You Must be Born Again
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ - John 3:3-7
Today's command of the King is, "You must be born again."
Read John 3:3-7.
Being born again is not something that we can achieve on our own, however it is a requirement to enter God's kingdom.
Many people are led to believe that there are no requirements or that God has no expectations for them to enter His kingdom and have eternal life. Those who are leading others to believe this simply want other people to "purchase" Jesus. They present a sales pitch that includes all of the benefits and good things that will happen to you if you buy what they are selling.
However, as we consider the matter of "being born again", it is important to understand that not everyone can or will enter God's kingdom (see Matthew 7:21). It is only God who draws people to the Jesus, which causes them to want to know and follow Him (see John 6:37, 44-45).
As we produce fruit, it is our responsibility to teach our students to ask for the Holy Spirit (see Luke 11:13), to draw near to God (see James 4:8), to be fully committed to Jesus (see Luke 14:25-33), and to seek Him and God's kingdom first (see Matthew 6:33).
Being born again is an amazing, supernatural phenomenon that can only occur by the power of God. It is truly a miracle!
Because being born again occurs by the Holy Spirit living in us, it is a Spiritual phenomenon, and therefore the evidence of it is spiritual.
The evidence will be the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) as well as the possession of one or more spiritual gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
Before I was born again, I was a very selfish person who cared only about myself. But after I was born again, I was able to love and care about other people.
Like the prodigal son, I was dead but now I'm alive, I was lost but now I'm found (see Luke 15:24)!
Being born again changes us and causes us to want to live for God. Living for God is what faith is, and is what saves us (Luke 7:50; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 1:17; James 2:26).
If we do not live for God, then we do not have saving faith. This is why Jesus commanded that in order to enter the kingdom of God, we must be born again, because if someone has not been born again, they do not have saving faith.
2 Corinthians 5:17 states being born again like this:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
We are a new creation and all things have become new! This is exactly what it means to be born again!
Now Go and live for the King!!
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Discussion
Does anyone want to share their story?
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References
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. - Matthew 7:21
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. - John 6:37, 44-45
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” - Luke 11:13
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:8
Now great multitudes went with Him.
And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?
Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:25-33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. - Matthew 6:33
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. - I Corinthians 12:7-11
for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. - Luke 15:24
Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” - Luke 7:50
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, - Ephesians 2:8
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” - Romans 1:17
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. - James 2:26
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - II Corinthians 5:17
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