The message that Jesus brought was, “You don’t have to look forward anymore. The kingdom is here now.” This is what John preached, and it is what set both John’s and Jesus’ teaching apart from the Pharisees and scribes. They were saying “Now is the time,” and Jesus demonstrated it in a way that no one ever had before. Today the religious system is always talking about some great move of God in the past or one that is coming, but they aren’t living in any power now. Those who will be bold enough to preach this message that Jesus commanded about the kingdom being now, will see supernatural manifestations of God’s power and be much more effective in their Gospel presentation.
A person without the new birth is spiritually blind. This parallels what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:14: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The Greek word ANÓTHEN was translated as “again” here, and this Greek word means “from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew” (Strong’s Concordance). This is stressing a spiritual birth from above as compared to the physical birth everyone on the earth experiences.
The new birth is essential for entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, this is not a second physical birth but rather a spiritual birth. Our spiritual man became dead unto (separated from) God through sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 7:9, 11; Ephesians 2:1, and 5). Just as we didn’t accomplish our physical births, we cannot produce this spiritual rebirth. We are totally incapable of saving ourselves (Jeremiah 13:23; Romans 3:10-12, 8:7-8; and Ephesians 2:3); therefore, we need a Savior (Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:4, and 6).
We simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are saved (Acts 16:31). Faith is the only condition (Romans 3:28 and 10:6-9). Faith alone saves; however, saving faith is never alone. As stated in James 2:17-18, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone...shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Salvation is not a reformation but rather a regeneration, a new birth, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), that can only be accomplished by a creative miracle of the Holy Spirit (John 1:13 and 3:5).
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jews kept looking for Him to establish a physical kingdom here on the earth and deliver them from the oppression of the Romans (Daniel 7:13-14, 27; Luke 17:20; and Acts 1:6). Although at Jesus’ Second Coming, the kingdom of God will physically rule over the nations of the earth (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 11:15, and 20:4), Jesus’ kingdom is spiritually established by His Word, not by carnal weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Jesus said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation...behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). Paul said that we are already in the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).
The kingdom of God is therefore Christ’s “invisible church,” His body; it was begun during His earthly ministry and is still ruling the hearts of people today. To be a part of His church (Romans 12:5 and Ephesians 1:22-23), we must be born again.
Prior to salvation, a lost person has a dead spirit (Ephesians 2:1-5). It doesn’t matter if that person attains great wealth or influence in the flesh; their spirit is dead and separated from God. As Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Upon salvation, there is a total change that takes place—not in the flesh or soul, but in the spirit. That person becomes totally new.
At salvation, our spirits are “born again” (see my note at John 3:3). They become totally new and identical to Christ because the Spirit of Christ has been shed abroad in our hearts (Galatians 4:6 and Romans 8:9).
“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” (Colossians 1:27, emphasis added).
Every change that has taken place in our spirits was God’s doing. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10). There is no sin or corruption in the born-again (see note 2 at John 3:3) spirit.
A man or woman without the new birth is spiritually blind. This parallels what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The Greek word “ANOTHEN,” which was translated “again” here, means “from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew” (Strong’s Concordance). This is stressing a spiritual birth from above as compared to the physical birth everyone on the earth experiences. See my note at John 3:7.
The key term in this passage is “reconciliation.” The dictionary states that to reconcile means “to reestablish a close relationship between; to settle or resolve” (American Heritage Dictionary). The key to reconciliation is effectively dealing with the enmity, ill will, hatred, or hostility that has caused the dispute, etc.
The enmity between man and God was sin. God took the initiative to remove this barrier through the means and agency of Jesus Christ, thus leaving man and God as friends once again.
No one is exempt from God’s rule. There isn’t a god for Christians and then a Muslim god and a Hindu god. Only one God rules over all. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). There is no other way to God (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).
Before Jesus performed miracles, He preached the Word, telling people to repent and believe. When Jesus said “The kingdom of God is at hand,” He was saying that the kingdom of God is now. The wait is over. They didn’t need to pray for God’s kingdom to come anymore. It is here, now. They could reach out and touch it or grab it in their hands.
The Message translates this as “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.” This was a radical message. The Jews had been seeking and waiting on God’s kingdom to come for centuries. Likewise, the church today is always seeking for a new outpouring of God’s power. The radical truth is it’s already here.
Jesus released His power to the church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and He’s never taken it back. The kingdom is already within us (Luke 17:20-21). The kingdom is at hand; i.e., it’s now. We already have it. It’s not a matter of begging God for more, but a recognition of what we already have and learning how to release it. Hallelujah!
There is a human faith that is limited to believing only what we can perceive through our five senses, but the supernatural, God-kind of faith goes beyond what we can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel. God’s kind of faith calls those things that be not as though they already were (Romans 4:17, see note 16 at Romans 12:3).
God has dealt to every person “the” measure of faith, not “a” measure of faith. There are not different measures with God. The Lord doesn’t give one person great faith while another person is given small faith. We were all given an equal amount of faith at salvation. The problem is not that we don’t have faith, but rather we don’t know how to use our faith, because of a lack of renewing our minds. Peter said we had “like precious faith” with him (2 Peter 1:1). The same faith that he used to raise Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36-42) is in us too. The same faith that Peter used is the same faith that we have.