Good morning. Paul tells
them that he was encouraging and imploring them as a father with his own
children – why? That they may walk in a manner worthy of the God who called
them into His own kingdom and glory. It wasn't to lord it over them – it was
for their own good. You received from us the word of God's message, you
accepted it not, as the word man, but for what it really is, the word of God,
which also performs its work in you who believe. This reminds us of Hebrews
4:12 - the word of God is living and active… Able to judge the thoughts and
intentions of the heart. He tells them that they are his hope and joy and crown
of exultation in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming. Even though he
went through a lot of afflictions, he was comforted about them through their
faith; and that he really lived if they stood firm in the Lord. That was how he
judged whether or not he succeeded – by them remaining faithful to God. It
wasn't by the praise of men or signs and wonders, it was that they followed him
as he followed Jesus. His prayer for them: May the Lord cause you to increase
and abound in love for one another, so that He may establish your hearts unblamable
in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all
His saints. Father thank You that the reader’s heart is unblamable in holiness
before You. He/she excels in all things for You and walks in a worthy manner.
Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God
Good morning. While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. Jesus was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men. Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. It doesn’t say, but I assume it is still during this time of the Passover. This man came to Jesus by night. Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do the signs that You do unless God is with him. It just said that the people believed in His name because of the signs He was doing; yet it does not say what those signs were. Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. That is why unbelievers cannot tell what is of the kingdom of God and what is not – they’re not born again. Nicodemus doesn’t have a clue. How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he? Unless one is born of water and the Spirit ...
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