What must you do to be accounted worthy to obtain the Eternal Life, and the resurrection from the dead?
Let me begin with words of Jesus: "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. (Luke 20:35). "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:36).
You can read the previous verses to know the whole story, but the verses 35 and 36 are sufficient for this study. We will use these sentences as the basis for part 2.
Jesus took the opportunity to shed more light on eternal life. As we know there is eternal life from the study Life | Long Life | Eternal Life (part 1).
What must you do to be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead? Nicodemus, the ruler of Jews, may have had a similar thought or question.
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again." (John 3:1-7)
Born again = born of water and of the Spirit
Here are some explanations of the meaning of born again. They all mean the same thing.
A) Unless your sins are washed away and you are not filled with the Holy Ghost, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
B) You die in your sins (transgressions) and will not be resurrected to eternal life.
C) You will not be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead.
And here are the scriptures that support it.
A) Act 22:16 And now why tarries you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
B) John 8:21-24 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, you cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he said, Whither I go, you cannot come. And he said unto them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
C) Revelation 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Many times Jesus speaks in parables or keeps the information hidden. He wants a person to search for an answer. "And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)
Nicodemus was told what to do, but not how to do it. He had to wait for certain events to happen before the full plan of Jesus is revealed. Without Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, there would be no salvation. The scriptures/statements had to be fulfilled. In the letter to the Corinthians, in the 15th chapter and in the verses 3-4, Paul says: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
Another event had to happen. Jesus asked his disciples two questions. "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" and "But whom say ye that I am? (Matthew 16:13-15). And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:16-19)
As you can see, Peter was given the "keys" of the kingdom of heaven. Let me explain something. Keys are not physical keys that you use to open doors. These keys means the ability to know how to enter into the kingdom of God.
Before we see how Peter used the "keys", let's rule out the possibility of error. Jesus spent some time with the disciples before He was buried. He also spent 40 days with his disciples after his resurrection and before his ascension. Acts 1:2-3 states: Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. This confirms that Peter knew what to do and how to do it.
All was revealed on the day of Pentecost. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4) Please continue reading the whole story from Acts 2:5-47.
There were people who did not understand what was happening, and some of them even mocked the believers (Acts 2:13). At that moment, Peter had the perfect opportunity to use God-given "keys" and announce to the people and the whole world what all people shall do.
"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. 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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:38-41)
This is how to be born again of water and of the Spirit.
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