Like A Child

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

In a world that celebrates independence, strength, and self-sufficiency, Jesus presents a requirement that seems completely contrary to human instinct.

To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one must become like a child.

This is not a suggestion.
It is a condition.

I. The Meaning of Becoming Like a Child

Jesus is not calling believers to immaturity.

He is calling them to dependence.

A child recognizes their need.

They do not pretend to be self-sufficient.
They do not rely on their own strength.
They trust completely in the one who provides for them.

This posture stands in direct contrast to human pride.

“For without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 (KJV)

To become like a child is to acknowledge this truth fully.

Not intellectually.
But practically.

It is to live with the awareness that apart from Christ, there is no life, no direction, and no salvation.

II. The Barrier of Self-Sufficiency

The greatest obstacle to entering the Kingdom is not ignorance.

It is pride.

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6 (KJV)

Human nature seeks control.

We rely on:

• Our achievements  
• Our knowledge  
• Our morality  
• Our plans  

Yet none of these can secure entrance into the Kingdom.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” Titus 3:5 (KJV)

Self-sufficiency creates a false sense of security.

It convinces people they are capable of saving themselves.

But Scripture dismantles this idea completely.

Salvation is not earned.

It is received.

III. Total Dependence: Christ as Everything

To be childlike is to recognize that Christ is not a part of life.

He is life.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 (KJV)

This means:

• He is not an accessory  
• He is not an addition  
• He is not a last resort  

He is the source.

In many modern contexts, faith is treated as supplemental.

People turn to Christ when convenient.
They seek Him in moments of crisis.
They acknowledge Him without surrendering to Him.

Yet true discipleship requires complete dependence.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

Weakness is not a disadvantage in the Kingdom.

It is the entry point.

IV. Trust Without Reservation

Children trust without complexity.

They do not analyze every detail.
They do not question every provision.
They rest in the assurance of care.

Scripture calls for this same trust toward God.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

This trust requires surrender.

Not partial.
Not conditional.
But complete.

In an age of information, skepticism, and self-reliance, this kind of trust is rare.

Yet it remains essential.

V. Modern Christianity and the Illusion of Control

In many parts of the world, particularly in Western culture, faith has been reshaped.

It has become:

• Comfortable instead of costly  
• Informational instead of transformational  
• Occasional instead of continual  

Christ is often treated as optional.

A resource rather than a ruler.
A helper rather than a Lord.

Yet Scripture presents a different reality.

“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46 (KJV)

True faith is not acknowledgment alone.

It is surrender.

The Kingdom is not entered through association with Christ.

It is entered through dependence on Him.

VI. Conversion: A Change of Nature

Jesus begins His statement with a critical word.

Except ye be converted.

Conversion is not behavior modification.

It is transformation.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

To become like a child is the result of being made new.

It is the stripping away of pride and the embracing of dependence.

This transformation is not self-produced.

It is the work of God.

A Call to Repentance

If Christ has been treated as secondary, the response is repentance.

Repentance is the turning away from self-reliance and the turning toward complete dependence on God.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10 (KJV)

The Kingdom is not entered by those who believe they are strong.

It is entered by those who know they are not.

Come as you are.

Not with strength.
Not with merit.
But with need.

The Gospel Invitation

All have sinned.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23 (KJV)

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

Jesus paid the price.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 (KJV)

Confess and believe.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:9 (KJV)

Conclusion

The Kingdom of Heaven is not entered through achievement.

It is entered through surrender.

To become like a child is to let go of control.
To release self-reliance.
To embrace total dependence on Christ.

The world teaches you to stand on your own.

Christ calls you to fall at His feet.

For only those who depend on Him fully will find life, salvation, and entrance into His Kingdom.