PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM
By Elder Mark Green
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it” (Lk. 16.16).
How is this verse consistent with either Absolutism or Arminianism? It is obvious that the phrase “every man” in this verse is not intended to indicate every individual of the human race, because it is easily seen that some men did not press into the kingdom. The wicked Jews did not. They opposed the kingdom of God at every opportunity. Stephen told them, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost” (Acts 7.51). If they were resisting the Holy Ghost, how were they pressing into the kingdom? It would seem more likely that they were pressing against it. Some men did press into it, however. There were those who believed in Jesus and followed Him, and every one of them who thus entered the visible kingdom pressed into it. This obviously is not speaking of the elect family of God, because men do not press into that; they are translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Their will has nothing to do with the matter, for we are not born again after the will of the flesh or the will of man. The Arminians manifestly are wresting the Scriptures when they try to make this mean that all the human race presses into the kingdom, for all do not, nor can they, nor have they any desire to do so.
Every man who enters the visible kingdom of Christ, however, must press into it. Jesus said, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt. 16.24). To press into the kingdom is to follow Jesus – to come after Him. Any man who would follow Jesus must do two things: deny himself and take up his cross. This is a good definition of what “pressing into the kingdom” involves, is it not? It takes a conscious decision and effort. It is not something that happens automatically. If the person does not press, then he will not enter. He will not enter until he presses.
The Lord has stated a conditional situation: “If any man will come after me.” He has also given us a command: “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” Those who feel a burden of sin are commanded to come unto Christ in the sense of gospel obedience. All who do this must press into the kingdom. Some might be so absurd as to claim that all who feel the burden certainly obey that command, but anyone who knows anything of the fruit of the Spirit surely could not candidly claim that. All of us know many who have manifested many times a sense of their unworthiness and their belief in Christ, but have not taken up the gospel yoke to follow Him. Absolutism says that men will press into the kingdom only if they were predestinated to do so, but the Scriptures cited clearly teach that men fail to press into the kingdom, not because of predestination, but because of sin and disobedience. The idea that God’s children will join the church when God gets ready for them to join and irresistibly moves them to do so is one of the most hurtful things that could be propagated in the kingdom of God. God’s children join the church when they are obedient to Him. God has already stated His mind in the matter, i.e., that men who feel a burden for sin ought to take up their crosses and follow Him.