Entering the Kingdom of God

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8 (NLT).

Believers are “born of God” when the Holy Spirit lives in them and brings Jesus Christ’s new life (Galatians 3:9). Being “born again” is more than a new and fresh start, but rather a rebirth and a receipt of a new family name based on Jesus Christ’s death. With this rebirth, God forgives believers and accepts them. Even more, the Holy Spirit gives new believers new minds and hearts, lives in us, and changes believers from the inside out to become like Jesus Christ. Further, the Holy Spirit changes believers’ perspectives; their hearts and minds are renewed day by day by God’s Holy Spirit (see Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24). As part of God’s family, believers must start to think and act differently (see John 3:1-21).

Just as Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit, believers are also born of the Holy Spirit when they accept and trust in Jesus Christ. A believers’ old life dies with faith in Jesus Christ, and they rise anew through the Holy Spirit’s transforming power (Romans 6:3-14). The Holy Spirit leads a person’s heart and mind to become more like those of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2) and to reflect the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Moreover, believers become adopted children of God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ that is built through the heart (Galatians 3:26). As adopted children of God, believers share with Jesus all rights to God’s resources, rights, and blessings. Moreover, believers can call God Father, just as Jesus Christ did (Mark 14:36; cp. Matt 6:9). As children of God, believers are joined to Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit. Simply put, believers become new people in Jesus Christ, with a new Father and new family (Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:26-27; Galatians 4:6-7).

Never Give Up 

Then Jesus told His disciples a parable [a story] to show them that they should always pray [constant prayer] and not give up [or lose heart until the answer comes]. He [Jesus] said: "In a certain town there was a [godless] judge who neither feared God nor cared about men [or women/people]. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him [repeatedly] with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'  "For some time he [the godless judge] refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men [or women/people], yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming [constant requests]!'"  And the Lord [Jesus] said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God [God the Father] bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He [God the Father] will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes, will He find [persistent] faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 (NIV).

In this parable, Jesus teaches that like the persistent widow, we must pray to God the Father constantly, consistently and never give up. This parable of Jesus illustrates our need for constant prayer to God and to keep praying until God answers our prayer. Jesus used this parable to instruct us all too always pray, cry out to God and never lose hope. Jesus promises that God will help us and provide our needs through our persistent prayers of faith. God will provide our needs when we cry to Him in faith day and night. Most important, God will not be slow to answer our cry for help.  Jesus promises that God helps His people and answers our prayers of faith.  So, do not to lose heart and give up. Instead, let us all be like the persistent widow in prayer and faith and cry out to God for our help!

Amazingly, Jesus Christ constantly prayed to God the Father.  Jesus prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21), before calling the Twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12), at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28), for Peter before his denial Luke (22:32), His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) and for His enemies (Luke 23:34). Most important, Jesus also taught us to pray (Luke 11:1-4) and told parables (or stories) about the importance for persistent prayer (Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1-8).  Jesus’ constant prayers to God the Father revealed His intimate relationship, communion and faithfulness to God the Father.  Jesus lived in total dependence, trust and faith in God even as He uttered His last words, “Father, I entrust My spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46).

Even more, King David (in Jesus family line) also constantly prayed to God. The Book of Psalms have many prayers of King David in his time of need. Like Jesus, David and the persistent widow, go to God constantly in prayer!

Remain Faithful To God

Dear friends, remember what the apostles [special messengers of God] of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers [or mockers] who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men [and women] who divide you [and split churches and stir up arguments], who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the [God’s] Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the [power and strength] Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:17-23 (NIV).

The Holy Scriptures clearly warn about false teachers (see Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 John 7) between the time of Jesus' first and second comings. To remain faithful and true to God, followers of Jesus Christ must continually pray in the power and strength of Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8:26-27), opens our minds to Jesus Christ (John 14:26), and teaches people about Him (John 15:26).  As followers of Jesus Christ, we must also keep ourselves in God's love by living close to Him, His Holy Scriptures and His people and NOT listening to false teachers.  False teachers are liars, selfish, greedy, divisive and do not follow God’s Holy Scriptures (John 15:9-10).  As we reach out to others with Jesus Christ’s Good News, we must show the world kindness, compassion, mercy, grace and love but do not follow the world’s sins and lifestyles.  Believers of Jesus Christ must NEVER compromise the truth of God (God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit) and God’s Holy Scriptures.   
 
Even though the world is full of false teachers, believers of Jesus Christ can always trust in God. God is faithful (see e.g., 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 1 John 1:9). The Holy Scriptures are clear: God keeps believers from falling prey to false teachers. So remain firm in your faith in God and trust in His promises for your future. God guarantees that if we remain faithful to Him, He will bring us everlasting joy (John 3:15; Romans 8:35-39; Jude 24-25).

What Is Religion That God Considers Pure and Genuine?

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 (NIV).

In Jesus’ day, activities at the Temple were supposed to center on worship to God.  Instead, the Temple had become commercial where merchants sold sacrificial animals to pilgrims and foreigners at inflated prices to make a profit.  When Jesus entered the Temple area, He drove out all who were buying and selling.  He reminded the crowd that the Temple was for true worship to God and helping the real needs of people, such as the lame, the blind, widows, orphans and the powerless (see Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-47.

In the first century worlds, people such as the sick, orphans and widows had very little means of economic support. These people were often helpless and dependent upon the care from others.  Unless a family member was willing to care for them, these people were reduced to begging, selling themselves as slaves, or starving. By caring for these people, Jesus reminded the crowd of putting God's Word into practice by serving others. The Holy Scriptures are clear that people are called to take care of the helpless and powerless (see 1 Timothy 5:3-16).

Even more, Jesus also wants everyone to keep themselves from becoming polluted by the world and to remain faithful to God.  We keep ourselves clean by obeying and following Jesus Christ, the perfect God-Man. Jesus Christ taught us a new value system starting with His Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:1-7:29) that does not focus on money, power, and pleasure. Jesus taught that true religions means worshiping God, caring for the weak, powerless, and helpless in their sorrow and refusing to let the world corrupt you with sin ((Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 22:34-30).

Live Like Christ  (LLC)

Ephesians 6:10-18 is the Apostle Paul’s teaching on how to live like Jesus Christ.  As Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual battle. Only living like Jesus Christ can Christians stand firm and win against all evil. Our faith, union and allegiance in Jesus Christ and the Holy Scripture provide our protection against every evil attack. See also James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9). 

To Live Like Christ (LLC), put on God’s full armor: 

• Truth:  God is Truth 
• Righteousness:  Unity and faith in Jesus Christ makes us righteousness 
• Peace:  Tell others of the true peace that comes from God 
• Faith:  Trusting that the ultimate victory is ours with God 
• Salvation:  Never doubt God's saving work through wholehearted faith in Jesus Christ 
• Word:  Knowing the truth of God's Holy Scriptures 
• Pray:  Jesus NEVER stop praying to God the Father

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the evil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of TRUTH and the body armor of God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS. For shoes, put on the PEACE that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of FAITH to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on SALVATION as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God. PRAY in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your PRAYERS for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT).

Superior

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets [in visions, dreams, and even face to face] at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He [God] has spoken to us by His Son [Jesus Christ], whom He [God] appointed Heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son [Jesus Christ] is the radiance [shines] of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After He had provided purification [cleansing] for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty [God] in heaven. So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs.
Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV). 


Jesus Christ is ….

Superior to the angels
Superior to Moses
Superior to Aaron the Priest
Superior to Joshua
Superior to the Prophets

Jesus Christ is ….

Appointed Heir of all things
Through Him the universe was made
Radiance of God’s glory
Exact representation of God’s being
Sustains all things
Provides purification for our sins
Sit down at the right hand of God the Father (Majesty) in heaven. 

Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith [never stop trusting Jesus Christ] we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV).   

In response to all He [Jesus Christ] has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind [and loving] to each other and in doing good. Hebrews 10:24 (TLB).

The RIGHT Road

Jesus Christ is the life-giving Spirit and the Source of all spiritual life. Through His resurrection, Jesus Christ defeated and conquered all evil, including death (Revelation 20:14). Now, all believers have hope beyond the grave. Death is no longer a source of dread or fear for believers of Jesus Christ because He overcame death.

The Romans Road illustration from the Apostle Paul provides a good summary of the Good News about Jesus Christ’s life, message, and love for the world. The Book of Romans is the Apostle Paul’s work of art that has earned the respect and approval of the world. Romans is theological, practical, and God-centered. The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans to bring the people of Rome and eventually the world to knowledge of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:23   
All humankind has sinned and was born sinners.

Romans 6:23
The penalty for our sin is death.

Romans 5:8
Jesus Christ died for humankind’s sin to provide forgiveness and cleansing of sin.

Romans 10:8-10
To receive Jesus Christ’s forgiveness of sin, humankind need only to believe and confess with their mouth and heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and only He brings true eternal salvation.

To receive the salvation offered by Jesus Christ, Romans 10:6-12 answers the simple question, “How do I become a Christian?” [Moses in Deuteronomy 30:10-14 also taught the ancient Israelites that obeying God is simply “in your hearts and on your lip” Deuteronomy 30:14 (TLB).]These verses give a person the lovely answer: salvation is as close as your mouth and heart. If you simply believe in your heart and say with your mouth that

• God came to earth through Jesus Christ;
•  Jesus Christ’s life, message, and death reconcile us to God;
• Jesus Christ provided all humankind salvation through His coming to earth in human flesh and resurrection from the dead;
• Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and Savior of the world; and
• Humble acceptance of God’s gift of salvation from His coming condemnation, judgment, and death.

Once you accept by faith God’s work in Jesus Christ, you become a believer and are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Also, you are transferred to the realm of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12-21) through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside your heart to bring victory over sin and holiness that brings glory to God (Romans 12-15). No power—whether sin (Romans 6), the Law (Romans 7), or death (Romans 8:1-13)—“will ever be able to separate us from the love of God” through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:39).