How To enter the kingdom of God
The Bible says in John 3:5 that we need to be "born of the water and the Spirit" to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
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.”
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.
Peter explained what John 3:3 and 3:5 meant, to the Jews in the book of Acts.
The Jews asked what must we do to be saved? Peter answered, in Acts 2:38-41what they had to do.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that "gladly received his word WERE BAPTISED": and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
In the verses above you see that 3000 people were baptized in one day.
We see that the Apostle Peter commanded that they ALL be baptized.
When we are baptized, we are "born of the water." Why is it called this? Because the Apostle Paul said that baptism is like a spiritual burial. The old man with all his sin and old ways is washed away and is buried in the water and a new man comes forth.
Rom 6:4
Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should "walk in newness of life".
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been "baptized into Christ" have "put on Christ"
2 Corthians 5:17
Therefore, if any man "be in Christ", he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
So, this is how we are born of the water.
Now how are we born of the Spirit?
As Peter told the 3000 Jews. In Acts 2:38-39 The Holy Spirit is a gift of God. It is a promise for you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
God desires to Give the gift of His Holy Spirit to all of his Children.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The Holy Spirit gives us power to live for God!
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Holy Spirit is given when a person that is filled with the Holy Spirit, lays hands on you.
Acts 19
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied.
Also read Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
But the Holy Spirit can also be poured out upon your life, if you seek Him in prayer and praise. Trusting that God desires for you to be filled with His Spirit.
Is it necessary to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God? Let's look at what scripture says,
Romans 8:9 And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Eph 4:30 New Living Translation
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.
God loves you all very much and he died so that we can have eternal life in heaven with him.
The first step is to believe that he died in your place, so that you can live forever with him.
The next step is to be "Born Again".
If you would like a deeper study on why we must be born again, feel free to email me. :)