Ye Must Be Born Again Introduction

The conditions upon which one enters the kingdom of heaven are clearly revealed in the word of God. Even so, the multitudes do not know what to do to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).

“Must be born again” leaves no option. “Must” is imperative. Without being born again no one can enter the kingdom of God. Since the kingdom and the church are simply two terms that indicate the same people, under the same law to Christ, having the same identical blessings in Christ, and the same obligations to God, with the same hope of heaven, the means of getting into one is the same as getting into the other. “Kingdom” indicates the nature of government; “church” indicates the called out or separated people from the world. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

A study of what the scriptures say about being born again is the object of this issue of “Preacher Of The Word.” Four articles will discuss some phase of this subject: “Born Again Into the Kingdom,” “Prophecy of The Kingdom and The Church Fulfilled At the Same Time,” “The Kingdom and The Church,” and “The Royal Priesthood.” The subjects are related to each other and to the general subject of entering the kingdom or church.

It is hoped that the reader will read and study this material in the light of the word of God. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Articles in this series:

Born Again Into the Kingdom
Prophecy of the Kingdom and the Church Fulfilled at the Same Time
The Kingdom and the Church
The Royal Priesthood