Podcasts about kingdom of god john

You must be spiritually born to receive eternal life. “Unless one is born of water [physical birth] and born of Spirit [born again through faith alone in Christ alone] he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This second birth is a simple act of faith. “He who believes in Him [the Lord Jesus Christ] is not judged” (John 3:18). You will either be born twice or die twice. Unbelievers, those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, will die the second death, will be condemned to the Lake of Fire, and tormented forever.Download Transcript⁠: https://rhem.pub/two-births-94140c

Basic Bible Study | Matthew, Mark, Luke & John (Part 2) This is part 2 of 6 In today's podcast, join Chris and Robyn as they continue their discussion in Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Here is a breakdown of what was discussed: - Nicodemus was a Pharisee who believed Jesus - unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God - John 3:16 - the Kingdom would come to the whole world; its entrance required repentance & spiritual rebirth - eternal life is not an extension of a person's miserable, mortal life; it is God's life embodied in Christ; in eternal life, there is no death, sickness, enemy, evil, or sin “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ABOUT Opening a Bible for the first time can be intimidating. Join Amy & Robyn in an easy-to-follow discussion. This Basic Bible Study is perfect for beginners & those who have never read the Bible. Look for new podcasts every Tuesday & Friday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIBLE RESOURCES https://biblehub.com/ https://www.bible.com/ http://betterdaysarecoming.com/bible/pronunciation.html https://biblespeak.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/mybasicbiblestudy WEBSITE http://www.mybasicbiblestudy.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can contact us via e-mail or regular old snail-mail: Basic Bible Study 7797 N. 1st St. #34 Fresno, CA 93720 basicbiblestudy19@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We pause our Leader Equip series to interview Evangelism Minister Reid Overall where we discuss all things baptism in anticipation of Baptism Sunday, April 27. For Kids  We have a free baptism booklet designed for children ages 5-12 to help guide conversations about baptism. To receive a booklet, reach out to your Kids Ministry Team at the Welcome Desk. Use the QR code inside the booklet to let us know about any next steps your child may want to take.  For Students  Younger students (6th-7th grade) may still find the baptism booklet helpful.  One-on-One Conversations: Students can schedule a meeting with their campus student minister to discuss baptism further. We also encourage parents to have open conversations with their students about baptism, offering guidance and support as they explore this important step in their faith.   Ready to Take the Next Step? Baptism Sunday is coming up on April 27, and we can't wait to celebrate with you! If you've been considering baptism, this is your opportunity to take a bold step in your faith journey. Baptism is a public declaration of your decision to follow Jesus, and we're here to walk with you every step of the way. Whether you're ready to take the plunge or just have questions, we'd love to connect. Let's take this step together—sign up today and be part of this powerful day of transformation! Baptism Sign Up  Talking to Your Kids About Baptism  Baptism Revival and the Next Generation  NT Wright - Do I Need to Be Baptized?  Baptism is: · Commanded by Jesus: Baptism is a key part of making disciples, commanded by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). · Repentance and Forgiveness: It symbolizes repentance and the forgiveness of sins, with a promise of receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). · Salvation through Faith: Baptism is tied to belief and salvation, showing outward faith in Jesus (Mark 16:16). · Union with Christ's Death and Resurrection: Through baptism, believers are symbolically buried with Christ in His death and raised to a new life, identifying with His resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12). · New Identity in Christ: Baptism represents putting on a new identity, being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). · Spiritual Rebirth: Jesus teaches that baptism represents being born again by water and the Spirit, necessary for entering the kingdom of God (John 3:5). · Conscience before God: It's not just an external act but a spiritual appeal for a clear conscience through the resurrection of Jesus (1 Peter 3:21). · Cleansing from Sin: Baptism is a symbolic washing away of sins as believers call on the name of Jesus (Acts 22:16). · God's Mercy and Renewal: Baptism reflects God's mercy in regenerating and renewing believers by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). FAQs about Baptism What is baptism? Baptism is a beautiful ceremony where a person who has decided to follow Jesus Christ is immersed in water to demonstrate their faith in Him by publicly declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and King. Baptism is the way Scripture teaches that we are united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Baptism was a command of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) and Jesus himself was baptized (Luke 4:21-22). Baptism is for everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has decided to give their lives to him. Why does the Hills practice baptism by immersion (going under the water)? The word “baptism” we find in Scripture comes from a Greek word “baptizo” which means “to dip or immerse.” The examples we see in the New Testament show that the people who were being baptized went down into the water (Acts 8:26-38). And going completely under the water shows that we are participating with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). When we go under the water, it's as if we are dying and being buried. When we come back up from underneath the water, it's a sign of our resurrection and coming out of the grave as a brand new person. These are several reasons why we practice baptism by immersion at the Hills. Should I be baptized if I was baptized as an infant? Many people are baptized as an infant because their parents desired to dedicate them to the Lord and for his protection to be on their lives. We believe that choosing to be baptized later on in life honors that choice made on your behalf by someone else. As we read the New Testament, we see that the examples of all those who are baptized are people who are older and who are able to commit themselves to following Jesus Christ. So we welcome all those who have been baptized as an infant to be baptized again as a way to declare I personally choose to follow Jesus the rest of my days. Should I wait until I get my life together before I am baptized? We would emphatically say “no”! Waiting to come to Jesus until you get your life in order is like telling someone with a broken leg to set the bone themselves, splint it, learn how to walk on it, and then go see the doctor. We would never keep someone from the person who could heal them. The same is true with baptism. You come to Jesus, not because you have it all together, but precisely because you don't. The only thing we've proven on our own is that we can't do it on our own. Jesus is the only one that can put us back together. And it is by surrendering to Jesus that we receive his life, his healing, and the power of the Holy Spirit who begins to transform us from the inside out. Staying away from Jesus keeps us away from the only power that truly can change us. Come to Jesus, surrender to Him, be baptized, and watch what God can do in your life! How much do I or my children need to know before we are baptized? We have often made entrance into the Kingdom of Jesus a matter of information, when in reality it is a matter of surrender. A person does need to understand that Jesus declared that He was the Son of God and that our faith in Him is what saves us. A person needs to be able to understand that Jesus invites us to give up control of our lives so we can follow his ways and not our own. Beyond that, a person is free to come and learn about Jesus with Jesus instead of learning about him from a distance. Baptism is a starting place on our spiritual journey, not a test we must pass before we can begin. Jesus wants us to walk with him, learn from him as we go, and share as much life together we possibly can. Remember, Jesus is a person to love, not a subject to study. If you or your children believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and you are ready to follow Him, you are ready to begin that journey. We invite you to come and be baptized this Sunday! I've been baptized before but I'm not really sure I knew what I was doing or I haven't really followed Jesus since then. Do I need to be re-baptized? Certainly, when people are baptized, they need to be able to make a commitment that they believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that they want to surrender to Him. But remember, the power of salvation comes not from our knowledge and understanding of every aspect of the spiritual journey but from Jesus' grace. Often what is needed is not re-baptism but a deeper surrender to the decision that was already made. In some cases, a person made the decision to follow Jesus and was baptized but then decided to follow their own path which could've even led them into deep sin and wandering. In situations like this, what is needed is not re-baptism but repentance. Jesus' grace is so immensely powerful all that God is expecting from us is to turn our faces back to him and come home, making the decision to honor the commitment we've already made to follow him. And sometimes people are baptized because they had a parent or grandparent or friend who wanted them to be baptized and it wasn't really a commitment they were making on their own. In these situations, we would encourage the person to consider being baptized again. Going through the practice of being baptized without commitment and without faith and is just an exercise in getting wet. It is faith that saves us, not water. What should I expect on Baptism Sunday? Baptism Sunday will be a very exciting day! We will have our regular worship service at the Hills. At the end of our time of preaching and sharing God's Word, Pastor Rick will invite everyone who would like to be baptized to come towards the stage. There will be people there at the stage who will welcome you and walk with you back to get you registered. After we get you registered, we'll take you back to the dressing rooms where we will have clothes you can change into for your baptism. The dressing rooms are private and are separated for men and women. After you change into your clothes, you can leave your things in the dressing rooms and they will be watched and kept safe while you are baptized. You can choose someone to baptize you or one of our ministers at the church can baptize you. If you are going to have someone personal to you baptize you, they will need to change into clothes, as well. They can bring their own if they'd like or they can change into clothes we will have available. You then will go into the baptistry (the water is warm and is heated) and you will be baptized in front of the church. You'll then go back and change into your clothes. After changing, one of our elders will pray over you and your family and friends as you begin your new journey. There will also be photo backdrops set up so you can take pictures with family and friends on your big day! Reach out to us at nextgennow@thehills.org and find more information about The Hills Church at www.thehills.org.  

Miracles, Faith and the Kingdom of God | John 6:1-15 Come & See | Josh Larrabee February 16, 2025 | Summit Community Church And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with […]

Sunday Morning Expositional Message

Seeker In The Shadows JOHN 3 #RTTBROS #nightlight A Seeker in the Shadows: Meeting Jesus in the Night "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." - John 3:2 KJV In the stillness of night, when the world grows quiet and our hearts are most vulnerable, sometimes we find ourselves seeking answers to life's deepest questions. Such was the case with Nicodemus, a learned man of the Pharisees, who chose the cover of darkness to approach Jesus with his burning questions. Like Nicodemus, many of us approach God with our intellect first. We try to understand the divine through the lens of human wisdom, attempting to grasp the infinite with our finite minds. Yet Jesus's response to this respected religious leader was not a theological discourse but a profound truth that transcended human understanding: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3 KJV). This encounter teaches us several vital truths about our relationship with God: First, God meets us where we are. Whether we come in broad daylight like the Samaritan woman at the well, or in the shadows like Nicodemus, God welcomes sincere seekers. Our timing and circumstances don't diminish His willingness to engage with us. Second, human wisdom alone cannot grasp divine truth. Nicodemus, despite his extensive religious education, struggled to understand the concept of being born again. Sometimes our greatest obstacle to experiencing God's truth is our attempt to fully comprehend it with our limited understanding. Third, salvation is not about intellectual assent or religious performance. Jesus made it clear that entering God's kingdom requires a supernatural transformation - being born of water and of the Spirit. This new birth is not achieved through human effort but received through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross. Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness for the healing of God's people, Jesus was lifted up on the cross for our salvation. The simplicity of "look and live" remains God's method of salvation - not through complex theological understanding or religious ritual, but through simple faith in Christ's sacrifice. The beautiful truth is that salvation is available to all who believe, regardless of their background, intelligence, or social status. As Jesus declared, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 KJV). Reflection Questions: 1. Like Nicodemus, what questions or doubts might be holding you back from fully embracing God's truth? 2. Are you trying to understand God's ways through human wisdom alone? How might you need to surrender your understanding to embrace His truth? 3. Have you experienced the new birth Jesus spoke of? If not, what's preventing you from taking that step of faith? Prayer: Heavenly Father, like Nicodemus, we often come to You with our questions and uncertainties. Help us to trust You even when we don't fully understand Your ways. Thank You for making salvation so simple that anyone can receive it through faith in Your Son. May we never let our human wisdom become a barrier to experiencing Your divine truth. In Jesus's name, Amen.

One of the major themes in Luke 8 is how to get faith and use it in the everyday experiences of life. In the first section of verses 1-21, Jesus laid the foundation by teaching His disciples that faith comes through receiving the Word of God into an understanding heart. In the second part, verses 22-56, Jesus put them through a series of "examinations" to see how much they had really learned. Most of us enjoy Bible study, however, it is in the tests of life that faith really grows, and we get closer to Christ.   Everybody lives by faith in something or someone. The difference between the Christian believer and the unsaved person is not that one has faith and the other does not. They both have faith. The difference is in the object of their faith, for faith is only as good as the object. The Christian believer has put his faith in Jesus Christ, and he bases that faith on the Word of God. In Hebrews 11, we are told of the great exploits of faith through the lives of the Old Testament heroes. Then in Hebrews 12:2, we are exhorted to continuously be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”.   In Luke 8, Jesus leaves His ministry headquarters in Capernaum and continues “preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, going “through every city and village” in the northern Galilean region. The words "preaching and bringing the glad tidings" are translated from one Greek word which is the word from which we get our English words evangelize, evangelistic, evangelist, and evangelical. The "glad tidings" was that Jesus provided a way to enter the kingdom of God.   The kingdom of God is an interesting phrase that is used often in the New Testament. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books. Acts 1:3 tells us that during Jesus forty days of ministry to His disciples after His resurrection that “He spoke of those things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 28, the very last chapter of the Book of Acts, also mentions how Paul's messages centered around “the kingdom of God” (v. 23), and in the very last verses, Acts 28:30-31, “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”   It might be interesting to note that the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times in the New Testament, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. Many Bible scholars believe that both terms are speaking of the same thing and are considered to be synonymous.   The main thing we should take from all this is that in John 3, in Jesus' discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus makes it very clear that the only entrance into the “kingdom of God” is by being born again. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3), and “he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Without a spiritual rebirth we can neither see nor enter the kingdom of God.   The “kingdom of God or heaven” is basically everything that has to do with God and His rule over everything. A kingdom has a king! Jesus is the King of God's kingdom. That is why when Jesus showed up on earth and began His ministry, He was preaching that “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The King had arrived! Jesus is the “Door” and He is the only entrance to “God's Kingdom”.   When we repent of our sins and by faith trust and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we enter His Kingdom, and our spiritual eyes are activated and for the first time we can “see” the things that pertain to “God's Kingdom”. We submit and come under His authority, and we enjoy all the blessings of living a life of heaven on earth!   There are only two kingdoms on earth today. One is the domain of darkness and the other is the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13). Which one are you in?   God bless!

Jesus said, “Unless a person is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3). This episode carefully examines this monumental statement and answers three important questions: 1) What does it mean to be ‘born again'? 2) Why must a person be born again to see the Kingdom of God? 3) How is a person actually born again? Also discussed are some prevalent false teachings that mislead many away from a true spiritual rebirth and into a false sense of security with God. Scripture referenced: Genesis 3:1-20, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:22-27, Luke 3:15-18, John 3:1-10, John 5:24, John 6:44-45, 63, 65, John 8:34-36, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-22, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 5:12-19, 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:3-7, 1 Peter 1:3

Jesus' words were often difficult for some listeners. However, hearing His words in faith and obedience are necessary to enter the kingdom of God -John 6-66-. In Luke 16, the Pharisee's had issues with Jesus' words -16-14- that He spoke in verses 9-13. Jesus responded to them in the text of this message. He accused them of false expectations and making money their idol. If one claims to be a Christian but justifies a sinful lifestyle under the guise of mere profession and assumption that God's grace will cover him, he is a liar and lost.

Jesus' words were often difficult for some listeners. However, hearing His words in faith and obedience are necessary to enter the kingdom of God (John 6:66). In Luke 16, the Pharisee's had issues with Jesus' words (16:14) that He spoke in verses 9-13. Jesus responded to them in the text of this message. He accused them of false expectations and making money their idol. If one claims to be a Christian but justifies a sinful lifestyle under the guise of mere profession and assumption that God's grace will cover him, he is a liar and lost.

Message: Set Your Heart On The Kingdom Of God Sermon Series: The Gospel According to Luke Passage: Luke 12:13-34; Psalm 49:16-0 Preacher: John Buckley Sunday Service: 7 July 2024 Want to know more about Harbourside? Head to our website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠harbourside.org

You are born spiritually dead; therefore, you must be born again to go to heaven. Otherwise, you will be condemned to live forever in the Lake of Fire. “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 1:3). Only your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross will allow you to be born again. Pray and tell God the Father that you believe His Son Jesus Christ paid for your sins on the cross. Accept His free gift of salvation by faith, not works. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 6:40). The moment you are born again, your new life in Christ begins. Click for Full Transcript: https://rhem.pub/born-again-c78ae1

Color: White Old Testament: Isaiah 6:1–7 Psalm: Psalm 29; antiphon: v. 2 Epistle: Romans 11:33–36 Gospel: John 3:1–17 Gospel: John 3:1–15 Introit: Psalm 8:1–2a, 3–5; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Liturgical Text Verse: Liturgical Text The Holy Trinity Reveals Himself to Sinners   When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out “Woe is me!” For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1–7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit's good pleasure in Baptism. “Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” (Is. 6:3). “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33–36). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Healthy Marriages are the Foundation of Healthy Homes “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”— Genesis 2:24 1. Leave “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother… — Genesis 2:24 We must leave our parents. Your spouse is your new priority. We must leave our past. 2. Cleave “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife — Genesis 2:24 Marriage is not contractual; it's covenantal. “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” — Ephesians 5:31–32 3. Become “One-flesh.” “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” — Genesis 2:24 Marriage Belongs to God “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” — Genesis 3:5 When leaving becomes an issue, stress becomes the norm. If we don't cleave to each other, we will cleave to something (or someone). If you want a healthy marriage, you must have healthy hearts. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 36:26 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” — 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…” — John 3:3

Our old self was crucified with him so that . . . we should no longer be slaves to sin. . . . — Romans 6:6 Obtaining my Canadian citizenship was easy—well, for me, at least. (It took more effort on my mother's part!) Being born in Canada qualified me for Canadian citizenship. However, becoming a citizen in the kingdom of heaven is more complicated. To be a citizen in God's kingdom, we must die and be born again. In Romans 6 and in other passages, the apostle Paul speaks of being crucified with Christ, dying with Christ, being buried with Christ, and rising with Christ. Jesus teaches that unless we are born again, we will not see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). As Paul explains in Ephesians, we are “to put off [our] old self”—our old sinful nature—and “to be made new . . . to put on the new self, created to be like God in righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Dying and being born again calls for a radical change in how we think and act. But this is not a transformation we can manage on our own. As Paul puts it, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). God gives us new life through the Spirit, putting the old sinful nature to death. And even before that, the Spirit of God moves us to recognize our sin and our need for new life. So we pray in repentance and ask God for forgiveness, trusting in his power to save us through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, put to death every part of our sinful nature, and bring us to live all of life for the glory of God. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Surprises in food courtsHERE'S HOW:Today, live in the golden rule. When you need something, ask God for help. Be generous as God is. And seek first the kingdom and his righteousness. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.'" John 3:3 Harvest Crusade 2024 — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's the secret…HERE'S HOW:Today, ask God:"Father, make me great in YOUR eyes. Help me to keep directing my desire for greatness towards humility, generosity, goodness, and kindness. God give me that 'surpassing righteousness."Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Saturday, January 13, 2024

In this sermon, pastor Dylan Dodson preaches from John 3:1:-18 as Jesus shares with Nicodemus how to receive the kingdom of God.

The Spirit's Regeneration, Indwelling, Baptizing, and Sealing Ministry At the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit performs several acts for new believers, which include regeneration (John 3:6; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 1:3), indwelling (John 14:16-17; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19), baptizing (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:27), and sealing (Eph 4:30). Regeneration The word regeneration itself occurs only twice in the Bible (Matt 19:28 and Tit 3:5). In both places the Greek word used is paliggenesia (παλιγγενεσία), which means, “the state of being renewed… [the] experience of a complete change of life, rebirth of a redeemed person.”[1] Regeneration means new believers receive spiritual life at the moment they trust in Christ alone as their Savior. Geisler states, “The new birth of which Jesus speaks is the act of regeneration, whereby God imparts spiritual life to the believer's soul (1 Peter 1:23).”[2] Paul Enns agrees, saying, “Succinctly stated, to regenerate means ‘to impart life.' Regeneration is the act whereby God imparts life to the one who believes.”[3] Ryrie notes: "Although the word regeneration is used only twice in the Bible (Titus 3:5, where it refers to the new birth, and Mt 19:28 where it refers to the millennial kingdom), the concept of being born again is found in other passages, notably John 3. Technically, it is God's act of begetting eternal life in the one who believes in Christ. While faith and regeneration are closely associated, the two ideas are distinct, faith being the human responsibility and the channel through which God's grace is received, and regeneration being God's supernatural act of imparting eternal life."[4] David Anderson adds: "The NT uses a number of different words and images to convey the doctrine of regeneration. The noun palingenesia is used just twice: Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5. In Matthew, Jesus is speaking of the regeneration which will occur at His second coming. He refers to setting up His kingdom, placing the twelve over the twelve tribes of Israel, and rewarding those who have sacrificed for His cause. But in Titus 3:5, we have a direct reference to the rebirth of the believer: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”[5] To the concept of regeneration, the Greek words anothen (ἄνωθεν) and anagennao (ἀναγεννάω) can be added. Jesus, while speaking to Nicodemus, said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [anothen] he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3; cf., John 3:7). The word anothen (ἄνωθεν) generally means “from a source that is above.”[6] That is, from a heavenly source. (At least two English translations, NET & YLT, render the word “from above”). Because Nicodemus confused physical birth with spiritual birth (John 3:4), Jesus clarified His statement, saying, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Jesus was talking about spiritual birth, or regeneration, which comes from the source of heaven. Peter used the Greek word anagennao (ἀναγεννάω) when he wrote about Christians who have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3), and who “have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet 1:23). The basic meaning of anagennao (ἀναγεννάω) is to “beget again, cause to be born again.”[7] In both instances the word denotes imparting new life. This work of the Spirit is directly related to the believer's salvation. According to Walvoord, “The work of regeneration can be assigned to the Holy Spirit as definitely as the work of salvation can be assigned to Christ.”[8]And the believer's new life is the basis for a new walk with the Lord. Ryrie notes, “Regeneration does not make a man perfect, but it places him in the family of God and gives him the new ability to please his Father by growing into the image of Christ. Fruit from the new nature is proof that regeneration has occurred (1 John 2:29).”[9] Lighter states: "The means by which regeneration is accomplished eliminates all human endeavor. Though personal faith in Christ as Savior is necessary, faith does not produce the new life; it does not regenerate. Only God regenerates. Human faith and divine regeneration occur at the same time, but the one is man's responsibility as he is enabled by the Holy Spirit, and the other is the work of God imparting the divine life."[10] Indwelling The indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit for every believer was an innovation that was future from the time of Jesus' ministry on earth. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:38). And John tells us, “But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39). The Spirit would begin His special ministry on the day of Pentecost, and it would involve His personal indwelling of every believer. Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus spoke of this, saying, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). Notice that Spirit would not only be with them, would be in them. Merrill Tenney writes, “This distinction marks the difference between the Old Testament experience of the Holy Spirit and the post-Pentecostal experience of the church. The individual indwelling of the Spirit is the specific privilege of the Christian believer.”[11] This new indwelling ministry by God the Holy Spirit is different than His work in believers in the OT. Under the Mosaic Law, only a select few received the Holy Spirit (Ex 31:1-5; Num 11:25; 27:18; 1 Sam 16:13), and that was conditioned on His sovereign purposes. But now, in the dispensation of the church age, God the Holy Spirit would personally indwell both the local church (1 Cor 3:16-17), as well as each individual believer (1 Cor 6:19). Paul wrote to the Christians living in Corinth, saying, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16). Concerning the Spirit's indwelling the church in 1 Corinthians 3:16, Radmacher states: "There are two words translated temple in the NT. One refers to the temple building and all its courts; the other refers strictly to the Most Holy Place where no one but the high priest could go. Paul uses the latter term to describe the local church, in whom God dwells. Unlike 1 Corinthians 6:19, where the word temple refers to the individual believer, and Ephesians 2:21, where the word speaks of the church universal, these verses speak of the local church as God's temple. God takes very seriously our actions in the church. destroy: Any person who disrupts and destroys the church by divisions, malice, and other harmful acts invites God's discipline (1 Cor 11:30-32)."[12] Paul also describes the Spirit's indwelling each Christian in 1 Corinthians 6:19, where he wrote, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” According to Constable, “Previously Paul taught his readers that the Corinthian church was a temple (naos; 1 Cor 3:16). The believer's body is also a temple. The Holy Spirit is actually indwelling each of these temples (Rom 8:9; cf. Matt 12:6; 18:15–20; 28:16–20; Mark 13:11; John 14:17, 23).”[13] What we find in the church age is that all three Persons of the Godhead indwell every believer (John 14:16-17, 20, 23); however, the Holy Spirit has a special ministry which began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4; 11:15-16; 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:26-28), and will continue until the church is raptured to heaven (2 Th 2:7; cf. John 14:1-3; 1 Th 4:13-18; Tit 2:13). Chafer states: "The Spirit made His advent into the world here to abide throughout this dispensation. As Christ is now located at the right hand of the Father, though omnipresent, so the Spirit, though omnipresent, is now locally abiding in the world, in a temple, or habitation, of living stones (Eph 2:19-22). The individual believer is also spoken of as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). The Spirit will not leave the world, or even one stone of that building until the age-long purpose of forming that temple is finished…The Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost and that aspect of the meaning of Pentecost will no more be repeated than the incarnation of Christ. There is no occasion to call the Spirit to “come,” for He is here."[14] Baptizing The subject of baptism has been, and continues to be, a subject of confusion. The word baptize is a transliteration of the Greek verb baptizo (βαπτίζω) which broadly means to “plunge, dip, [or] wash,”[15] and is often used “of the Christian sacrament of initiation after Jesus' death.”[16] The Greek noun baptisma (βάπτισμα) refers to the result of a dipping or immersing. In Classical Greek literature, the verb baptizo (βαπτίζω) “was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another.”[17] The Greek poet Nicander (ca. 200 B.C.) used both bapto (βάπτω) and baptizo (βαπτίζω) when describing the process of making pickles. According to James Strong, “When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism.”[18]  There are numerous baptisms mentioned in the Bible, some are wet and some are dry. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water” (Matt 3:11a), clearly making the baptism wet. But then, John the Baptist spoke of Jesus, saying, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt 3:11b). These latter two baptisms are both dry, where no one gets placed into water. A few other baptisms mentioned in Scripture include the baptism of the cross (Mark 10:35-38; Luke 12:50), the baptism of Moses (1 Cor 10:1-2), and the baptism of Christians (Matt 28:16-20). For the Christian, water baptism is a picture of the believer's spiritual union and identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:3-7; Col 2:11-12). Water baptism does not save (1 Cor 1:17). It never has and never will. God saves at the moment believers place their faith solely in Jesus (John 3:16; 1 Cor 15:3-4). At the moment of faith in Christ, God the Holy Spirit unites new believers spiritually to Christ, adding them to the church, the body of Christ. Paul wrote, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:12-13). Lewis Chafer states, “As a ground upon which the certainty of eternal security rests, the baptism of the Spirit should be recognized as that operation by which the individual believer is brought into organic union with Christ. By the Spirit's regeneration Christ is resident in the believer, and by the Spirit's baptism the believer is thus in Christ.”[19] Merrill F. Unger comments: "This momentous spiritual operation is set forth in the NT as the basis of all the believer's positions and possessions “in Christ” (Eph 1:3; Col 2:10; 3:1–4; etc.). The operation is prophetic in the gospels (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16–17; John 1:33–34, where Christ is the baptizer), historic in the Acts (cf. Acts 1:5 with Acts 11:16), and doctrinal in the epistles (1 Cor 12:13, where the Spirit is named specifically as the agent; Rom 6:3–4; Gal 3:26–27; Col 2:9–12; Eph 4:5). The Spirit's baptizing work, placing the believer “in Christ,” occurred initially at Pentecost at the advent of the Spirit, who baptized believing Jews “into Christ.” In Acts 8, Samaritans were baptized in this way for the first time; in Acts 10, Gentiles likewise were so baptized, at which point the normal agency of the Spirit as baptizer was attained. According to the clear teaching of the epistles, every believer is baptized by the Spirit into Christ the moment he is regenerated. He is also simultaneously indwelt by the Spirit and sealed eternally, with the privilege of being filled with the Spirit, as the conditions for filling are met."[20] Sealing Several times Paul used the Greek verb sphragizo (σφραγίζω) when writing to Christians. Paul wrote of God “who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge” (2 Cor 1:22). To the Christians at Ephesus he wrote, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13), and “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). In each of these uses the verb sphragizo (σφραγίζω) means “to mark with a seal as a means of identification…so that the mark denoting ownership also carries with it the protection of the owner.”[21] Laney Jr., states, “In ancient times a seal was used as an identifying mark, indicating the rightful ownership of the object sealed. And so the sealing ministry of the Spirit marks believers as God's own possession, guaranteeing their security for eternity.”[22] Concerning Paul's use of sphragizo (σφραγίζω) in Ephesians 1:13, Harold Hoehner comments: "God seals the believers in Christ with the promised Holy Spirit when they have not only heard but also believed the gospel of salvation. The sealing with the Spirit must not be confused with the other ministries of the Spirit. The indwelling of the Spirit refers to his residence in every believer (Rom 8:9; 1 John 2:27). The baptizing ministry of the Spirit places believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). The filling by the Spirit is the control of the Spirit over believers' lives (Eph 5:18). The sealing ministry of the Spirit is to identify believers as God's own and thus give them the security that they belong to him (Eph 1:13; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22). The very fact that the Spirit indwells believers is a seal of God's ownership of them."[23] The Holy Spirit is Himself the seal that marks us as owned by God and guarantees our future redemption and glory (Eph 1:13-14; 4:30). These blessings are completely the work of the Holy Spirit for the benefit of Christians and occur at the moment believers trust Jesus as their Savior. These are facts based on objective statements in Scripture and are accepted by faith, not ever-changing subjective feelings. Though Christians can grieve and/or quench the Holy Spirit with personal sin (Eph 4:30; 1 Th 5:19), and though they may suffer divine discipline because of personal sin (Heb 12:5-11), they cannot grieve Him away. Joseph Dillow notes: "The ancient practice of using seals is behind the figurative use of the word here. A seal was a mark of protection and ownership. The Greek word sphragizō is used of a stone being fastened with a seal to “prevent its being moved from a position” (BDAG). In fact, this was apparently the earliest method of distinguishing one's property. The seal was engraved with a design or mark distinctive to the owner. The seal of ownership or protection was often made in soft wax with a signet ring. An impression was left on the wax signifying the owner of the thing sealed. When the Holy Spirit seals us, He presses the signet ring of our heavenly Father on our hearts of wax and leaves the mark of ownership. We belong to Him. He certifies this by His unchangeable purpose to protect and own us to the day of redemption. In Ephesians 1:13-14, we are told that the Holy Spirit Himself is the seal. He is impressed upon us, so to speak. His presence in our lives is thus a guarantee of God's protection and that we are owned by God. A broken seal was an indication that the person had not been protected. The Holy Spirit cannot be broken. He is the seal of ownership. In Ephesians 4:30, we are told that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. This sealing ministry of the Spirit is forever and guarantees that we will arrive safely for the redemption of our bodies and entrance into heaven (Romans 8:23). He is the seal that we are now owned and protected by God until the day of redemption."[24] Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 752. [2] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004), 123. [3] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 338. [4] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1972). [5] David R. Anderson, Free Grace Soteriology, ed. James S. Reitman, Revised Edition. (Grace Theology Press, 2012), 235. [6] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 92. [7] Ibid., 59. [8] John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit, 131. [9] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1972). [10] Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology: A Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review, 199. [11] Merrill C. Tenney, “John,” in The Expositor's Bible Commentary: John and Acts, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 9, 147. [12] Earl D. Radmacher, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, 1464–1465. [13] Tom Constable, Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 1 Co 6:18. [14] Lewis S. Chafer, He that is Spiritual (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 1967), 26. [15] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 164. [16] Ibid., 164. [17] W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 50. [18] James Strong, βάπτω bapto, Enhanced Strong's Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995). [19] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. 3, 337. [20] Merrill F. Unger and R.K. Harrison, “Baptism of the Spirit,” The New Unger's Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988). [21] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 980. [22] Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, Understanding Christian Theology (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003), 206. [23] Harold W. Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 240. [24] Joseph C. Dillow, Final Destiny: The Future Reign of the Servant Kings, 4th Edition (Houston, TX: Grace Theology Press, 2018).

Genesis 3: The Fall of Humanity and the Promise of RedemptionGenesis 3 is a pivotal chapter in the Bible, often referred to as the "Fall of Humanity." It narrates the tragic events that marked the beginning of human disobedience and the alienation of humanity from God. This chapter holds deep theological and moral significance, exploring themes of temptation, sin, and God's response to human transgression.The Garden of Eden, a paradise of perfection, serves as the setting for this profound narrative. It is in this idyllic garden that we find Adam and Eve, the first man and woman created by God. They enjoy an intimate relationship with God and each other, living in harmony with nature. However, this harmony is shattered when temptation enters the scene. The Serpent, often identified as Satan, becomes the agent of temptation. He cunningly questions God's commandment, sowing seeds of doubt and deception in Eve's mind.He asks, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'" (Genesis 3:1). Eve responds, but she adds her own distortion to God's commandment, saying they should neither eat nor touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God had only commanded them not to eat from it. The Serpent then entices Eve with the promise of becoming "like God," knowing good and evil. Eve succumbs to temptation, takes the fruit from the forbidden tree, eats it, and shares it with Adam.At that moment, sin enters the world, and their eyes are opened to their nakedness and vulnerability. The consequences of this disobedience are profound. Adam and Eve's intimate relationship with God is broken as they hide from His presence. They realize their nakedness and sow fig leaves together to cover themselves, symbolizing their attempt to hide their shame and guilt. When God confronts them, they both shift blame – Adam blames Eve, and Eve blames the serpent. But God holds them accountable for their actions.God, however, does not leave humanity without hope. Amid the pronouncement of consequences – pain in childbearing, toil in labour, and the eventual return to dust – there is a glimmer of hope. God pronounces a promise that will echo throughout the rest of the Bible: "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). This verse is often referred to as the Protoevangelium, meaning "first gospel."It is the first hint of God's redemptive plan for humanity. The promise of a future Redeemer, a descendent of Eve, who will ultimately defeat evil and reconcile humanity with God, begins here. As Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden of Eden, cherubim and a flaming sword guard the way to the Tree of Life, preventing them from eating it and living forever in their fallen state. This symbolic act underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of redemption.Genesis 3 reminds us of the human condition – our susceptibility to temptation and our tendency to sin. It also points us to God's unwavering love and His plan to redeem and restore humanity through a promised Savior. This promise ultimately finds fulfilment in Jesus Christ, who, through His life, death, and resurrection, conquers sin and offers reconciliation with God to all who believe in Him. In summary, Genesis 3 serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the fallen state of humanity. It also offers a glimpse of God's grace and His plan for redemption through a promised Savior. It is a chapter that lays the foundation for the overarching narrative of the Bible, where God's redemptive work continues to unfold.John 3: Exploring the Heart of Spiritual RebirthThe third chapter of the Gospel of John is a remarkable and profound passage within the New Testament. It contains a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. This dialogue delves into fundamental spiritual truths, including the concept of being "born again" or "born from above," which has become a foundational element of Christian theology.The Encounter Between Jesus and Nicodemus chapter begins with Nicodemus, a respected teacher of the law, seeking out Jesus under the cover of darkness. His visitation is a display of curiosity and a hint of spiritual longing. Nicodemus addresses Jesus with respect, acknowledging His role as a teacher who has come from God, performing miraculous signs. Jesus responds to Nicodemus by declaring a profound truth: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, ESV). This statement sets the stage for a discussion that transcends the physical realm and delves into the realm of the spiritual. The Concept of Spiritual RebirthNicodemus, initially puzzled by Jesus' words, seeks clarification. He asks, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:4, ESV). Jesus responds by elaborating on the concept of spiritual rebirth. He explains that being "born again" or "born from above" involves a transformation of the heart and spirit. It is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual one, brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus emphasizes the importance of faith in Him as the Son of God and the source of eternal life. He says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, ESV). The Symbolism of the Bronze Serpent As the conversation continues, Jesus draws on a symbolic reference from the Old Testament to further illustrate His mission and the way to salvation. He alludes to the story of the bronze serpent in the wilderness, where those who were bitten by poisonous snakes could look upon the bronze serpent and live. In the same way, Jesus asserts that He will be lifted up, and those who believe in Him will have eternal life. This reference foreshadows Jesus' crucifixion on the cross, where He would be "lifted up" to atone for the sins of humanity. It underscores the idea that salvation comes through faith in Christ's sacrificial death. The Impact and Significance John 3 is a theologically rich chapter that highlights essential aspects of Christian doctrine, including the necessity of spiritual rebirth, the centrality of faith in Christ, and the promise of eternal life. It underscores the transformative power of God's grace and the role of the Holy Spirit in regenerating hearts. The encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus serves as a reminder that faith in Jesus Christ is the gateway to a new and eternal life. It challenges us to examine our own spiritual journey and consider what it means to be "born again" through faith in the Son of God. John 3:16, often called the "golden verse" of the Bible, encapsulates the heart of the Christian message, emphasizing God's love and His redemptive plan for humanity. In conclusion, John 3 is a chapter that invites us to explore the depths of our faith, grapple with profound spiritual truths, and embrace the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. It reminds us that God's love extends to all people, offering the hope of transformation and redemption to anyone who believes.

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Introit: Ps. 8:1-2a, 3-5; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Song of the Three Children, 32-34 Old Testament: Is. 6:1-7 Psalm 29 (antiphon: v. 2) Epistle: Rom. 11:33-36 ProperVerse: Song of the Three Children, 29 Gospel: John 3:1-15(16-17) The Holy Trinity Reveals Himself to Sinners When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out "Woe is me!" For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1-7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit's good pleasure in Baptism. "Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, "Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for" (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!" (Is. 6:3). "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:33-36).

The Now and Coming Kingdom There is a Now and Coming Kingdom that is ruled by an Absolute Monarch who is 100% worthy to be loved and followed both now and forevermore. Those who receive Him become His eternally blessed subjects! Read Acts 1:1-11 The Now and Coming Kingdom Let's Pray! Today we look at the teaching Jesus did over 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension to Heaven. 10 days after that would be the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus' Post-Resurrection teaching of His disciples V. 1-3 Why didn't Jesus appear to unbelievers over those 40 days? Because God never rewards pride & unbelief with divine knowledge; He rewards humility & faith. Now what do you need to have a Kingdom? You need a King; you need subjects; and you need a realm being governed. There is clearly a now and not yet feature to the Kingdom of God verses. Christ is already reigning spiritually in Heaven and on earth among those who follow Him. One day in the future He will reign physically over the world from Israel (Rev. 20). Churches today are like Kingdom embassies in the world. Characteristics of God's Kingdom: The Kingdom of God is all about God's presence (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). You must be born again to experience the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). You must repent to experience the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). You must humble yourself before God like a little child in childlike trust to be converted and experience the Kingdom of God (Matt. 18:3-4; Matt. 5:3). Jesus said experiencing the Kingdom is worth giving up everything you possess for what you gain in Him (Matthew 13:44-45). Doing and teaching God's commands make you great in the Kingdom; not doing God's will may mean your faith is fraudulent (Matt. 5:19; 7:21). We are to put His Kingdom interests and doing right(eous) things ahead of our own interests and needs (Matthew 6:33). We are to pray for Christ's Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10). Jesus gives His believing subjects the “Keys of the Kingdom” to bind and loose things in His name (Matthew 16:19). Jesus guaranteed this Kingdom would expand throughout the earth (Matthew 13). Jesus said the good news of this kingdom will be preached throughout the world before the end (of the present age) comes (Matthew 24:14). Jesus said His Kingdom will involve many from “east and west” we didn't anticipate being His (Matt. 8:12), including those who had been “tax collectors and prostitutes (Matt. 21:31). Paul taught the Kingdom was particularly characterized by righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Paul made clear the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-11) unless they have been washed and justified by Jesus. Paul made clear that at the moment of salvation believers are transferred from Satan's domain to the King's Dominion (Col. 1:13). Paul and John both spoke of being fellow workers for this Kingdom (Col. 4:11; Rev. 1:9). Jesus' promise of Holy Spirit power to His disciples V. 4-8 As a Christian I have found waiting on God's timing very hard. But I have also found acting in the flesh before God okays acting has cost me dearly. Do you get what Jesus is saying? Disciples, you are to enthusiastically expect Christ to return and rule, but not become overly focused on the timing of the details. You are instead to focus on reaching the nations for Christ, beginning with where you are! Jesus' ascension to Heaven V. 9-11

1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. A LIVING HOPE Indeed God the Father is to be praised. He gives us a living hope. Instead of punishing us for what we deserved, God gave us something we could never have purchased or earned. He caused us to be born again. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus that must happen for anyone to see the kingdom of God (John 3). Specifically, God caused us to be born again into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus proved that this hope is not a wishful thinking. He died and rose again and showed Himself to many witnesses. Our faith is not a wish for a better world. The reason for our hope in an eternal state with the Father is that our Lord Jesus is alive. Because Jesus lives, those who believe in Him will also be resurrected. Consequently, we could be assured of our inheritance. As children of God, our inheritance can never be lost. It is ours now and forever. It is imperishable (can't die), undefiled (can't become corrupted or broken), and unfading (can never lose its value). This inheritance of limitless worth is being guarded securely in heaven for us. It's guarded from what? Suffering? No. Later, Peter will talk about believers undergoing suffering. Thus here. it's God guarding our inheritance, And, could anyone snatch us out from the hand of God? [John 10:28,29]. The Greek term used in this verse is a military term, also translated as "shielded," "kept," or "protected." Do you have this living hope today? ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

Come Follow Me Podcast for Kids! We are a New Testament Bible study podcast that follows the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teachings from the Come Follow me Primary manual. This week we are studying: John 2–4 “Ye Must Be Born Again” I can honor my mother as Jesus did. I need to be baptized and confirmed to return to live with Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is my “living water.” At the wedding in Cana, Mary told Jesus that the wine had run out. According to the Joseph Smith Translation, Jesus responded to His mother by asking, “Woman, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? that will I do” (in John 2:4, footnote a). Jesus is an example of how we should treat our mothers. Being baptized and confirmed is like being born again. When we are baptized, which Jesus called being “born of water,” we receive a remission of our sins and can “enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This week children will learn: What things are like “living water” that can satisfy us forever?

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” What are the fears that you are facing today? What are the fears you are facing in your tomorrows? One of the great fears we all face is death. It might we are dealing with the fear of the death of a close friend or relative. Just this past weekend, my wife Edith had a first cousin suddenly pass away, that she was very close to and best friends with as they were growing up. I'll be preaching her home going service this Friday in Appomattox Virginia. Also, on New Year's Day, we had another close lifelong friend pass away. Both of these dear friends were younger than me. Hebrews 2:15 speaks of being held in bondage or slavery to the fear of death or dying. Many of us are facing the fear of aging and failing health. Maybe it is the fear of a failing marriage and divorce that will change everything in your life. Or it could be financial fears because of the loss of a job or a failing economy. It might be the fear of your past sins or mistakes catching up with you. With all the tension between nations, we might be fearful of nuclear war. We could be living in fear of the future of our children with all the violence in the streets and schools of our nation. Well, if you are being overwhelmed or overcome by fear of any kind, Psalm 27 is a wonderful chapter for you to read, study and meditate on. As David faced the future, he first asked the Lord for guidance: “Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path (v. 11). A smooth path is a level path without traps in it, and for victory over the liars who were slandering his good name (vv. 11b-12). We definitely need God's wisdom in making today's decisions that will determine our tomorrows. James 1:5, says that if we lack wisdom, and certainly most of us do, we should ask God for it, and He will graciously give it to us. Verse 13 is one of my favorites in the Bible: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.” The world says, “show me, or prove it to me and then I will believe it”. God always says, “Believe it first and then you will see it”. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”(John 3:3). My friend you will lose heart, you will faint, you will give up, unless you believe to see God's goodness in the land of the living. The land of the living can be a messy place filled with pain, anguish, and suffering. A place where it hard to see God's goodness unless you by faith believe the promises and truth of God's Word. David, by faith believed and that is why he wrote Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life….” Jeremiah by faith and believing could still write, in the midst of sinful and ungodly nation facing coming judgment: “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD”. (Lamentations 3:21-26). David's last words in the chapter are for us today: Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” God bless!

MESSAGE NOTES Unwrapped: “Faith” [John 6:16-21; John 3:1-17]   The ________ of our faith determines our ________ and ________ [John 6:16-21] • Faith is not a feeling but does change our feelings. • Faith cannot be seen but does become known by our actions.   Faith is strengthened in our ________ ________ with Jesus  [John 3:1-15] • Nicodemus' faith grew through defining moments:  o By ________ to Jesus (John 3:1-15) o By ________ up for Jesus (John 7:50-52) o By ________ on behalf of Jesus (John 19:38-40)   • What did Jesus' define for us that is meant to define us?   Pastor Brian Bennett o “Born again” (John 3:3) o “Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) o “Eternal life” (John 3:15)     Faith in Jesus leads to a life ________ in the ________ [John 3:16-21]

# IntroductionAs often found in this world of binaries, we come to another one or the other. These two categories go by other names in addition to what's found in Romans 8, but these divisions are important to bear in mind when it comes to how people relate in the world. The line is between flesh and Spirit. There is a world of difference between the two. That is not exaggeration. It's less like the difference between rain flowing east or west off the top of a ridge, and more like the difference between living in the desert or living in the ocean. A man lives “according to” the principles of either the flesh or the Spirit, one has his “mind set” on either flesh or Spirit. One lives in a realm where death is normal, the other has died in order to be transferred to a realm of life and peace. One is an enemy to God and His ways, the other has God's Spirit dwelling inside of him and is being transformed into a lover of God's ways. It's not apples or oranges, but apples or bricks. Before looking at these verses, keep in mind that the line dividing flesh and Spirit is a vertical line, a personal line, one that runs through every individual heart. (Read this article for more on the two lines: [Straight from the Pit](https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/straight-from-the-pit.html)) This means something about the world. The way to life and peace and pleasing God is not being on the right side of any other line. Karl Marx did a number when he tried to classify righteousness by rich and poor. He made an economic dividing line that was horizontal. Men are drawing horizontal lines all over the place these days: men oppress women, whites oppress other colors, heterosexual cisgender normies oppress homo-bi-question marks. Humans love drawing horizontally, and they want to be on the side of the oppressed, the victims, who are by default the right (until they get the downside turned up, but that's a problem for later). But you can be either gender, in any tax bracket, having completed any level of schooling, be any sort of professing religious person, in the center or on the fringe of society, even a minority actually worked over by an unjust system, anywhere at all in any of these demographics and be condemned or not condemned by God. You can be a monk and have your mind set on the flesh. You can be a Fortune 500 CEO and have your mind set on the Spirit. A missionary who thinks he's more spiritual because he gives up all his money and temporal comforts is defining himself by the things of the flesh. Fools can believe the gospel and are in a better position than life-time religious pros who like to judge others by unspiritual standards, or in unspiritual ways. Claiming to be wise, they showed themselves of the flesh. In Romans 8:5-11 we have flesh and Spirit as dominating worldviews, and the descriptions fit unbelievers and the regenerate respectively. But in context, Paul is instructing believers about acting *consistently* and that means they can act *inconsistently*. When they look to the law (and hold the law over the heads of others) they are toying with fleshly, deadly things. # Compare and Contrast (verses 5-8)Verse 5 is the third verse in the chapter that starts with “For” (with two more “for”s in verses 6 and 7). We just saw in verse 4 that the no-longer-damned do obey but their obedience is a fruit of another's power; they walk according to the Spirit. More explanation about that here. **For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.** “According to” points to a standard. You prepare a meal according to the recipe, which means you keep according to the measurements. If you got a covid vaccine according to government mandates about loving your neighbor (rather than according to your own research and conclusions), it's okay, you can be forgiven.The key word is **set their minds** (φρονοῦσιν), which means giving careful consideration to those things (BAGD). It's an attitude, an outlook, being opinionated (according to standard) that keeps looking at things in a certain way. It's not *what* you think about necessarily, but *how* you think about all the things. So it's less what preoccupies you and more your perspective on your occupations. It can't be limited to certain times, but what limits your view of the times. It's not unrelated to what Jesus told Nicodemus: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. … Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:6, 3).Everyone gets a paycheck, how do you view it? What is the system that your paycheck acknowledges? The paper and ink, the dollar amount and the items purchased, are not by definition fleshly. Whose kingdom is it *for*? Your quiet time could be more fleshly than your commute time. The line is vertical, in your heart. Verse 6 explains the outcome. **For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.** Death and life are certainly final issues, corroborated in verse 11. But they are also current issues. They are different worlds, different cities (per Augustine), different kingdoms. How can so many women lionize their own abortions? How can any doctor call abortion reproductive healthcare? Why do some families not seem to be able to escape the bondage of cyclical criticism, toward each other or toward outsiders, telling themselves stories about how they've been misunderstood and mistreated? It's because they dwell in the Land of Thanasia. That's their language. The “self-indulgent is dead even while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6). It's madness. On the other side, for the un-damned, are **life and peace**. They are raised to life to walk in newness of life. Verses 7 and 8 drill in on the current condition of the fleshly-deathly. **For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.** This is a quad-shot of nothing good. 1) Hostile to God. It's enmity of enemies, *Inimicus*. It's spiritual war. There is antithesis, antagonism. 2) Does not submit to God. See the law, shake one's fists at the law. Know the requirements, break them. 3) Cannot submit to God. This isn't an excuse, it is the basement level of blame. The inability is a fault of sin not an alibi for it. 4) Cannot please God. This is the life of the damned. Whatever common graces, including restraints from evil that would be consistent with their nature, they still don't have God's favor, which they didn't want, and which makes them Cain-kind of mad.As John Calvin mocked: “Behold the power of free-will!”While this consistently applies only to unbelievers, it should cause believers to hate their damned sin and give thanks to God and His sovereign grace for delivering them out of their depravity into a new paradigm for seeing the world. We live in and walk according the Spirit. It's not red-pilled or blue-pilled or black-pilled, but this living mindset is larger and more local than any of those.# Life to Life (verses 9-11)The person changes, from the “us” in verse 4 to the “those” in verses 5-8 back to the “you” in verses 9-11.The application is binary. This does *not* equal an expectation of perfectionism, as [Keswick theology](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/why-let-go-and-let-god-is-a-bad-idea/) and a strand of Wesleyan teaching promoted. We can live inconsistently with our identity, but that calls us to understand and live according to our nature as those united to Christ. **You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.** No Spirit, no salvation; those who are united to Christ are the ones living in the realm of the Spirit. When the Spirit dwells in us there is the abolition of man's flesh. **Spirit of God** is the same as **Spirit of Christ**, because Christ is God, and because both Father and Son sent the Spirit. You are **in the Spirit** and the **Spirit…dwells in you**. This is belonging to Christ. This is a Trinitarian union and identity. **But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.** The Spirit in us and Christ in us is a wonderful weapon. Why would we sin with divine presence around and within? Our body has limits, even to physical death, but the Holy Spirit renews the inner man and leads us in Spirit ways, in *holy* Spirit ways. **If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.** Regeneration, resurrection. Life to life. Spiritual life, eternal life, physical life. # ConclusionThe vertical line between flesh and Spirit changes everything. If you are in the Spirit it's a whole new world, a deliverance from the futile traditions of fleshly fathers and the desires of the flesh in the world and the condemnation and mindset of death. In the Spirit there is freedom and fruit, freedom *for* fruit. The Spirit is supernaturally fixing our minds on peace and hope and learning to love pleasing God. You might be immature, but you're either initiated or not; it's anathema or blessing.There really ought to be some experienced differences. This is the power of the gospel from faith to faith: giving us a living mindset.----------## ChargeAnger, division, rivalry, envy, "and things like these" are not fruit of the Spirit. You, beloved, are in the Spirit. You belong to Christ. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). Live in the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit. Let the Spirit fix your mind on pleasing the Lord. ## Benediction:> May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead. (Ephesians 1:17-20a, ESV)

Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3 KJV. Born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God John 3:5 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tasha-mack9/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tasha-mack9/support

The Passion for the Kingdom of God | John 4:23-26 | Week 2 God has sent the Messiah to save a people who become citizens of the Kingdom of God. Those citizens are commanded to gather each Lord's Day to worship (Hebrews 10:24-25).

with Pastor William Shifflett - https://williams-good-word.org/ So far we have discussed our need of God's saving grace, God's call to grace, & Conviction of sin. Today we are going to talk about the phrase, “born again” and the doctrine of Regeneration. Dr Ferguson says, “it is perhaps the most crucial doctrine of all” and “to mistake the way here will mean that the whole focus of our understanding is seriously at fault”. Why do you think he says that Regeneration is perhaps the most crucial doctrine for understanding the Christian Life? Regeneration and the Gospel “Evangelism tends to pass through phases. Sometimes it's emphasis centers on regeneration.” I found it interesting to read about when someone asked him, “Are you a Christian” and he replied, “yes”, they then asked, “if he was a ‘true' Christian”, and finally asked, “if he was a born again Christian”. It made me think of RC Sproul's book, ‘Saved from what?' and when he was asked, “Are you saved?”. How are these two questions, “Are you saved” and “are you born again” similar, and how are they different? “The message of Paul was of Christ crucified, risen and exalted to whom men should turn in faith and repentance.” When we look at the way the Apostles and the early church evangelized, how does it compare with modern church evangelism? “Regeneration is only mentioned 2 times in Scripture” : Matthew 19:28 - And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And Titus 3:5 - not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Regeneration is not the Gospel, regeneration is a result of receiving the Gospel. Why would anyone present a result of the Gospel 1st, rather than showing the need for the gospel and then the Gospel itself? John 3:6-8 - 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 its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Some say that Jesus' words, “You must be born again” is a command. I had no part in my physical birth, am I in control of my spiritual birth? Dr. Ferguson's definition: “We will take ‘regeneration' to refer to the fundamental imparting of new life by God which lies at the heart of being a Christian, the first abiding of the seed of God in our lives, as the First Letter of John describes it.” Do you have anything to add to that, or comments? Pictures of Regeneration in Scripture. 1.Birth - by the will of God - John 1:12 - But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, Christians receive Him and believe in His name, how would you describe or explain this? He give us the right to become His children. Required to see and enter the Kingdom of God - John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 - Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Is there a difference in seeing the kingdom and entering the kingdom? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/biblebulldog/message

Introit: Ps. 8:1-2a, 3-5; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Song of the Three Children, 32-34 Old Testament: Is. 6:1-7 Psalm 29 (antiphon: v. 2) Epistle: Rom. 11:33-36 ProperVerse: Song of the Three Children, 29 Gospel: John 3:1-15(16-17) The Holy Trinity Reveals Himself to Sinners When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out "Woe is me!" For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1-7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit's good pleasure in Baptism. "Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, "Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for" (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!" (Is. 6:3). "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:33-36).

The Plan of the Kingdom of God | John 14:15-17 | Week 7 The Holy Spirit has come. He fills us with love for Jesus so that we happily obey Him.

The Plan of the Kingdom of God | John 3:1-18 | Week 6 Jesus came to give new life. In order to experience new life, we must be born again. Our old life must pass away so the new life of faith by the Spirit can thrive.

What Does it Mean to be a Child of Royalty…Early on, we discovered that the central message of Jesus was about the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. He began His ministry preaching the same message as John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). Then, He continued revealing the value of the Kingdom and what life was like in the Kingdom. Look at just a few of these summary verses of His ministry: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people – Matthew 4:23. Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people – Matthew 9:35. When Jesus sent out His own disciples to preach and heal, notice what He told them. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 10:7. Almost all the parables focused on the Kingdom (including the Kingdom parables in Matthew 13). “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants” – Matthew 18:23. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard” – Matthew 20:1. “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son” – Matthew 22:2. “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom” – Matthew 25:1. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them” – Matthew 25:14. Jesus even tied the message of salvation given to Nicodemus in John 3 to seeing and entering the Kingdom. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “”Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” – John 3:3, 5. And Jesus also spoke about the Kingdom during the forty days between His resurrection and ascension. Look how the book of Acts begins. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of (what) the things pertaining to the kingdom of God – Acts 1:1-3. But there is so much more. …When the Royalty is God Himself?  What allowed the early church to thrive under great persecution was the fact they fully understood the Kingdom of God and the blessed ramifications of God being their King. But they were also fully aware they were not only subjects of the great King, but children of His. In fact, as beloved children, they became heirs, and joint-heirs with Christ. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these (the ones led by the Spirit of God) are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father” – Romans 8:14-15. But it gets better. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together – Romans 8:16-17. And we haven't even looked at how much the Father loves His children, which is beyond comprehension. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the...

Sunday 20 March 2022 Building A Highway For The Kingdom Of God (John McElroy) by Southern Cross Centre

Brother Singh explains a generally misunderstood scripture in modern Christianity in this inspiring lesson. Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, and Pharisee approached Jesus at night, saying, "Rabbi, we know God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you." Nicodemus was likely a secret disciple of Jesus. So, before Nicodemus could ask it, Jesus discerned his question: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

“Most assuredly, … unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dan-owusu3/message

Jesus said to Nicodemus " Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God John 3:5. The gift of the spirit is available to all who believe. You can have it today. Listen to learn more. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Everything that is, was created by God. You must take this personally. You are not an accidental being. The God who by His Word spoke creation itself into existence and marked times and seasons, created you. Every part of your being is the creative work of God. Your mind, your emotions, your physical self, are all a gracious gift from God the Father. He says of you as He did of the created order, "very good."  However, our experience in this life is not always "very good." The rebellious sin brought into the world by the man and the woman has altered our reality. Our "very good" bodies betray us. We endure depression and anxiety. Cancers and viruses take away our loved ones in death. We sin daily in thought, word and deed, abusing others made in the image of God. Something must be done to reverse the downward slide into death that dogs all of humanity. The Son of God, through whom all things were made (John 1:3), the One who is God of God and Light of Light, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man (Nicene Creed). The eternal Son of God suffered on the Cross and was buried in death. On the Third Day He rose again to bring resurrection life to all who believe in Him. You must take this personally, too. You have been joined to the death and life of Jesus in your Baptism. The God who created the heavens and the earth has given you a new creation in His Son, Jesus. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again (re-created) he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). You have been re-created by the water and the Word. Your sins have been died for by Jesus and the way to a never-ending life has been opened for you. In Jesus, God the Father once again speaks over you these amazing words, "Very good."  Yes, you are!  In Jesus you are very good indeed. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We all believe in one true God, Who created earth and heaven, The Father who to us in love Has the right of children given. He in soul and body feeds us; All we need His hand provides us; Through all snares and perils leads us, Watching that no harm betide us.He cares for us by day and night; All things governed by His might. Amen. ("We All Believe in One True God" LSB 954, st.1)Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Luke 3:21-22 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus said to Nicodemus -Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God- -John 3-9-. What did Jesus mean, and how can we be born of the Spirit---In verse 3, Jesus answered a question that Nicodemus had not asked- As the omniscient God, Jesus knew what was in Nicodemus's heart and mind. Nicodemus knew all the correct doctrines, but doctrine has no power to save unless we know the God of the doctrines. Nicodemus had no assurance that the things he did would give him eternal life.--All religions tell us to do good works to make us acceptable to God but Jesus dashed all Nicodemus's hopes. It doesn't matter how hard you try to be righteous, you are still dead in your sins, and nothing you do can please God. If even the religious Pharisees were dead, what hope was there for the common man, and what hope is there for us---Main Headings---1- The need to be born from above-2- Made alive by the Spirit of God-3- Have we been born again-

Jesus said, "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). What does this mean? Can we really be born twice? Today, Steven Lawson begins his series on the new birth. Get 'The New Birth' Teaching Series with Steven Lawson for Your Gift of Any Amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/1774/the-new-birth Don't forget to make RenewingYourMind.org your home for daily in-depth Bible study and Christian resources.