The Kingdom of Heaven Taken by Force
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force .” -M ATTHEW 11:12 [KJV] Many view this verse as saying that men by the sheer force of their own power, goodness, and/or will can gain salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven. This is far from the truth of this verse and the whole of Scripture. This verse speaks of the desperation God the Holy Spirit brings God‘s elect to in conviction. It is when we as sinners are brought to the end of all hope, to the point that we see no other hope but the grace of God in Christ: no hope of forgiveness but by His blood and no hope of justification but by His righteousness imputed . When the Holy Spirit reveals to us our sin, impotence, and depravity, we in desperation by God given faith lay hold upon Christ, and we cannot and will not let go of Him. This is not forcing Christ to save us, but it is the force of conviction that causes us to cling...