“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”

Romans 6: 16-18

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness”

John 3: 1-5

“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 are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 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.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit”

We have read these passages in the gospel of John; we find that Nicodemus (who was a Principal amount the Jewish) was told what the scripture says. “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God”.

We, in this literature, don’t want to talk about Nicodemus, or ask why he came to Jesus during night time and not during the day, but we do want to talk about this very valuable and important message for the believers, that the Lord Jesus preached to one man. “The Blessed message of regeneration”.

Thus, we are going to focus on what Jesus told Nicodemus. As the Scripture relates, the words Jesus responded to Nicodemus were “most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God”.

The Lord Jesus Christ mentions the new birth twice. First, says: “except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” And then he says: “except a man is born of water and of the Sprit, he cannot enter in the kingdom of God”. This is what we would like to talk to you about, the kingdom of God.

When Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again, he asked: “how can a man be born when he is old”? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born again? Jesus answered: “except a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter in the kingdom of God”.

If it wasn’t for the Apostle Paul and letters, perhaps we would never come to understand what it means to be born of water and of the Spirit.

Romans 6:3-4 Says: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life”.

Here the Apostle explains how through baptism we are buried together with Christ and resurrected for a new life, namely, that God in His Salvation plan for man through Jesus Christ gives the opportunity to all those who believe, to die and be born again by faith, to live a Spiritual life.

A multitude of Christians do not understand what this is, despite what they know and perceive, that through baptism they were born again, they can’t experience and go on to develop this new life that they have received. The Lord Jesus said, “Cannot see the Kingdom of God”.

So, one cannot go to a place that one hasn’t seen first. What does it mean to “see” the kingdom of God?

Many think that the kingdom of God is a physical place; others think that it is in heaven and that on the day that we are called up to meet the Lord, we will then enter it. However, the kingdom of God is a way of life that God gives to all those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Luke 17: 20-21 Says: “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you”

Here we learn that the Lord Jesus said that the kingdom is of God, he also said: “I am the life” and that is the life that we have received. Ever since the Holy Spirit descended on the earth on the day of Pentecost, all whom receive it abandon life in the flesh to become spiritual; since then, until now, the kingdom of God extends upon earth”. Today’s church speaks very little about this new system of life that God has provided us in Christ. However; in order to live that life, we have to learn which are the virtues that lie in its essence, for this, let’s see the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Galatians 5: 22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”

In these passages we can identify the fruit of the Spirit, which is the essence of the life of Christ, which is now within us, and it is our responsibility to develop, live, enjoy and demonstrate to others.

The Apostle Paul in this same letter to the (Galatians Chapter 5, verse 16-21) goes on to tell us what the deeds of the flesh are, that is, our old way of living, which we must abandon, through our faith and the new way of life we have received. If we stop and observe and compare the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, we should be amazed of God’s plan, that He not only paid for the salvation of those who believe in Him, but He also bought the exaltation of life, which we already possess, by accepting it, however; we must think and meditate sincerely about the new birth, we already know that through baptism we died and resurrected, now we must learn to see the Kingdom of God. Where can we find it? We can find it in that person that said that he was the Kingdom of God, observing how he lived and manifested this way of life, through the Gospels. Via the scriptures we can observe the perfect conduct of a real mane, that which we should all imitate, since those virtues are within us today.

What does it mean for us to “see” the kingdom of God? We see Jesus Christ, what do we think about him? Do we want to like him? Many teach that we cannot be as him, in our conduct. However; the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:29

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”

Now, we learn the error of those who say we cannot achieve this. For us, to see the kingdom of God is to see the love that Christ manifested, and we now know that is within us. How can this love be developed in us? Do we wish for this to happen? We know that these things are in the fruit of the Spirit which we already received and what about mercy, patience, humility, benignity, meekness, and temperance?

Let’s stop and think: how would we feel if this was a reality in us? What would be our attitude towards others? If we observe He who lived and manifested, we can visualize how this garment would fit us, because the Apostle Paul relates it as a garment that is in our Spiritual closet in Colossians 3: 12-13 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put-on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do”

Let me give you an example: when a person is thinking about buying a piece of clothing for himself, he doesn’t just randomly enter any store and buys something without having first see it. Typically, for one who is purchasing an item it is normal to look through the glass display, to examine carefully, observe the model, type and color, even pictures himself wearing it and then enters the store and try’s it on. Regarding new clothes, the person who acquires it and wears it, can awaken a longing for it on others who see it, it’s possible that some might even ask where it was purchased. But, if those that liked the garment don’t have money to buy it, as much as they want it, they will never have it.

Now let’s move on to this spiritual life that we have received, when this life develops and we start to exercise it becomes evident to others, we can also awaken a yearning to be able to experience this life; to want it. We can help them obtain it without having to pay for it, for it is a gift from God for all those who desire it. That is why, it is necessary to see it and want it, just like us. We never saw this life before we came to know it, it is necessary that through us they can see it they will know it, obtain it and enjoy it. When a believer has faith in the Scriptures and relies on what is said about the kingdom of God, he yearns for it and most of believes. The Believers comes to be part of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, God makes him a member of His body, he no longer governs himself, Christ should now be the one who governs his life entirely, Christ will guide him with his Holy Spirit and help him attain and develop this wonderful new way of life.

God having delivered us from the power of darkness has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” Colossians 1: 13-14

Now, we hear that many refer to the church as an assembly, and that is what’s wrong, when we gather to worship God as an assembly, we are all given the opportunity to expose our own ideas and publicize out thoughts, but when we declare that we are citizens of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus, we find that our thoughts and our reasoning don’t matter anymore. He is the head and everything is already planned perfectly since before the foundation of the world. He who enters, belongs to the family of the children of God, whose master is our heavenly Father and as such we must learn to live. The kingdom of our Lord Jesus has the most powerful weapon to combat the kingdom of darkness and that is the Love of God, which once developed in us, drives us to be righteous the way God instructs us in his word, and that way defeating the power of darkness that urges us to believe that we are still sinners and that we’ll never enter the kingdom of God while here on earth.

In the explanation that we gave about putting on a new garment, before we do, we must first remove the old garment. That is what the Apostle Paul teaches us in Colossians 3: 9-10

But as far as the old life that we have and have inherited from Adam (which is where we come from) only by faith, believing in what God says he has done with Christ in the cross, that is the only way that we can embrace this and through practice of this knowledge that we are acquiring about this new life, via the teachings of the word of God is how we will make ineffective its deceitful desires.

“… that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts …” Ephesians 4: 22

This transport he who believes to experience something that he has never experienced before, on one hand the joy of discovering that he is no longer a sinner and that he can live that virtuous life that God has prepared for him. On the other hand, he will also have to experience the battle, because he declared himself righteous, he will have to face, going against the desires and lusts of the flesh, since considering himself righteous just as God declares in his work, he beholds the works of the flesh as the enemy that is act companying him everywhere and tries to enslave him all over again.

“… and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” Ephesians 4:24

This is a battle that will have to be carried on by everyone who enters to belong to the kingdom of God. But, also needs to know that once having believed in what God has done through Christ will never again be a slave to anyone because God says Chris made us free once and forever.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” Galatians 5:1

That is to say, no one can enslave him again if he doesn’t want to be; evil will always be harassing him but by faith he has separated himself and has been freed, and justified by God, in Jesus Christ, acquitted from all guilt and accusation, he is freely able to defend himself from evil and maintain that new position that God has contributed through Christ.

That is why; it is necessary that all who convert has very clear understanding of what it means to be justified by God through Jesus Christ. For this we recommend that you read the book called “the justification by faith” since the three most important doctrines are: Redemptions, Justification and Regeneration of which the churches nowadays talk very little of. That is why a multitude of believers proclaim that they are sinners because they didn’t understand that they were acquitted of all guilt and accusations by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and faith from Him.

Then, we can see that those who wish to can enter the kingdom of God. Some people are content only with salvation, they see the cross and give thanks to Jesus Christ for dying for them they accept their forgiveness, but they are not interested in the new life, they are the ones content with some of the promises that God has for those who believe in his word (for example: prosperity, health, etc.)

They are not fighting the battle that the righteous have to fight against their own flesh. God says that he has transferred us into the kingdom of this beloved Son and those who understand this don’t despise it. They strive on His grace to achieve all that for which they were brought by God in Christ to obtain the development of His wonderful life that God has prepared. For in the judgment day, they can receive the crown of righteousness and be the bride The Lambs wife, to then reign with Him in the millennium and judge the world and the Angels on judgment day.

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” 1 Corinthians 6: 2-3

So dear brothers, as God new us since before the foundation of the world, He predestined us and called us to be content with salvation. But let us strive grace to achieve the development of this life that leads to glorious exaltation which God also took our Lord Jesus Christ since we are seated in heavenly places together with Him.

“… and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus …” Ephesians 2: 6

Beloved brothers, we were born again because we were baptized, so we can see and enter the kingdom of God, the heavens are open to us, let us not be fooled by anything Christ has conquered all and God made us members of his body.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually …” 1 Corinthians 12: 27

Therefore, we must strive on His grace that is in Jesus Christ to achieve the abundance of full understanding and to know the mystery of God the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom.

“… that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2: 2-3

Many believers ignore all these things and they cannot see the kingdom of God nor enter it. Our desire is that this literature may help you attain this knowledge, that God has made us members of the kingdom of His beloved Son. Therefore, we exhort you to investigate with diligence in the word of God, about this glorious and wonderful truth that Christ purchased for us on the cross. May the Lord enlighten you all in such a way that you can find that you were made partakers of this spiritual inheritance with all its riches.

“… that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 1:12

Beloved brother we speak about all these things because there is no way that the devil and all his ministers will dissipate the kingdom of God. But the opposite, before we are raptured God will expose it, in other words the Church will be manifested to all men in all its glory as it is written in Haggai 2:9, “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?”

For the kingdom we have received cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28) that means that it will never again be taken by another kingdom, all the plenitude of his power and his life will be exhibited at the millennium when Christ and his wife come to reign. However; when we go to heaven, we will not have time to conquer anything, because everything must be done while we are here on earth.  Regarding the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7; He tells us that the crown of righteousness is laid up for him, that is to say, that he conquered it here on earth. Do not be fooled by anything, in heaven we will receive only that what we accomplished in this body.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” 2 Corinthians 5:10

So, stay strong and constant, growing in the knowledge of God, without shifting from the hope to which you were called in Christ Jesus.

“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” Colossians 1: 10

I love you and embrace you in the love of Jesus Christ

Pastor: Juan A. Avellaneda