MARCH 18th
PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM (Continued)

Scripture Reading I Corinthians 15:50
   15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

       The story of Nicodemus in the Gospel of John Chapter 3, gives us insight into the above verse.  He was a ruler of the Jews.  Intellect and position were no help in spiritual matters.    After Jesus told him he had to be born again to see or experience the kingdom of God, he made great effort to try to figure it out in his carnal mind.   Jesus told him except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  Jesus continued by saying that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. 

       Nicodemus had another question as the two realms collided.   How can these things be?  Jesus  made a sobering reply to this ruler in Israel who was very familiar with the Scriptures.  He reminded him of the incident in the wilderness when Moses lifted up a serpent on a pole.  What a marvelous picture of His Cross.  The people in the wilderness had been rebellious and serpents were biting and killing them.  The plan of God through His Son has always been in place and never loses its power.  By looking on the serpent on the pole, they lived.  The same is true of the mighty Cross.   The only way to spiritual birth is through the Cross.  The kingdom of God is incorruption and unregenerate, corruptible man is not going to inherit it.

Continued