The Bible teaches that only those that are born again are going to heaven. Does that mean anything to you? Does that do anything inside of you when hear about this? This message should shock you if you are not living for God right now. Does that make sense? If you can’t even declare yourself as born again, but you go to church, then there is something wrong with your life. Jesus said that unless you are 5“born of water and of the Spirit”, you “cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. The problem is, most people don’t live to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is not a high priority for them. If you are in sin and haven’t been covered by the blood of Jesus and been forgiven, then there is something wrong. 1You aren’t on God’s path but on the broad way to destruction. And if only a small percentage of people declare that they are born again evangelicals for Christ, then only few are saved. 2Think of the ten virgins. There were ten of them that originally wanted to meet the bridegroom but five of them went astray. These ten people were like you and I, even church goers, but only half of them were allowed into the wedding feast. For the five had oil in their lamps. They had the light of Christ to guide their paths. If you say you believe in Jesus but don’t follow Him, then you aren’t truly Christian. 4To believe in Jesus is to do what Jesus says. If you are following in your own ways and not the Lord, then you are headed towards destruction. If you are born again, then the Lord’s ways are your ways. What you do now is for Him instead of yourself. You are no longer filled with the lusts of the flesh but you are walking in the ways of the Spirit. You have been born again. You have been given newness of life. A new way of thinking. A new way to walk.
The greatest joy we can have in our lives is through the love of Jesus. His love changes us to become men and women of valor. 6In Colossians 1, it says, the mystery of the gospel is that Christ Jesus can live inside of us. Think about that. Is Jesus with You now? Are you living a life for yourself or the Lord? Do you do things just to make yourselves happy? Or are you living a life to please one another? God’s love will help us lift up others when they are struggling? He helps us show kindness to those that are down, sick, or afflicted. Many say they love God but don’t do those things. There are no fruits of their belief in Jesus. Instead they are self-absorbed in the things they do for themselves. 3How can we really say we love God if we aren’t loving our neighbors? The love of God goes hand in hand with loving one another. If we are not loving our neighbor then we are not loving God. If we are not loving God then we are not loving our neighbor. The truth is that we must make a choice in life. We must decide that if we are on the Lord’s side and go all in. We are no longer partially in but every part of our being is in it for Jesus. God is now the most important part of our lives. It is a delight to walk in the light of Jesus. We are no longer fixed upon the lusts of the flesh but have been transformed by God’s great love. That is what leads and guides us. 3For we love Him with all our hearts, might, mind and strength. it is a pleasure to honor the Lord. it is a pleasure to praise Him. This is a born again life style. These are those that will be saved in the kingdom of God. Those that truly love God and their neighbor. For we abide in the Spirit and not the flesh. God bless you.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, help us all to consider Your ways. Help us understand the need to live out a life in holiness. I know that You are holy. You are Lord of all. I will consider your ways above all things. You are greater than anything in this life. Wash me from all unrighteousness. Cast away all darkness that Your light might shine inside of me. Lead me into newness of life. I desire for You to dwell inside of me. Nothing is greater than to walk in the ways of the Spirit. The flesh has only caused grief and pain. I want less of me and more of You. I want this love to carry forth into others. Help me to love and honor You in the way I treat my neighbor. Help me live for You. Lead me from sin and into Your glorious light. May Your light so shine in my life. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Matthew 7:11-14 (KJV)
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
2Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV)
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
3Mark 12:28-34 (KJV)
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
4Luke 6:46-49 (KJV)
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
5John 3:1-7 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
6Colossians 1:25-29 (KJV)
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
