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NASB | John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God." |
Subject: Isn't believing Christ for salvation suf |
Bible Note: I can understand that. I find myself in that position much of the time ...;']. It takes a great deal of effort to put our thoughts together to express scripture that is made fresh to you by the Holy Spirit that explains the inconsistancies and other matters we take for granted as being "normal". They aren't normal; more like average but not normal. Today when we don't have prayer answered we say, oh well, and move to the next difficulty or strain. We may pray about it, we may even have the whole assembly in the church pray about, and nothing again happens and piously repeat, Oh well, God works in mysterious ways, and again move to the next stress or problem not really interested anymore nor expecting God to answer especially after the whole church prayed. We go through the motions thinking now that the motions is what it's all about. Not many any longer are bothering ask "Why is that", we're supposed to have answers from God"? He said we are to have power in our lives and be disciples unto Him! Is this discipleship? Is this the result of what we are taught discipleship to be!? Is this what following Christ means?! Apathy!? This is pitiful! My conclusion to the matter is, if a Christian IS NOT making his home in the Kingdom of God he has NO right to expect his prayers to be answered or expect to have power for living; making the beattitudes an actually in ones life. Be assured that if today's modern Christian acidentally picks up a poisonous snake and gets bitten He's going to DIE! If he acidentally drinks poison, he's going to DIE! If he is not residing in the kingdom, he is none of His. You're on your own. Jesus said that many times. The hedge of protection is the kingdom of God. Death isn't there. Many will say, well how about the missionary's that have fallen, what about their deaths? I ask, What about the death of Jesus upon a cruel cross!? Was there a purpose in that we now see and understand? Of course we know the answer, God has made it plain to us. But the missionary in the foreign land who dies sacrificially? One day we'll know as we are known. In the meantime be assured if it was a disciple of Christ He/she died with understanding in their mind and heart concerning the issues of discipleship. When Paul say's "And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."-Rom 8. We take that as applying just to the unsaved or backslider. I don't read it any longer that way because Paul was speaking to born again Christians. Paul saw the kingdom! Study Paul. If we saw the kingdom we would NEVER backslide, our churhes would be vibrant in their teaching and experience in the presence of God! Ergo, we have not seen the kingdom; we don't know how to Love God the way He wants to be loved. Seek first the kingdom of God.........and all things will be added unto you" If one is a Christian, hungary for God, begin to look at circumstances in life to be opportunities to learn. It will be a wilderness experience to be sure. |