September 27th, 2025
by Dr. Ron Harvey
by Dr. Ron Harvey
Radio commentator, Paul Harvey, told the story of a policeman in a small town who pulled over a teenage girl for speeding, got her license and was about to issue the ticket when she pleaded, “Oh, officer if I get a ticket my mother will kill me.” The officer took a second glance at the girl’s license and said, “I don’t think so.” The teenage girl said, “What makes you think that.” He answered, “Because I gave your mother a ticket about half an hour ago.”
It is true that we tend to be more understanding of things we have in common. Well, one thing we all have in common is that we are all guilty of sin and that if we are going to see the kingdom of heaven we must be born again. Jesus said as much, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). In the context, Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Nicodemus was a sinner who needed a Savior. So do we. We need a savior because of our sinful nature.
Once again, Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of (heaven)…” – which means as we are. We must be born again to see heaven. Even as we must have physical nature to experience physical life. Even so, we must be given a new nature—a heavenly nature—to experience heaven. This new spiritual, heavenly awakening comes through the new birth.
A blind person cannot see without new eyes. A deaf person cannot hear without restored ears. Moreover, a spiritually dead person cannot experience spiritual things without a new heart. Thus, we are going to need a new nature to get into heaven. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. A fish is not at home in the air and a bird is not at home in the water. In like manner, we are not at home in heaven without a new nature. We receive that through a new birth experience. Paul said, “If any person is in Christ he is a new creature… all things are become as new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is why it is necessary.
So how are we born again? Jesus said, “Everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:15). We find forgiveness for our sins and eternal life by trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is how to be born again! Once again, as I urged on Sunday, be Born Again!
If you are reading this, but have never done this, I invite you to pray the sinner’s prayer from your heart right now and say something like this:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and arose from the grave. I turn from my sins and welcome You into my heart and life. I will now trust in You and pledge to follow You as my Savior and Lord. In Your Name Jesus I pray, Amen!
If you have prayed this today, I welcome you to God’s Family! I would ask you to send me the good news of your decision so that I may rejoice with you. In addition, I would love to visit with you about this life-changing experience and perhaps have the opportunity to share with you what comes next on your spiritual journey. I look forward to hearing from you…
(If you know of someone whom you would love to see receive this eHomily, please forward this to them or add their name to our email address list as a weekly recipient of this blog).
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
It is true that we tend to be more understanding of things we have in common. Well, one thing we all have in common is that we are all guilty of sin and that if we are going to see the kingdom of heaven we must be born again. Jesus said as much, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). In the context, Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Nicodemus was a sinner who needed a Savior. So do we. We need a savior because of our sinful nature.
Once again, Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of (heaven)…” – which means as we are. We must be born again to see heaven. Even as we must have physical nature to experience physical life. Even so, we must be given a new nature—a heavenly nature—to experience heaven. This new spiritual, heavenly awakening comes through the new birth.
A blind person cannot see without new eyes. A deaf person cannot hear without restored ears. Moreover, a spiritually dead person cannot experience spiritual things without a new heart. Thus, we are going to need a new nature to get into heaven. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. A fish is not at home in the air and a bird is not at home in the water. In like manner, we are not at home in heaven without a new nature. We receive that through a new birth experience. Paul said, “If any person is in Christ he is a new creature… all things are become as new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is why it is necessary.
So how are we born again? Jesus said, “Everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:15). We find forgiveness for our sins and eternal life by trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is how to be born again! Once again, as I urged on Sunday, be Born Again!
If you are reading this, but have never done this, I invite you to pray the sinner’s prayer from your heart right now and say something like this:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and arose from the grave. I turn from my sins and welcome You into my heart and life. I will now trust in You and pledge to follow You as my Savior and Lord. In Your Name Jesus I pray, Amen!
If you have prayed this today, I welcome you to God’s Family! I would ask you to send me the good news of your decision so that I may rejoice with you. In addition, I would love to visit with you about this life-changing experience and perhaps have the opportunity to share with you what comes next on your spiritual journey. I look forward to hearing from you…
(If you know of someone whom you would love to see receive this eHomily, please forward this to them or add their name to our email address list as a weekly recipient of this blog).
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron
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