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 3:3 KJV]

…Verily, verily, I say unto thee…

Right from the Old Testament through the New Testament and up until now, there has been a misconception about the kingdom of God, even though it is the singular theme of the entire Bible. Many keep staring at the obvious but cannot see the forest for the trees. A few who sought after this kingdom of God only did so erroneously and do not understand what it entails. Many believe the kingdom of God was the establishment of a physical kingdom on earth which will bring them deliverance from an oppressive government that ruled over them and brought suffering, anguish, deprivation and molestations. They looked forward to a kingdom of God with a Messiah as the king that will bring them freedom from all physical problems and challenges. Their expectations are for what to eat and drink, physical prosperity, abundance and peace all around. They eagerly and earnestly sought for that illusive “kingdom of God”, while they missed the true kingdom.

Many others also think of the kingdom of God as belonging to the biological family of Abraham – a sect, religious group, denomination, or bearing a bible name, and observing/adhering to certain ceremonial laws, practices or rituals faithfully. Some others believe that it is the coming kingdom in heaven. They think it is only a futuristic kingdom you will enter by and by after life on earth, which has nothing to do with life at the present. Jesus however confronted all these misconceptions as He spoke very strongly when He declared “verily, verily, I say unto thee”.


…Verily, verily, I say unto thee…

When Jesus said …Verily, verily, I say unto thee…, it means “Regardless of whatever you have heard, believed or practiced, they are all false except they agree with this”.

The kingdom of God begins here on earth through a new (second) birth experience, and this Jesus said with all earnestness. He threw His whole weight behind His words so that man will understand the severity, absoluteness and indispensability of this singular means to enter the kingdom. Just as life on earth begins at birth, the kingdom of God likewise begins through the new birth experience. Reincarnation or purgatory does not usher any man into the kingdom of God, neither does any other means no matter how powerful, scholastic or convincing it may sound. Jesus said this with all finality and authority, “verily, verily, I say unto thee except you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God”.


…except a man be born again…

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [1John 3:9 KJV]

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [John 3:6 KJV].

…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God... [1Corinthians 15:50 KJV]

Several people profess to be born again without the evidence of a changed life– a life that does not commit sin. Many have struggled to no avail and have therefore concluded that it is an impossible experience. Others believe this life is only possible by the daily confession of sins that you cannot live without, while others live in total disbelief of the possibility of a life that is victorious over sin.

“Except a man is born again he cannot…” was Jesus answer to the puzzle. Maybe what we need to check up is NOT the possibility of this truth (since Jesus with finality affirmed the reality of this experience), but rather we need to check your claim of being born again. The question is, “What sort of seed were you born of?”, “Have you ever had a glimpse of the kingdom of God?”, “What you believe as the kingdom of God, is it not the glorified kingdom of this world?”, “How could you be born again and yet you cannot clearly see the kingdom of the Maker of the universe?” You are only pursuing after that which is visible and captivating to your heart, which is the kingdom of this world (i.e. money, fame, position and possessions). Until you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God, and until you see it, you will not pursue/seek after it.

…the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, …. [Matthew 13:31-32 KJV]

Jesus in another parable above asked and explained what the kingdom of God is like: It is like a grain of mustard seed which is not easily noticed, neither does it appear tangible at the start. It begins as the tiniest of seeds – easily despised, ignored and contemptible. Many have missed its worth for its tiny nature. Practically today, the kingdom of God at its seed level does not make sense to men. It is not appealing or captivating, it appears weak and foolish. In fact, men who accept and plant the seed in their hearts and lives are ridiculed. The seed of the kingdom of God can only amount to anything substantial when a man accepts it and takes the responsibility to grow it. As a seed, it does not appear powerful and beneficial at the moment, it needs the culture medium within a man, shielded from the adverse external conditions in order to take root within his heart. The mustard seed, is the word of God and it requires faith to be sown in the heart. Logic, human wisdom, and permutations are some adverse external conditions that can kill the seed of the kingdom of God.

Until it is planted by being cast into your heart first, and not in the lives of other men, it will never germinate and amount to anything. It will never become a tree in the kingdom, where it becomes apparent, significant, reputable and boundless.

The kingdom of God grows when planted. It does not ever remain insignificant, obscured and despised. It grows into a tree and birds live among its branches. It provides fruits and shelter for mankind. It does not remain stagnant or stunted. It grows daily. Everyman who has received the seed of Gods kingdom must both allow and take responsibility to grow it in him till it saturates every nooks and crannies of his life.


… he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Just like a child in the womb is blind to the physical kingdom on earth till the day he is born, in the same way, a man cannot see the kingdom of God without the new birth experience. Men who saw the invisible kingdom of God that is hidden to natural men (fleshy men) forsook all just to obtain it. Fame, position, possession and privileges could not distract them. It was not an opportunity cost, it was simply making the only correct choice. Yes, the things they once thought were so important were all reduced to insignificant – mere dog dung. This was because they desired a better country that is an heavenly, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. What kingdom do you earnestly desire and seek after day in and day out? You go to church but for what are you seeking? In your prayers, for what do you make request, is it the kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world?

Just like biological life begins with seed, the only available seed to begin the kingdom of God in a man on earth is the word of God. There are different means by which men can become bonafide citizens of earthly kingdoms, but for the kingdom of God, Jesus emphatically told the erudite Nicodemus that except a man is born again he cannot see... “to see” here speaks of recognizing the kingdom of God, what more of becoming its citizen. You must first come into an experience, a state that will grant you the ability to see. Without the born again experience, the kingdom of God is an illusion to a man. There is no way to make him see no matter how hard you may try except he becomes born into it. Every other means to make him become a citizen of what he cannot see, will amount to futility and a deception. He will neither see it nor ever pursue it.

To be born again is therefore an experience that opens the eyes of a man to see clearly what truly and essentially is the kingdom of God. This understanding is all that is needed for a man to recognize how to live life on earth as a necessary preparation to secure his permanent placement in the kingdom of God in heaven at last. Remember, if you are a stranger, you cannot make it at all.

There must be the termination of the old life and the sprouting of the new. Your old life must be crucified/die in Christ and Jesus Christ will be born anew in you. There is no other way to become a part of the kingdom of God, it is only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You must acknowledge yourself as a sinner and plead for forgiveness from Him, then you will accept Him into your life.

Until you are born again, you are a stranger, an alien to the kingdom and you will by no means secure an entrance no matter your sacrifices and commitments.
There are just two things you can possibly be to a kingdom:- a citizen or an alien. Are you a citizen of Gods Kingdom? Is God your Father, Master, King and All? Are you under His rule and governance? Are you His child or a stranger to Him? Until you are a citizen of the kingdom, you are deprived from the privileges and wealth of that kingdom.

Are you a citizen of Gods kingdom?