HOW TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFEHeaven is the Kingdom of God. To enter the Kingdom of God you have to become a son of God. Since this Kingdom lasts forever, you need eternal life. John, chapter 3 talks about receiving eternal life by "being born again" or the New Birth so we can become sons of God. This "being born again" is our entrance to the Kingdom of God or heaven. At the New Birth we receive eternal life and enter the (spiritual) Kingdom of God. Then God lives in our heart or spirit and helps us live in a way that pleases Him. When Jesus returns to Earth to set up His Kingdom on Earth, we will then enter the physical part of His Kingdom. 1 And there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do unless God is with him. 3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. 8 The Spirit breathes where He desires, and you hear His voice, but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said to him, Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak what we know and testify what we have seen. And you do not receive our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one has ascended up to Heaven except He who came down from Heaven, the Son of man who is in Heaven. 14 But even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up [on the cross when He was crucified], 15 so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his deeds may be made known, that they have been worked in God. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Good works can not save a person, but they determine rewards (see 1 Corinthians chapter 3 for example). We are not saved by works, but rewarded for our works. It is not salvation by works, but works by salvation. Our works prove our salvation. How to get the New Birth: Romans 10:9 ... if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. [This "confession" is not mental assent but making Him Lord...an old English word meaning "boss" or ruler over you] John 1:12 But as many as received Him, He gave to them the right to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name. The results of the New Birth: 2 Corinthians 5:17 So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. FAQ on controversial issues our readers have asked at OTHER BIBLE STUDIES HOME PAGE for the following... WHEN DID JESUS SAY THE RAPTURE WOULD TAKE PLACE? WHEN DID PAUL SAY THE RAPTURE WOULD TAKE PLACE? HOW DOES THE DAY OF THE LORD RELATE TO THE RAPTURE? FREE COMPUTER BIBLE PROGRAM - See "Downloads" in center column
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