Into a Different World

In chapter three of our new book on the Kingdom of God we note that we cannot enter it without repentance and without new birth. It is our great concern to understand why this is true. These are not two hoops to jump through, two doctrines to believe, two ceremonies to go through or two items to add to a check list.


Both of these have to do with the truth that living in the Kingdom of God is completely different from the normal way people live. You can only enter it by radically turning away from the fundamental principles that the world teaches you about how to get things done. Doing that and embracing the entirely new way of God’s wisdom is what repentance is all about. Trying to be in the Kingdom without repentance is like trying to go from New York to Los Angeles without turning to the west.

But what about the new birth? Does it just involve saying a prayer as some think or being baptized as some think? It involves both prayer and baptism, but at its essence the new birth is a metaphor for a completely fresh start with a completely different outlook on how you want to live your life.

Often overlooked or just plain ignored in much religion is that there cannot be a new birth or new life, until there is the death of the old. To be born from above we must die to the life we have lived here below. That is powerfully symbolized in our burial in baptism, but this outward action must be the expression of the inner conviction that we want and need God’s Spirit to transform us.

To live in the Kingdom is to not just want to go to heaven when you die, but to live right now “on earth as it is in heaven.” And that is something we cannot do without repentance and regeneration that comes from God.

Scriptures

Matthew 4:17 --From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Mark 1:15 --"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Luke 13:2-4 --Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?

John 3:3-8-- In 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[b] 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."

[a] or from above

Romans 6:3-6 -- Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.