~ Except Ye Be Born Again... ~

EXCEPT YE BE BORN AGAIN...

This morning the words of Jesus kept resonating through me... "except ye be born again." I am impressed with the need to take a look at the EXCEPTIONS spoken of in the Word. They hold critical keys to our spiritual survival...

Today we have strong emphasis placed upon the 'free gift aspect' of being a Christian... and little to no acknowledgment that there are conditions we must comply with in order to obtain God's promises. In other words, there are many exceptions laid out by Christ himself, which effectively nullify and make void much of what is being presented today as sound, scriptural teachings.

Pertaining to salvation...

John 3:3 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.

And complimenting verses might be...

John 3:5-6 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

John 3:5 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.

John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Pertaining to our works and efforts....

Psalms 27:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Pertaining to our associations and expectations...

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

How do we receive God's promises... Who is in control?

John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Warnings...

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Revelation 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Conclusion:

These verses are by no means the total sum of what the Word tells us on this subject, but they are an eye-opening sampling. Starting out with the declaration that we will never see heaven unless we are born again, willing to become as a little child, acknowledging with our whole heart that God is the Potter - we are the clay. We do not try to dictate to or manipulate God... which is a common practice today among many who call themselves believers. Only as we 'abide in the vine,' which is another way of saying live and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, will any fruitful, lasting work be accomplished for the Kingdom of God.

Genuine Repentance is the ONLY remedy. God is in absolute and total control of all things... the enemy never gets one over on HIM. Only the Spirit of the Living God can draw a man to repentance. If the Spirit is not drawing, then no amount of correctly administered scripture, or impassioned pleas, or great oration is going to make any difference.

These 'Exceptions' are not 'Maybe's'...

they are 'Absolutes.'

There is no wriggle room.

"A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven"... This encompasses all things, not just the blessings and the things we want in this life, but this includes the hardships and sufferings appointed unto us. Once we come to grips with the reality of this, we begin to comprehend just how awesome GOD IS. We begin to come into a clearer perspective of what it is to know... and more importantly be known by... GOD.

Hebrews 5:8-14 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Jesus is our example, the One we are called to follow. If we have been drawn by the Spirit to know God, been born-again and washed in the blood of the Lamb, then we choose whether or not we will obey, whether or not we will remain babes or grow up to full stature sons.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Read and meditate on Jesus' words. Seek after, search for, and diligently strive to gain spiritual insight into the Gospel of Christ. By the power of the Spirit of God, Hear Ye HIM. And be careful how you do so...

Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Gross darkness covers the people... at this very moment.

Time is short people....

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Amen
Cathy Morris

1/25/2008

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