Inclusion

by Willie Keys

The definition of inclusion: The action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure.

What does inclusion mean from a Godly standpoint?

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us (1 John 4:13-15).

God’s purpose for sending his son, to save the world was first, out of his love for us. His love for us was demonstrated by him, sending his only begotten son to shed his blood and die on the cross for our past, present and future sins. He died a vicarious death (a substitute death for us). Now you may ask what does this have to do with inclusion, and the following verses will make it very clear:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

He himself bore our sins "in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2: 24).

God’s infinite wisdom has given us free will to choose whether or not we want to be included in his heavenly kingdom. God’s offer of inclusion is FREE; you can’t work for or purchase it. Simply stated, it is a free gift from God.

Although coming to God is a free-will decision, there is something one must do to reap the rewards of inclusion into God’s Kingdom that Jesus offers us. This is clearly described in the following verses:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9-13).

There is the other side to not being included in God’s Kingdom, and that is exclusion from God’s kingdom.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  

Folks there are a lot of religions in the world that profess they are the right one for you. I encourage you to believe in the one who has never faltered, a faithful God to all his children in spite of our sinful nature. He is compassionate, trustworthy, forgiving, steadfast, non-comprising and holy. God’s love for his children is never ending.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom will you serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).

This is what inclusion in God’s kingdom mean to me:

Intense desire to be part of Jesus’ Kingdom called Heaven.
Never forgetting God must be number one in our lives—he will never forsake his children.   
Confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.
Learning to lean on the Lord. He will give you peace that surpasses all understanding.
Understanding God’s children is all about God’s business although we live in Satan’s fallen world.
Spreading the Gospel in a manner that is pleasing to God.  
Inspiring others to grow closer to God by how we live our lives and displaying your love for others.
Obedience to God‘s commandments and living our lives according to God’s word.
Not settling for the ways of the world but focusing on being more like Jesus in our thinking.

Author Bio:
For the first 47 years of my life, I only existed in the world I was born into. I knew of God, but I had never known God. In December of 1999, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. That decision has been the best decision of my life; God has been transforming my life to this day. I have come to the realization that it’s not about me, but all about God. My ultimate life lesson is that I am a work in progress, and God is the one who’s molding me every day of my life. I’m in a good place in my life because I know l have eternity with God in my future.