YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

 

            Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.   Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?   Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5 AV)

 

            Rebirth is required for SEEING the Kingdom.

            Spiritual birth required to ENTER the Kingdom.

 

            But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17 AV)

            We are born spiritually dead because of the fall, and need to be born to spiritual life.

 

            That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6 AV)

            The birth process indicates a new child or generation has become a reality, in the case of spiritual birth, there would be a new spiritual child, a child born of God.

 

              But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:   Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13 AV)

            Here we see that the new spiritual birth provides sonship with God if we believe on His name. We can now see and enter the Kingdom of God.

 

              Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.   Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 AV)

            Here is where the mystery of God is revealed to us, in His spiritual Kingdom.

 

              And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: (Mark 4:11 AV)

              Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12 AV)

            We are highly privileged as sons of God to know the things of the Spirit of God, so that those things we need as we minister the Gospel of our Lord in this world will be by His provision given to us.

 

           

            Master, which is the great commandment in the law?   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.   This is the first and great commandment.   And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 AV)

            We know that God is Spirit, and that God is love.    He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8 AV), so it is expected of us as His spiritual children to love Him and our neighbors.

 

            From this we can see that the Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Love. Where do we find this Kingdom? God has written it in our hearts.

              And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:   Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21 AV)

            Our love must be the love of God, or it is not love at all. The love we find in the world’s kingdoms is selfish, fickle, manipulative and costly. God’s love is pure and self-giving for the betterment of others.