YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

Kingdom of Heaven
Born Again to see Kingdom of God
What is the “gospel of Jesus Christ”? Is this a different, second gospel? No! But most modern preachers teach that the gospel of Jesus Christ is about Jesus Christ. They claim that He is the kingdom of God—that the gospel of the kingdom refers exclusively to Him. But this is not what the Bible says! The gospel of Christ is His gospel—His message about the kingdom of God!

Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of God is eternal
In John 12:49-50, Christ said, “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”

In John 14:24, Jesus said, “The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” Christ brought the Father’s message. This should now be clear! Recall that He stated, “The law and the prophets were (preached) until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached” (Luke 16:16).


Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness…” If you are to seek something as your first goal and focus in life, you must know exactly what it is!

This chapter contains what many call “The Lord’s Prayer” (vs. 9-13). Christ instructs Christians to pray “after this manner,” and then continues by adding the phrase, “Thy kingdom come.” Knowing what you are praying for will make your prayers far more meaningful!

Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus is the King of the Kingdom
What is the kingdom of God? Again, the word kingdom simply means “government.” There are four necessary components of any kingdom: (1) Land, property or territory—however large or small. In other words, one must have a specific and definite set of boundaries establishing the size of the kingdom, (2) a ruler, king, monarch or governor leading the government, (3) people or subjects living within the territory governed, and (4) a system of laws and rules and a basic structure of government.

But how does this apply to God’s kingdom? Is this to be a literal, physical place on earth, with people and laws, presided over by a ruler? Most do not understand even these most basic elements of the kingdom of God. Some believe that this kingdom is in the hearts of professing Christians. Some believe that it is on earth that it is wherever you find a particular church; with others believing that it is yet to come, but not understanding how or when this will occur.


Kingdom of Heaven
What is your goal for God's Kingdom ?
Paul wrote that Jesus, after His resurrection, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Col. 1:15-20), and “that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). When connected, these two verses show that Christ is the firstborn from the dead, and that many others will follow later. But when—and into what—will these others be born?
Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of God is Powerful

In John 3:3, Christ said to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In verse 6, He continues, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Believe this plain verse. One must become spirit to see the kingdom of God!

Paul also wrote, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 15:50). The following two verses there explain that the resurrection will occur at the Seventh (“last”) Trumpet, when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The resurrection of the dead will occur when Christ returns. There must be no misunderstanding this great event. People who were once fleshly human beings will be changed into spirit—will be born again—and enter into the kingdom of God.


Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of God is from us
John 4:24 states that “God is a Spirit.” Under the Father, Christ will lead His kingdom, to be composed of resurrected spirit beings. At His Return, Christ, as a member of the Family of God, will have many younger “brothers and sisters,” who will have qualified to rule with Him in His kingdom. There is a plant kingdom, an animal kingdom, human kingdoms and an angelic kingdom. There is also the kingdom of God.

Christ stated, “I and My Father are one.” Christ revealed what the Father is like, and He did this through the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is also the power of God. The Holy Spirit is the life (and very mind) of God. Jesus Christ lived by the Spirit of the Father dwelling within Him. Just as the Father dwelled within Christ through the Holy Spirit and gave Him life, Christ lives within His followers through the Spirit and gives them life—eternal life.

Kingdom of God
Children of the KING Jesus in Kingdom
Jesus Christ is our example (John 13:15; I Pet. 2:21), and that we are to copy His life in our own. The way He lived, His sufferings and His overcoming the world are all things that we must be aware of and partake of. Let’s consider His birth, death and Resurrection as examples from which to learn the role of the Holy Spirit in God’s Plan for mankind. Christ was begotten by the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Unlike human beings, He had no physical father. What we can glean from this event, however, is that the Holy Spirit is the means by which the Father begets His sons. Just as Christ was begotten by the Father, Christians also are begotten by Him. The only difference is that Christians are begotten outside the womb. We do not possess the Holy Spirit until after baptism (Acts 2:38). Once we are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, we become begotten sons of God—not yet born. But the time will come when we will be raised from the dead (BORN AGAIN) by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us—just as Christ was.

— with Jawahar Peter and 48 others.

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