“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot SEE the kingdom of God”
John 3:3
How easily satisfied we are with seeing the things of God; to “SEE” the things of the Kingdom is wonderful but many are content to stay in this place. Within the HEART of the Son, however, there is a CRY for the people of God to ENTER the Kingdom. Men by nature are content with “seeing” while the Spirit of God has come to bring us to “being”.
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”
John 3:5
The Kingdom of God first and foremost must start within the heart of every believer. The very word “Kingdom” denotes authority and rule. It is a place or citizenship into which we must be born; a Kingdom where Faith is the essential imprint of each citizen (not an intellectual understanding). There is an impartation of the wonder and glory of faith given graciously to all who in truth and sincerity call upon the name of the Lord. Faith is a substance (Hebrews 11:1); not some religious concept or feeling. By it we are enabled to manifest HIS character, glory and power in this dark and dying world. Faith is never static or barren. We read in Hebrews eleven the expressions of men and women who “BY FAITH…” revealed their God in their day!
The entrance into this Kingdom is quite different from the mere seeing of it. It requires obedience and submission for that is what a Kingdom is. The issues of our own life must become the Throne Room of God. Lust is conquered by LOVE, bitterness displaced by grace and forgiveness, selfishness destroyed by selflessness and “our life” becomes hid with Christ in God! It requires discipleship, not by force but by a freewill love offering unto our Redeemer, Shepherd and King. The word “EXCEPT” signifies that certain conditions must be met.
“Except a man be born
of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…”
“Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”
The entrance into the Kingdom is also characterized by obedience…
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”
The way into the Kingdom runs between two great evils both of which are the result of self will and stubbornness. On the one hand we have a “faith” that produces no expression, no works and no real impact on the world around us. It is a “faith without works”. It is barren and impotent because is a faith that is in word only since it lacks obedience and submission to HIS Will. The other great error is the expression of works that are borne out of self will and rebellion. Men may prophesy, cast out demons, preach wonderfully in His Name and do “good works” but at the heart of it all there is a working of iniquity (lawlessness and self-will). The end is to build up their ministry, their church or organization.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”
Matt. 7:22 – 23
The Kingdom of God is relationship.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me”
John 10:27
Concerning the religious leaders of that Day Jesus said….
“Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape”
John 5:37
The WAY into the Kingdom is one of being a “hearer and a doer”; to hear without doing brings us into deception and misery (James 1:22). To do without hearing brings us into the snare of pride and self righteousness. We have been called to ENTER into HIS REST where we cease from our own works and come into the LIFE of DOING HIS in our everyday life.
“Seeing therefore it remaineth that SOME MUST ENTER therein,
and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of *unbelief …”
Hebrews 4:6
* (Greek: obstinacy & disobedience)
