Jesus explained to Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born again, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. Jesus further said, “anyone who believes in the Son of God will have eternal life” (John 3).
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Synagogue who acknowledged that Jesus was from God (John 3:2), His teachings were not from this earth and that he performed miracles that were from God; yet he wasn’t born again. Jesus’s response was to tell him about the kingdom of God (John 3:4-5). Jesus was a mystery to Nicodemus and we also as believers are a mystery to this world.
The image of God is Spirit first (Genesis 1:26-27). Therefore, to be born again & to enter God’s kingdom, we must be born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:4-5). God first created us spirit in His image, gave us a body to be able to access earth and breathed in us the breath of life to become a living soul (mind, will, emotions) so as to exercise His will on the earth.
Being Spirit first makes us sons and not slaves (John 3:6). Many believers are living in defeat and misery because they are walking not from Spirit but from the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:17). We must die to the flesh and live by the Spirit so that we can bear fruit (John 12:24).
Unless the word of Christ is in you, you are not alive yet and cannot access the kingdom. We access God’s kingdom through repentance.
Lot’s wife, when she was being delivered, looked back and became a pillar of salt. She didn’t see in the Spirit, she didn’t seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). The broad path is easy but the narrow path is hard. We must walk in the Spirit and choose the tree of life (Jesus) so that we can walk the narrow path.
Even before Jesus came to earth, God had already prepared a place for us. The kingdom of heaven was ready to receive us. If Jesus is in you, He is the Spirit of truth who guides you into all truth, so you can live above the flesh and gratify the Spirit. We must manifest Christ in our daily life. We must worship in Spirit and in truth.
The world is in a state of confusion but to know the truth we must live by and keep in step with the Spirit.