When Jesus asked the disciples if they too would leave Him Peter answered “Lord to who shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
There are channels and websites galore where you can go to find all things newsworthy about the things happening in our world today. From the right and left paradigm. To the we don’t believe them anymore groups.
But, there are not many places you can go to find the truth shared from God’s word. Oh. There are many who say that is what they are doing. But, the truth is most have been so deceived by the strong delusion of original sin and sin nature doctrine that they themselves have forfeited truth.
For example, when they read Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus saying that he needed to be born again to see the kingdom of God. They interpret this in accordance with their strong delusion. Adding things like the work of water baptism. Because their understanding is polluted by fleshly understanding that produces a works salvation.
Saying also that being born again means that repentance, which is simply having a change of mind, makes him a child of God. Creating the circumstances so that if he again changes his mind he then loses his salvation because this was how he gained it at the first.
These interpret what Jesus said this way because they begin in Genesis with the idea that Adam was made spiritual from the beginning. When the Genesis account says no such thing. But, in fact says just the opposite. Read Gen.2:7 and 7:15,22 for this. As well as 1Cor.15:45,46.
But, if you can see that when the gospel is preached something happens in our minds that reveals to us God’s love for us. And that this evokes a response of our free will to say yes to God’s love revealed in the gospel. And this response of our free will is an expression of our love toward God by believing Him. It brings the creation of a spirit in us that was never there before. A spirit that joins us to God eternally.
This is what it means to be born again. Not just a mental ascent to what has been preached. But, along with that we respond by believing God as Abraham did. And since Jesus died and rose again we now have the new birth that in times past was not available.
So if you ever want to hear the true gospel you must hear it from someone who teaches that Adam and Eve were not spiritual, but natural from the beginning. And that this is why Jesus came. Or you must read it for yourself in the Bible. Which I highly recommend.
This must be the starting point from which we build our doctrine. Because only then will you hear the truth about why men need Jesus. And why God became a man and died on the cross.
So that everything we understand is based on this fact. Making our house to be built of gold, silver, and precious stones. Rather than the wood, hay, and stubble that burns up in the believer’s judgment of his works.
These things speak to the very heart of the gospel message preached by the apostles. And defines for us the true purpose for which Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again to see and enter the kingdom of God.
It is this truth that men need to understand for them to know and understand God’s purposes in His creation, and to understand all His dealings with mankind. For it is in this truth that we discover that God is love. And that it is love that joins us to Him and for Him.
This was the true purpose of the law for Israel too. They needed to know what loving each other looked like. So that they could become more familiar with the love God has for them. Which is why when Jesus came He told Israel that all that is in the law hangs on 2 things. Love for God. And love for one another.
It is in our understanding of God’s love that the reason for the creation is found. And it is in love that we find our purpose in God. It shows us why God has done what He has done throughout man’s existence on the earth. And that it has always been from His love for us that He has done them.
This is why when Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again to enter the kingdom of God it was to show him going to heaven and having eternal life was not based on his performance. It was not his works that were of consequence in his search for eternal life. But, in whom he has believed.
Because if it was his works this would mean it was his behavior that separated him from God. But, Jesus wanted him to know that it would not be his works, but in whom he had believed, that would either join him to, or separate him, from God.
So Jesus told him that if a man has only been born of the water from his mother’s womb he was only flesh. The same flesh Adam was when he was made. And the same flesh Jesus had when He lived as a man here on earth. And that because flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God he must also be born of the Spirit of God to be able to enter God’s kingdom.
And in vs.16 Jesus tells us that this new birth happens when we believe in Him. When we trust in His love. Saying, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever will believe in Him should not perish, but will have eternal life.”
This also shows us that the key ingredient that defines God’s love is sacrifice. “He gave.” And as believers we learn that this must become the key ingredient in the way we love too. This is how we become more like Jesus.
This is how we who from the beginning are made in His image and likeness, as natural men born of water from our mother’s womb, having been made spiritual by the new birth, show our love for God. By loving even the unlovely. Just as Jesus showed us when He lived here on earth as a man.
This is the key ingredient that is missing in everyone who has been deceived by the doctrine of original sin and sin nature. Being strongly deluded having never come to a love for the truth.
Because as I shared in my last message when they speak of God’s love they deny its intent for all mankind. Writing stories about God wherein they question His love for all mankind. Perverting John3:16 and other passages to mean something other than what the plain language presents.
This happens because they have believed in a god of their own making. One that is made in their image and likeness. Rather than their being transformed into a spiritual being as God intended from before He made the world that Paul describes in 2Cor.5:17 where he says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
New as Jesus said by having a spirit created in us that was never there before in any human being except Jesus. Confirmed in Paul’s teaching in 1Cor.15:45,46 where he wrote, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”
Adding in 2Cor.5:18 saying, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
In all of this I am reminded of the recent plane crash where among others a group of ice skaters died. One day they are dancing on skates in the limelight. And the next they are standing before the King of kings and Lord of lords. These beautiful children who thought they had their whole lives still before them with that mortal life now ended.
So that the only question that matters now is not how well they did ice skating. But, it is the same question we all will be asked. What did you do with Jesus? Did you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus? And believe in your heart that He raised from the dead?
If you can answer this question in the affirmative then you have eternal life. And are ready to meet Him on the day He calls you home. But, if you can not then you do not have eternal life. And are not ready to meet Him. It’s that simple.
So like Nicodemus Jesus is saying to you that to have eternal life you must be born again. You must receive the spirit God wants to create in you. A spirit that you can only receive by confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believing in your heart that He has raised from the dead.
Because it is with the heart man believes and is righteous. And with the mouth confession is made for salvation. Do this and you will have eternal life. Do this and you will be made a child of God and heir to His kingdom. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!
