STILL SINNING AFTER BELIEVING: SAVED – BUT CAN YOU ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
- “Can you still enter the kingdom of God”? – Where?
Many people say, “Even if you sin, you can still enter the kingdom of God.” But this is not clear. What is the “kingdom of God”?
Heaven: is the eternal dwelling place of those who are saved and have eternal life through faith in Jesus (John 3:16; 5:24; 10:28).
The millennial kingdom: is the earthly kingdom of Christ after His return (Revelation 20:4-6). Entering this kingdom does not mean being saved, but is related to the reward for the victorious believer.
- Sinning after believing – Will you be punished by God?
Yes, God has forgiven our past sins when we believe. But the Bible also warns that unrepentant, fleshly believers will be severely disciplined:
“The master will come…and assign him his portion with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:48–51).
Luke 12:45–48 speaks of servants who know the master’s will but do not obey it being beaten with many blows. This is a picture of judgment and discipline in the millennial kingdom, not the eternal lake of fire.
- Who will not enter the millennial kingdom?
Passages such as 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, Galatians 5:19–21, Ephesians 5:3–5, etc. make it clear:
“Neither the sexually immoral nor the covetous nor the idolaters nor the fleshly…will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Such people can still be saved, but they will not be able to participate in the millennial kingdom – and will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 25:30).
- So can believers live comfortably in sin?
No! The truly born again cannot continue to sin comfortably:
“Whoever is born of God does not sin… and cannot sin” (1 John 3:9).
The born again person does not live in sin like a pig rolling in the mud, but like a sheep that has slipped and will find a way out. If someone lives in sin without repentance, he needs to consider whether he has truly been born again.
- What is the difference between entering heaven – and entering the millennial kingdom?
Heaven is the assurance of those who put their faith in Jesus.
The millennial kingdom is the reward for the faithful and victorious.
1 Corinthians 3:15: “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
This is the fire of discipline, not eternal hell.
- “The place of weeping and gnashing of teeth” – Is it the lake of fire?
No. The Bible uses the term “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12) to refer to the place where believers are disciplined, outside the millennial kingdom. It is not the lake of fire (a place for unbelievers), but a place of painful training for 1,000 years.
- Believers who commit serious sins – Do they lose their salvation?
There are two views:
Calvinism: A truly saved person will never lose his salvation, even if he sins (but will lose his reward and be punished).
Arminism: If he commits serious sins without repenting, he may lose his salvation.
However, most Bible passages such as 1 Cor 3:15, 1 John 5:16… clearly indicate: believers are still saved, but will be punished, even have their lives taken away by God (Ananias and Sapphira).
- People in false sects – Can they be saved?
Anyone who does not accept Jesus as God, does not believe that He is the Son of God who died for them, is not saved (John 14:6). Sects such as Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses… if they only “believe in God” but do not properly accept Christ, are still outside of salvation.
Conclusion: Live a victorious life
Being saved is something that faith gives, but the reward in the millennial kingdom depends on a life of obedience and victory.
If you have believed in God, do not live in the false security that “you will go to heaven anyway”. The question is:
Do you want to be disciplined for 1,000 years outside of God’s kingdom, or do you want to rule with Him in glory?
“He who overcomes, I will give him to rule over all nations with Me.” – (Revelation 2:26)
Live victoriously, love holiness, and prepare for the Lord’s return!