572. Unless We Are Born Again and Created Anew, So to Speak, We Cannot Enter the Kingdom of God

The Lord teaches in John that if we are not born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God: "Jesus said to Nicodemus, 'Truly, truly I say to you, unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God'" (John 3:3). And again, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you have been born of water and the spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit" (John 3:5-6). The kingdom of God here means both heaven and the church, because the church is the kingdom of God on earth. The same is true in other passages in the Word where the kingdom of God is mentioned; see, for example, Matthew 11:12; 12:28; 21:43; Luke 4:43; 6:20; 8:1, 10; 9:11, 60, 62; 17:21; and elsewhere. To be born of water and the spirit means to be born of truths related to faith and of a life lived by those truths. For truth as the meaning of water, see Revelation Unveiled 50, 614, 615, 685, 932. The fact that spirit means living our lives by divine truths is clear from the Lord's words in John 6:63. Truly, truly means that this is the truth. Because the Lord was truth itself, Scripture frequently says Amen [or Truly]. The Lord himself is called Amen (Revelation 3:14). In the Word, those who are regenerated are referred to as children of God and those born of God; and regeneration is expressed as our having a new heart and a new spirit.

62. 2. The just live by faith (Romans 1:17).

The justice of God by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Romans 3:22).

He who through faith is in Jesus (verse 26).

God hath set forth Jesus Christ, a propitiation through faith in His blood, to show His justice (Romans 3:25).

Where is then the glorying? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith (Romans 3:27).

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith with out the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28).

God justifies circumcision (that is the Jews) out of faith, and uncircumcision (that is the nations) through faith (Romans 3:30).

Do we then make void the law? Not so: but we establish the law (Romans 3:31).

Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for justice (Romans 4:3, 9).

To him that worketh not, but believeth in Him that maketh just the ungodly, faith is imputed for justice (Romans 4:5).

Abraham was made heir of the world by the justice of faith, but not by the law (Romans 4:13-14).

That not through works but through faith is justice imputed (Romans 4:2-24). See Works.

Through Christ we have access to God and grace by faith (Romans 5:2).

The nations attained to justice, justice which is from faith. Whosoever believeth in Christ suffers [not] from shame (Romans 9:30, 33).

The Scripture saith, Everyone that believeth in Him shall he saved (Romans 10:11).

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Let everyone be prudently wise, as God hath dealt a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

Everything that is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). He understands the faith of eating this or that.

Since we have the same spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13).

That he reproved Peter because he Judaized, although knowing that a man is justified by the faith of Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law (Galatians 2:11-16).

I live in the faith which is in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20).

This I wish to hear, whether you have received the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2, 5.)

Ye shall know that they which be of faith are the sons of Abraham: that God justifies the nations by faith. That no man shall be justified by the law in the sight of God is evident: for the just shall live by faith. Now indeed the law is not of faith: but the man that doeth them shall live by them. The law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith: for ye are all the sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ, etc. (Galatians 3:5-26).

In Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth anything, but faith working by love (Galatians 5:3-6; 6:15).