How can you enter the Kingdom of God? | Devotional | John 3:3-6

Last time I read how a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, came to Jesus at night, saying of Him that he was a teacher from God. Let’s see what the Lord Jesus answered.

“Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:3-6)(NASB).

Notice how the Lord Jesus changes the discussion on man’s need to enter the Kingdom of God and immediately gives the solution. So, in order to enter the Kingdom of God, a man must be born again. The statement of the Lord Jesus surprised Nicodemus. He was a teacher of the Law, but it seems that the term “to be born again” was heard for the first time. That explains his reaction. He did not understand how an old man could be born again. In response, Jesus explains that there is a birth of water, that is, natural or physical, and a spiritual birth of the Spirit. For a man to enter the Kingdom of God he must be born physically and spiritually. There are two different births: what is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit, that is, of the Holy Spirit, is spirit.

Next time we will continue to analyze the discussion of the Lord Jesus with Nicodemus and find out how a man is born again. This is the order in which Jesus approaches this subject before explaining how the spiritual, or birth of the Spirit, takes place. But the most important thing we learn at this stage is that not everyone can enter the Kingdom of God. There is a condition — being born again — and we need to talk to people about it, whenever we talk to them about God.

Let us pray: “Our Father who is in heaven. Help me to always talk to people about You, to tell them about Your Kingdom and the need to be born again in order to enter it. I pray to you in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!”

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Translated by Nicoleta Vicliuc