Unless you are born of God's Spirit, changed by God into a new creature, you cannot see things of God.
I Cor. 2:14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jesus says: Jn. 3:3 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
5-6 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
When we enter this world as little babies, we are born of the flesh of man with a fleshly resemblance to our parents and relatives.
When we are born of the Spirit of God, we are then like the Spirit of God, and we can understand things of God by HIS Spirit who dwells in us.
And as we follow that which the Spirit of God brings to our mind, we produce the fruits of the Spirit of God.
Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
It is not that we learn to do the fruits of the Spirit. We do the fruits of the Spirit because the Spirit of God who now lives in us is showing us what to do and we follow HIM, doing that which HE shows us to do.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto 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, 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
When we are born again by God by HIS Spirit, we are instantly changed into another person, born again.
II Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
God reveals Himself to us and we are instantly changed.
We are no longer like we once were. Now we have the Spirit of God in us to lead us in things of God. Now we want to read Bible and now we want to go to church and hear things of God. And we want to be with people of God instead of being with those people of the world where we were before.
I Cor. 6 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Most people in church groups are not born again. They went to church and joined the church but they were not changed by God instantly into another person. They just tried to be godly. They learned by their own flesh at church. They tried to copy other people at church. They are imitations of people of God. They are not of God for to be of God you must be born of the Spirit of God.
Many ministers do not have the Spirit of God. They just put themselves into the ministry by their own will by going to Bible school or seminary. They are not really called by Jesus and set into the ministry.
Those who are born of the Spirit of God, are taught by God.
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After we are born of God having HIS Spirit, we do not try to be godly. We are godly, for God lives in us after we are born again!
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
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Paul explains this to us in the following scripture:
Romans 9
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of HIM that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will he hardeneth.
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