So why do Christians continue in sin, are they still desiring and holding on to what puts them under its bondage? What must they do...
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.
Jesus laid down the first principle of how we may become a child of God. This new spiritual birth is true conversion.
Nicodemus came one night came to have a talk with Jesus. Jesus knew where Nicodemus needed help. He told him, how we must have this new spiritual birth. Nicodemus did not understand at first. He asked Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old?"
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]"
4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying,'You[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
So we must be 'born of the Spirit' and be converted, so what does this mean?
Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as
little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3.
This does not mean that we should become childish, but childlike. A child has confidence in his parents and believes them. So we must trust and believe God.
Conversion, also called the new birth, is plainly taught in the word of God. Peter said: "Repent you.... and be converted." Acts 3:19.
Paul and Barnabas on their journey "passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren." Acts 15:3.
So we need to be converted, or to be born again. Without this experience we will not accept Christ as the Holy Spirit is what guides us to Him and truly turn from sin and be saved. Like Nicodemus many do not understand this, and think if they belong to some church, they are converted. Nicodemus belonged to a church, too, but he was not converted when he talked with Jesus. Church membership does not save, being converted by the Holy Spirit so we truly accept Christ does.
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.
Jesus laid down the first principle of how we may become a child of God. This new spiritual birth is true conversion.
Nicodemus came one night came to have a talk with Jesus. Jesus knew where Nicodemus needed help. He told him, how we must have this new spiritual birth. Nicodemus did not understand at first. He asked Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old?"
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]"
4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying,'You[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
So we must be 'born of the Spirit' and be converted, so what does this mean?
Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as
little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3.
This does not mean that we should become childish, but childlike. A child has confidence in his parents and believes them. So we must trust and believe God.
Conversion, also called the new birth, is plainly taught in the word of God. Peter said: "Repent you.... and be converted." Acts 3:19.
Paul and Barnabas on their journey "passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren." Acts 15:3.
So we need to be converted, or to be born again. Without this experience we will not accept Christ as the Holy Spirit is what guides us to Him and truly turn from sin and be saved. Like Nicodemus many do not understand this, and think if they belong to some church, they are converted. Nicodemus belonged to a church, too, but he was not converted when he talked with Jesus. Church membership does not save, being converted by the Holy Spirit so we truly accept Christ does.