On a certain occasion, Jesus was accused by some of the religious leaders in Israel of accepting sinners into his company and even eating with them. Here is how Jesus replied (Luke 15:4-7):
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentence.
The men of Israel understood sheep herding, because it had been a fundamental occupation in Israel from the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, hundreds of years earlier. Jesus knew that they understood the strong love of a shepherd for each of his sheep. And based on that kind of love, they all knew that it was not uncommon for a shepherd to leave 99 sheep in the wilderness under the care of another and go after the one that was lost, until it was found. And when it was found, the shepherd would carry it home on his shoulders and celebrate its return with friends and neighbors!
By this example, Jesus expressed why he kept company with sinful people. Because he sees us as precious lost sheep that only He can save!
In John 10:11 Jesus says of himself, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth this life for the sheep." And in vs. 27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Are you a lost sheep belonging to Jesus? If you are, then you will hear his voice calling you through this message. And if you hear his voice, repent and turn from your sins and follow him! He is ready to receive you now! Just tell him you are sorry for you sin, and ask him to forgive you and to come into your heart and to change your life. He will, just as he has done for me and many others! Only don't put it off. You need to do it now. Go ahead and pray. Then let me know by e-mail!
And Heaven will rejoice!
Born Again! What Does It Mean? John 3:3, 6-7
We understand what natural birth is all about because that is how all of us got here. There is a natural birth, and there is a spiritual birth.
When we are born of our father and mother, this is a birth of the flesh or a natural birth.
Though our bodies are made of flesh, we are also born with an invisible spirit and a soul on the inside of our bodies. So when we are born as babies, we are born with a spirit, a soul and a body.
In John 3:6 Jesus said That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
Or in other words, that which our parents give birth to is like our parents in nature or sinful. Then he said, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Or in other words that which the Spirit of God gives birth to is like God in nature without sin.
Jesus was born of the Spirit of God without sin. John 3:16 calls him the only begotten Son (of God).
So when we are born into this world, we are born with the nature of sin from our parents all the way back to Adam, the first man that sinned. His sinful nature was passed down to us from generation to generation through child birth.
So we were born of the flesh-sinful. Jesus was born of the Spirit-without sin. That is why Jesus said of us "Ye (you) must be born again" John 3:7.
Our first birth is a natural birth. But Jesus said if we are to enter into the kingdom of God, we must be born again (our spirits must be born of God's Spirit).
It is the Spirit of God that facilitates this new birth of our spirits.
How Does this New Birth Take Place?
Jesus said that he came to die for the sins of the whole world. And he fulfilled this by willingly dying on the Cross for each persons sins against God, so that we would not have to pay for our own sins. After 3 days he was raised up from the dead, having satisfied the payment for our sins which was death and hell. John 3:15-17
Here is how the spiritual new birth takes place: When you believe what Jesus did to pay for your sins, and are sorry for you sins against God, and you ask Him to forgive you, calling on Jesus to cleanse your sins with his blood, you will be born again!
Romans 10:9-11, 13 says,
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
When we are born of our father and mother, this is a birth of the flesh or a natural birth.
Though our bodies are made of flesh, we are also born with an invisible spirit and a soul on the inside of our bodies. So when we are born as babies, we are born with a spirit, a soul and a body.
In John 3:6 Jesus said That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
Or in other words, that which our parents give birth to is like our parents in nature or sinful. Then he said, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Or in other words that which the Spirit of God gives birth to is like God in nature without sin.
Jesus was born of the Spirit of God without sin. John 3:16 calls him the only begotten Son (of God).
So when we are born into this world, we are born with the nature of sin from our parents all the way back to Adam, the first man that sinned. His sinful nature was passed down to us from generation to generation through child birth.
So we were born of the flesh-sinful. Jesus was born of the Spirit-without sin. That is why Jesus said of us "Ye (you) must be born again" John 3:7.
Our first birth is a natural birth. But Jesus said if we are to enter into the kingdom of God, we must be born again (our spirits must be born of God's Spirit).
It is the Spirit of God that facilitates this new birth of our spirits.
How Does this New Birth Take Place?
Jesus said that he came to die for the sins of the whole world. And he fulfilled this by willingly dying on the Cross for each persons sins against God, so that we would not have to pay for our own sins. After 3 days he was raised up from the dead, having satisfied the payment for our sins which was death and hell. John 3:15-17
Here is how the spiritual new birth takes place: When you believe what Jesus did to pay for your sins, and are sorry for you sins against God, and you ask Him to forgive you, calling on Jesus to cleanse your sins with his blood, you will be born again!
Romans 10:9-11, 13 says,
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Passage into The Kingdom of God! John 10:14-15
On a particular day when Jesus was out and about on the streets of Israel, parents were bringing their children to him to be touched and blessed. His disciples stopped this activity, telling them to go away. When Jesus realized what was happening, he was very upset with his disciples and said, (Mark 10:14-15): 14 Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. As Jesus often did, he used this situation to teach his disciples something about the kingdom of God which they did not know. In this case his lesson concerned how to enter into the kingdom of God. First of all, Jesus began by telling his disciples why they should not forbid the little children from coming to him; for as he put it "of such is the kingdom of God". Sounds to me like Jesus was saying that there are many children already in the kingdom of God! Jesus' second statement concerning this subject was even stronger. He said that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God "as a little child will not enter therein". In other words, if we do not come to God with a pure heart and an humble attitude like a little child, we will not get into the kingdom of God! Some people try to come to God in pride on their own terms, because in this life they are respected by men. But God resists the proud and gives grace or favor to the humble. Only admitting that we are sinners and in need of the Savior will cause God to respond to us. We must come to God with the humility of a little child, knowing nothing, having nothing and needing everything from God! If you will repent of your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you by the blood of Jesus, and in the name of Jesus, he will hear you, cleanse you of your sins and give you passage through Jesus Christ into the kingdom of God! Don't wait until tomorrow. Do it now. Tomorrow might be too late!
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