John 3:3 - You Must Be Born Again To Enter The Kingdom Of God (updated).
John 3:3 - You Must Be Born Again To Enter The Kingdom Of God
(updated).
John 3:3 (NLT) Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you
are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God."
All of us are born in sin. Our "first birth" makes us children
of Adam, and this means we are children of wrath and of
disobedience (Eph. 2:1-3). No amount of education, religion, or discipline
can change the old nature; we must receive a new nature from God.
[Wiersbe Expository Outlines]
To be born anew is to undergo such a radical change that it is
like a new birth; it is to have something happen to the soul which
can only be described as being born all over again; and the whole
process is not a human achievement, because it comes from the grace and
power of God. [Barclay Commentary]
When Jesus says, "You must be born again," He simply means that
to enter His kingdom, you and I must let God into our lives, to
work there as He pleases. When we do, eternal life will be ours - now
- and through the miracle of the new birth our life on earth will
become fresh and new. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His
love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we
shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that
have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith
produces a new life in the soul. DA168-177
Entering a saving relationship with Christ is a life changing
experience! All things become new! Not some things, but all things (2 Co.
5:17). For the first time in your life, Christ is Lord; God is Master.
When you become a Christian, Christ's presence will affect every part
of you. You will have new thoughts, new attitudes, new values, and
new sensitivities. New priorities will dramatically affect your
relationships. You will view everything in your life from a Christlike
perspective. Christianity is not something you add to your life; it is life!
Nicodemus thought that salvation meant performing certain
religious exercises and holding to particular religious teachings. He had
no idea of the all-encompassing nature of salvation! When you
become a Christian, God gives you a new heart so that everything
becomes new! God gives you a new mind, like that of Christ, so you think
differently. He gives you new emotions, so you feel deeply about completely
different matters. You become sensitive to sin, so you are no longer
comfortable with it. Your recreation will be affected as you are made aware
of what is honoring to God and what is not. Your relationships will
now be guided by the Holy Spirit. Destructive habits and attitudes,
previously immune to change, will be transformed.
Have you noticed the changes God has brought to your life
since you entered a vital relationship with Jesus Christ? These
changes should be very noticeable as a testimony of the new life you
received when you trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord. [Experiencing
God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re John 3:3]
Guard jealously your relationship to God. Jesus prayed "that
they may be one, even as We are one"--nothing between. Keep all the
life perennially open to Jesus Christ, don't pretend with Him. Are
you drawing your life from any other source than God Himself? If you
are depending upon anything but Him, you will never know when He is
gone. [My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers]
Absolutely Beautiful Song on the Blessed Hope:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Lk8xXp-fU.
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
Excellent Sermon Resource Site:
http://www.pmchurch.tv/
Another Excellent Sermon Resource Site:
http://www.lluc.org/podcastlist.php
More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com
