of Heaven has been opened—freely. However, to possess, enjoy, and live in that Kingdom of Heaven, we must undergo a real change of life.