How to enter the Kingdom
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How to enter the Kingdom
by John E. Werhan
wp.me/p1HIjv-48D
The Kingdom was established after the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter opened the doors of
the Kingdom to the Jews on the day of Pentecost some 50
days after Jesus' death (Acts 2) and to the Gentiles
with the household of Cornelius (Acts 10). The Kingdom
is not a physical kingdom but a spiritual kingdom with
our Lord as King sitting at the right hand of God. The
Kingdom of God is not something that is in our future
but is here today.
To understand what one must do to enter into the
Kingdom it is imperative to consider Jesus' teaching on
this topic. In the third chapter of John's gospel he
records the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews. Jesus explains to Nicodemus what he
must do to enter the Kingdom, which is truly applicable
to all from that point until his coming in Judgment.
Nicodemus knew that Jesus' teaching was authoritative.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night
and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come
from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs
that You do unless God is with him" (John 3:1-2.)
Jesus authoritatively taught the necessity of an
individual being born again.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom
of God" (John 3:3).
Jesus made it plain that one must be "born again" if
they were to enter into the "kingdom of God". Thayer
defines the word "again/anew" as, 1) from above, from a
higher place 1a) of things which come from heaven or
God 2) from the first, from the beginning, from the
very first 3) anew, over again. In essence the
individual must be born from above.
Nicodemus was somewhat confused.
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he
is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's
womb and be born, can he?" (John 3:4).
He had the mindset of the physical, whereas Jesus was
talking about the spiritual. Knowing that an individual
cannot be literally born a second time from his
mother's womb, Nicodemus was asking for more
information to the meaning of being born again. If it
was a physical rebirth no person could fulfill the
requirement to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Jesus explains the meaning of one being born again.
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one
is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"
(John 3:5-6).
Jesus makes it clear that to be born again one is to be
born of water (baptism) and the Spirit (spiritual
rebirth - See: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38;
19:1-7; 1 Peter 3:21). In verse six of John 5 he makes
it clearer that he is talking about a spiritual birth,
not a physical rebirth.
Jesus then noted the essentiality of being "born again
of the water and spirit".
Do not be amazed that I said to you, "You must be born
again" (John 3:7).
Jesus plainly teaches that for any individual to enter
God's Kingdom they must be baptized for the forgiveness
of their sins (Acts 2:38) and be added by God Himself
(Acts 2:47). Have you been born again as taught in the
inspired text?
_______________
John preachers for the The Northeast church of Christ
in Sentinel, Oklahoma.
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