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====Fifty-two Kingdom Concepts====

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15—NIV)

Here are fifty-two topics for Christian believers to consider. Most of the topics either enlarge on or disagree with traditional Christian teaching. We would suggest the reader go to the Bible to see if what we have presented is scriptural. Then check the traditional beliefs to see if they can be supported by whole passages of the New Testament kept in context.

We think it is time for a reformation of Christian thinking.

Born of God

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (I Peter 1:23—NIV)

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3—NIV)

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. (Galatians 6:15—NIV)

The idea of being born of God, or born again, has come to mean an acceptance of the theological facts concerning Jesus Christ. We have believed in the blood atonement, repented of our sin, been baptized in water, and thus we have been born again, or born of God.

This may not be the case. In the first place, the Apostles, as recorded in the Book of Acts, never preached that we must be born again in order to be saved from the Day of Wrath. Also, the expression "born again" is not found in Paul's writings. This infrequency of usage does not correspond to today's emphasis that being born again is equivalent to being saved from wrath.

The main usage of the term "born again" was by the Lord Jesus when He said being born again was required if we are to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Being born again has to do with the Kingdom, not with being saved from Hell or from Divine wrath.

Many Americans claim to be born again. Yet we often do not see in their lives evidence of the righteous behavior of the Kingdom of God. No new creation can be observed.

The association of being born again with the Kingdom of God is that it is the Kingdom that is born in us when Christ is born in us. Faith in Christ is one matter; repentance from our former way of living is another. The blood atonement is another consideration while water baptism is something else again. Being born again has to do with the Life of God being conceived in us. These five factors all play a role in our salvation, but perhaps they should be considered separately.

To be born again is not merely to have a change of mind!

To be born again is to have the Divine Seed of God planted in our personality. The Seed comes from God. It is not human. It is Divine. It is supernatural. It is new Divine Life.

Now there are two distinct natures in us: that which came from Adam and that which comes from God. Our Christian life consists largely of crucifying the adamic nature and growing in the Divine Nature.

Continued. [[Fifty-two Kingdom Concepts 2]]

[[Category: Sermons WOR]]