Notice that while the man questioned Jesus about His Kingdom, the Lord directed him toward Paradise. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God apart from moral transformation.

The compassion and kindness of the Lord in this instance must never be used to change the Great Commission from one that directs us to make disciples and to teach them to obey the Lord's commandments, to one that directs us to offer sinners a pass to Paradise—sinners who have no intention of really presenting themselves to God as a living sacrifice.

The Apostle Paul has warned us clearly that those who, after receiving the Lord, then continue in sin, cannot possibly inherit the Kingdom of God.

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21)

Those who practice such things (hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, disputes, strife, discord, envy, quarreling, jealousy, slander, gossip, arrogance, disorder) shall not inherit the kingdom of God whether or not they believe in Christ.

Speaking to believers:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

The above verse in context means that if a Christian does not choose to become the slave of righteousness, he or she will die spiritually.

The purpose of building the Body of Christ, the Church, is not so the Church can go to Paradise. It is so a mature Church can return with the Lord Jesus and save sinners from their sin.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)

"That the world may know."

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

The Church shall appear with the Lord for the purpose of saving sinners from their sin, to bring righteousness, justice, and peace on the earth.

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. (Isaiah 42:4)

Until the Church has been brought to maturity, it is impossible for righteousness, peace, and joy to come to the sinners in the earth on the scale the Lord desires.

The best possible manner in which we can help the lost, the sinners, those who live in spiritual darkness, is to draw near to the Lord and allow Him to make us a witness of His Person, ways, and will, and His purposes for the peoples of the earth.

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:10)

Why does Satan work so hard to change the Great Commission? Why does he strive to keep the Christian churches occupied with the thought of going into all the world and telling the unlearned that the blood of the Lord Jesus is an eternal forgiveness of their sins and a ticket to Paradise when they die, while at the same time encouraging the churches to neglect to develop and utilize the infinitely varied ministries and gifts whose purpose is to build the Body of Christ?

To be continued.