John 3:3; Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The cross is central to the Christian faith – the very reason for our faith, yet it is the most misunderstood and dangerously so.   What is the term ‘the cross’ mean?  It is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – to atone for the sins of man 1 Cor 15:3-4.

The Cross provides for our entry into the Kingdom of God upon our belief and faith in Christ’s work.  See John 3:16,  Heb 10:38.  It is the place where we receive the Holy Spirit and become His Temple 1 Cor 6:19-20 also known as being born again. The Spirit makes us into new creations 2 Cor 5:17 and regenerates us Titus 3:5-7.  He becomes our teacher John 14:25-26, our guide to all truth and will always glorify Jesus John 16:12-15, gives us power to overcome sin Gal 5:16-25, helps us to pray Jude 1:20, and intercedes for us Rom 8:26. The Spirit, in His mighty power, fills believers with “all joy and peace” as they trust the Lord, causing believers to “overflow with hope” Romans 15:13, and He seals us as belonging to God Eph 1:13-14.

Upon entry into the Kingdom of God, we realize we immediately are enlisted in a war to battle with our flesh and its desire to sin.  Jesus explains how His soldiers are to maneuver for them to follow Him through this battle when He spoke these words in Matt 16:24; Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” 

Our life in Christ, as born-again believers is by FAITH that we receive Him.  This faith is not dead but active,  James 2:20.   In the activation of our faith, we move out to accomplish what He calls us to accomplish – which is to become more like Him.  See 1 Cor 15:49 and 2 Cor 3:18.  Active faith will produce fruit conducive to the Spirit of God, see Gal 5:22-23, Matt 7:16, Phil 1:11. This is the faith that Jesus talked about when He said, ‘will I find faith when I come?’ Luke 18:8. The kind that does not love their own lives to death Rev 12:11 and what the Holy Spirit can only produce in a soul’s life.

If there is no desire to grow in this way I believe it is wise to do some soul-searching in this matter to make sure you are born of the Spirit of the Living God. I exhort each of us to- 

^“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”  2 Cor 13:5. 

Beloved, this is a matter of life and death.