Ok . . . let's continue in the passage just a bit further . . .
5 Jesus answered, 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.
Again, this duality is clearly expressed in the Bible.
You can neither see nor enter the kingdom of God unless you are born again. That is the duality which you eschew.
If you are born again, yes, if not, then no.
I didn't say anything about death or hell, you are, but you are denying the duality of God's message to man, yet it's there plain as day.
Without rebirth you are shut out from God's kingdom.
Much love!
Actually not so extreme. In this life you are shut out of the kingdom without the new birth...yes. Jesus is saying that you cannot see and act in the kingdom in this life without the rebirth. But spiritual birth in this life is more than just salvation...it is to walk in the One who brings a future glory. There is a reward above and beyond just survival for they who are IN Christ. The calling is high for these. But these are NOT the totality of all who are saved. One verse does not cover all eventualities.
If a man is reborn on his deathbed he has but a little time to walk in that realm. If a man is born anew 40 years before his death then he has a long time to develop the kingdom walk. This man will be judged much harder because of the time he was given in the knowledge of the truth. This is a standard that involves much more than salvation...it involves ruling and reigning with Christ. There remains they who will be ruled over.
God's plan of salvation is for people beyond they who rule...as in...they who are ruled over ...ie... the guests to the wedding feast who are both good AND bad. No kingdom life in the here and now is expected or is relevant for these.
So you can't take one verse and make it fit over every determining situation. Neither can we determine the level of relevance in a certain dictum for every possible situation.
IOW...we can't judge. We are just NOT that all-knowing. We can only know our OWN situation...if that. I know many believers that have not even comprehended the kingdom values for their own lives...let alone for the lives of every person that ever lived.
Some humility and understanding is needed here. An avoidance of the demonic version based on totalitarianism is preferred.
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