Post by John on Mar 31, 2019 15:54:31 GMT -5
Most everyone is familiar with the story of Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus, and his discussion about the new birth, found in John chapter 3. I want to focus our attention on two verses from this conversation, dealing with the Kingdom of God. The verses I want us to examine are verses 3 and 5
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Where is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God itself is in heaven, but there are people who are citizens of the Kingdom of God living today on earth. If I was to ask you to show me the Kingdom of God on a map, you couldn't do it. In the natural, you cannot see it. If I asked you to show me the physical borders of the Kingdom, you couldn't do it, so if I asked a person if they can see the Kingdom of God, in the natural, the answer would be no. With that in mind, how does one see the Kingdom of God, and is that even possible? The natural man cannot see it, but a born again man can see it with spiritual eyes. The born again man or woman knows the Kingdom is as real as the nation they are living in on earth, but such things are foolishness to someone who hasn't experienced the new birth. They cannot see the Kingdom.
Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That is certainly true of entering the Kingdom when you die, but it goes further than that. If you are born of water and of the Spirit, you are already entered into the Kingdom of Heaven. You haven't crossed into it's borders, but you became a citizen of that Kingdom. You have duel citizenship in your country of birth, and the Kingdom of God. This is critical to understand so you will know how to live a life pleasing to God. When you have duel citizenship, that means that you are responsible to keep the laws of the nation you live in, but even more important is the keep the laws of the Kingdom of God. When the two laws do not agree, your first responsibility is the God's Kingdom, not the nation you dwell in on earth. We will only live here as long as we live in our physical bodies, but if we have inheritance in God's Kingdom, that is eternal. Let me give you a few examples of how this works in practical terms.
In America, divorce is permitted for any cause. A man or woman can put away their spouse, and the government will recognize the divorce for things as frivolous as the wife burning the toast each morning or the husband not wiping his shoes before entering the house, and the marriage is dissolved. Not so in God's Kingdom. In order for a marriage to be dissolved in the record books in heaven, adultery must have taken place on the part of one of the individuals, and the one that was wronged is the one who must choose to put away his or her spouse. Divorce for any other reason down here is not recognized in Heaven, and if someone re-marries under such circumstances, they are guilty of adultery.
In America, two homosexuals can marry someone of the same sex, and the government recognizes that union. Not so in the Kingdom of God. God only recognizes a marriage between a man and a woman, and any unions between two men or two women are considered an abomination, and those who enter into them are considered fornicators. They shall not have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
In America, a woman can choose to kill her unborn baby, and she is not charged with murder because the law of the land allows for it. Not so in the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God, that woman is charged with murder, and when her life is over down here, she must pay for her sin by spending eternity in hell and eventually the lake of fire.
Those who wish to be part of God's Kingdom have to live by a higher standard than those simply trying to stay out of trouble in their nation of birth. You can be considered completely free from guilt in America, but have numerous charges against you in the Kingdom of God that will cost you everything. Being a Christian has responsibilities that goes with it, but it leads to the straight gate and eternal life if one is found faithful to the end.
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Where is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God itself is in heaven, but there are people who are citizens of the Kingdom of God living today on earth. If I was to ask you to show me the Kingdom of God on a map, you couldn't do it. In the natural, you cannot see it. If I asked you to show me the physical borders of the Kingdom, you couldn't do it, so if I asked a person if they can see the Kingdom of God, in the natural, the answer would be no. With that in mind, how does one see the Kingdom of God, and is that even possible? The natural man cannot see it, but a born again man can see it with spiritual eyes. The born again man or woman knows the Kingdom is as real as the nation they are living in on earth, but such things are foolishness to someone who hasn't experienced the new birth. They cannot see the Kingdom.
Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That is certainly true of entering the Kingdom when you die, but it goes further than that. If you are born of water and of the Spirit, you are already entered into the Kingdom of Heaven. You haven't crossed into it's borders, but you became a citizen of that Kingdom. You have duel citizenship in your country of birth, and the Kingdom of God. This is critical to understand so you will know how to live a life pleasing to God. When you have duel citizenship, that means that you are responsible to keep the laws of the nation you live in, but even more important is the keep the laws of the Kingdom of God. When the two laws do not agree, your first responsibility is the God's Kingdom, not the nation you dwell in on earth. We will only live here as long as we live in our physical bodies, but if we have inheritance in God's Kingdom, that is eternal. Let me give you a few examples of how this works in practical terms.
In America, divorce is permitted for any cause. A man or woman can put away their spouse, and the government will recognize the divorce for things as frivolous as the wife burning the toast each morning or the husband not wiping his shoes before entering the house, and the marriage is dissolved. Not so in God's Kingdom. In order for a marriage to be dissolved in the record books in heaven, adultery must have taken place on the part of one of the individuals, and the one that was wronged is the one who must choose to put away his or her spouse. Divorce for any other reason down here is not recognized in Heaven, and if someone re-marries under such circumstances, they are guilty of adultery.
In America, two homosexuals can marry someone of the same sex, and the government recognizes that union. Not so in the Kingdom of God. God only recognizes a marriage between a man and a woman, and any unions between two men or two women are considered an abomination, and those who enter into them are considered fornicators. They shall not have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
In America, a woman can choose to kill her unborn baby, and she is not charged with murder because the law of the land allows for it. Not so in the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God, that woman is charged with murder, and when her life is over down here, she must pay for her sin by spending eternity in hell and eventually the lake of fire.
Those who wish to be part of God's Kingdom have to live by a higher standard than those simply trying to stay out of trouble in their nation of birth. You can be considered completely free from guilt in America, but have numerous charges against you in the Kingdom of God that will cost you everything. Being a Christian has responsibilities that goes with it, but it leads to the straight gate and eternal life if one is found faithful to the end.