Hello Saints!
I had someone ask me this morning as she was reading in John 3:1-21.
“Rodna, Jesus speaks of some things in the Bible that I don’t understand. 1. He says unless we become like a child we can’t enter heaven. 2. Unless we are born-again we can’t enter heaven. Which one is it?”
I thought I would share my revised ? answer here in case anyone else needs to know!
We don’t have to understand everything we read. God will give us understanding for the things we need this day. That’s why Jesus prayed “Father give us this day our daily bread”. He didn’t say give us every days’ bread all in the same day. However, when we begin to receive knowledge on the glory, understanding of the Word comes in much higher and easier. The whole Bible begins to make sense as if a veil has lifted from off its pages. So, seek knowledge on His Glory above all things, which can only come through Jesus Christ.
“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44)
Both statements that my friend asked me today are true.
1) We have to become like a little child to enter heaven where we believe all things are possible, we look to God (our Father) with wonder expecting from Him. As we grow, we learn how to release to others what we receive from Him, which brings glory back to the Father full circle. As a child in spirit we look to Him to meet all of our needs. We believe everything He tells us and that everything is possible. We have hope always and look forward to a day when He will make all things new. But that day begins here today, not after we die. Because hope deferred makes the heart sick, but glory revealed through answered prayers, and through our declarations that the Father backs up, makes our joy full.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)
“…you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)
In this intimate relationship with our Father who always hears us and responds, as we hear and respond to Him, we know our Father has our backs. And He loves us in the same way He loves Jesus. We don’t have to worry if we don’t look like a child in all areas yet. His glory is making us one by restoring our innocence and childlike wonder to totally trust God and trust His glory in everything… without fear. We know only His love.
2) We must be born-again by His Spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. Both ideas happen together. When one is born-again, He begins the process of becoming a little child again haha! We go backwards in innocence and forward in the knowledge of God! It’s like a backwards birth LOL. Inside out! Right-side up! God is flipping everything around! Imagine taking a long-sleeved sweater off the floor and flipping it inside out. Born again! Who we are in Christ is working its way to the outside where we are transparent and His glory is revealed completely in every aspect of our lives!
It isn’t stoic religion. It’s a living reality of Christ revealed through us. Christ in us coming out with our personalities where we become the light of the world like He is.
Our relationship with our Father in heaven becomes dynamic and authentic. This is where His power to transform all things into light comes out through us (in the flip) as His sons and daughters of glory are revealed! We then have the “Midas Touch” where everything we touch turns to gold! Haha! We work with Him by saying “no” to wickedness and “yes” to His promises and His Word.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:11-13)
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
We become a child in innocence and mature in the knowledge of His glory. This is knowledge of the Father and the power and light from His throne, which Jesus Christ occupies. It transforms our entire lives as we learn that we are seated with Christ as joint-heirs, and sons and daughters of glory. Remade in His image! Transformed by the power of His glory! And not by our own efforts.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Blessings to everyone! Love and grace and glory to y’all!
Rodna
