In the Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Paul wrote that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. What did Paul mean by that? What does it mean that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God? If flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, what must you do to inherit the Kingdom of God?
Why flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God?
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:50-57)
When a person has not died and has not risen in Jesus Christ, it means that the person has not become a new creation; the new man in Jesus Christ. The person consists of flesh and blood and has a body and a soul. When a person consists of flesh and blood, the person is a living soul and not a living spirit. The old man, who consists of flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, because the Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom and not a carnal (soulish) Kingdom.
Jesus said, that as long as a person is not born again, (s)he cannot see, nor inherit the Kingdom of God.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6).
Jesus has dealt with the corrupt sinful nature, which reigns in the old man, once and for all. In Jesus Christ, it became possible to become a new creation; a son of God.
Jesus was the Firstborn of the new creation and in and through Him many more new creations would be born. The new creation, who would be born of water and Spirit (Read also: ‘The whole creation is created in Jesus Christ).
Flesh and blood belongs to the kingdom of darkness
The old man is dominated by the flesh and is a servant of the law of sin and death and belongs to the kingdom of darkness. The old man always rebels against the commandments of God and is an enemy of God, just like his father; the devil. The flesh is not able to submit to God’s will, because the flesh is prideful and always knows it better and always rebels against God and His words.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8)
The flesh is corrupt and death is its master. The flesh will produce the fruit of the flesh; sin, which leads to death (Read also: ‘The revealing truth about the law of sin and death‘)
The spirit is incorrupt and Jesus; the Life, is its Master. The spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit; the fruit of righteousness, which leads to eternal life.
The only way to be delivered from the sinful nature, which reigns in the flesh, is through Jesus Christ and by His blood.
When you become born again, your flesh dies in Jesus Christ and therefore you are redeemed from the devil and death, who reigns in your flesh. Because of the fact that you have laid down your flesh, you are no. longer bound to the law of sin and death.
You are no longer a slave of sin, but you have been redeemed from the power of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.
When you become born again, you not only died in Jesus Christ, but you have also risen in Him. Because your spirit, who was dead, is raised from the dead, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Your spirit is no longer dead, but is alive!
When you have become a new creation, who is born of the Spirit of God and is a son of God, you shall no longer walk after the flesh in obedience to the devil and be a servant of sin and death, but you shall walk after the Spirit in obedience to the Word and be a servant of righteousness.
The spirit belongs to the Kingdom of God
When you become born again in the spirit, you become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. You have entered the Kingdom of God and belong to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, you shall also obey the law, which belongs to this new Kingdom. You shall obey the law of the Spirit; the law of righteousness and life and be a servant of righteousness.
Now that, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, the law of the Spirit is written in your heart. When you walk after the Spirit, you shall obey this law and do the will of God.
As long as you walk after the Spirit, you shall walk in the Kingdom of God and not in the kingdom of this world; the kingdom of darkness.
Your flesh that belongs to the kingdom of darkness and who’s a slave to sin and death is no longer alive. That means that your flesh no longer exists and no longer dictates you what to do and therefore you shall no longer habitually walk in sin.
Your spirit, who belongs to the Kingdom of God is alive and shall dictate you what to do, and therefore, you shall walk in righteousness.
You shall do what pleases God and serve Him through your spirit and you shall not do what pleases the devil and you shall not serve him through your flesh.
You shall exalt Jesus Christ and by exalting Jesus Christ you shall exalt and glorify the Father in your life; by living in righteousness and holiness. You shall no longer exalt the devil, by living after the flesh and by walking in sin.
When you’ve died to your flesh and when you are risen in the spirit and walk after the Spirit, you prove by your walk and your works and the fruit of the spirit that you bear, that you are a son of God and belong to the Kingdom of God and therefore you shall inherit the Kingdom of God. But the inheritance has already been given to you in Christ on this earth and not after you die.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
