1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2. HOW DO WE “BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN”?
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1-3)
WE MUST “BE BORN AGAIN”

3. John 3:1-7
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

4. John 3:1-7
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

5. John 3:1-7
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

6. John 3:1-7
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

7. John 3:1-7
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

8. John 3:1-7
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

9. John 3:1-7
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"

10. HOW TO “BE BORN AGAIN”
Inasmuch as one cannot enter the kingdom of God without being born again, the lost must be told how to experience the “new birth.”

11. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
Peter equates having “purified your souls in obeying the truth” with “being born again … through the word of God.”

12. 1 Peter 1:22-23
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

13. 1 Peter 1:22-23
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever

14. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
When praying to the Father, Jesus said, “Your word is truth.”

15. John 17:17
17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

16. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
Thus, “purifying your soul in obeying the truth” is “being born again … through the word of God.”

17. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
One who has not purified his soul in obeying the truth has not been born again and is not in God’s kingdom; he is still an alien sinner.

18. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
Thus, being saved is having our souls “purified” “in obeying the truth,” which is being “born again … through the word of God.”

19. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
So, one must obey the truth to be born again.

20. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
He is then saved and given citizenship in the kingdom of God.

21. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
Paul explains that “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” are the means of one’s being saved.

22. Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

23. Titus 3:4-5
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit

24. WHAT BEING “BORN AGAIN” MEANS
Thus, when one experiences “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” he has been “born of water and the Spirit.”

25. WHAT ONE IS “SAVED” FROM
Jesus came to “save His people from their sins.”

26. Matthew 1:21
"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

27. WHAT ONE IS “SAVED” FROM
One is saved from his sins in that he is saved from falling short of the glory of God.

28. Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

29. WHAT ONE IS “SAVED” FROM
AND he is saved from the wages of sin, which is death.

30. Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

31. HOW ONE IS “SAVED” FROM SIN
To be saved from our sins, we must have our sins forgiven.

32. HOW ONE IS “SAVED” FROM SIN
Shortly before His ascension, Jesus told His apostles,

33. John 20:23
"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

34. HOW ONE IS “SAVED” FROM SIN
He had earlier told them,

35. Matthew 18:18
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven…."

36. HOW ONE IS “SAVED” FROM SIN
Therefore, whatever the apostles bound on earth, as to the forgiveness of sins, has been bound in heaven.

37. HOW ONE IS “SAVED” FROM SIN
Thus, only those who have done whatever the apostles bound on earth, as to the forgiveness of sins, are saved or “born again.”

38. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
The apostles taught unbelievers that they had to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved or “born again.”

39. Acts 16:29-31
Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

40. Acts 16:29-31
30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

41. Acts 16:29-31
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

42. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
The apostles taught believing aliens to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

43. Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

44. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
This is the same as telling them how to be born again, for one is born again when his sins are remitted.

45. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
Believing aliens who had repented and desired to be baptized were encouraged to confess faith in Christ.

46. Acts 8:36-38
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

47. Acts 8:36-38
37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

48. Acts 8:36-38
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

49. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
Saul of Tarsus was a penitent believer who had been praying for three days when he was told,

50. Acts 22:16
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

51. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
To have one’s sins washed away is to have them remitted.

52. Matthew 26:28
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

53. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ.

54. Revelation 1:5
…. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood

55. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
But when are sins washed away by the blood of Christ?

56. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ when one is baptized.

57. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
One is “a new creation” “in Christ.”

58. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

59. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
Thus, one must be “born again” to get “into” Christ.

60. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
But water baptism puts one “into Christ.”

61. Romans 6:3
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

62. Galatians 3:26-27
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

63. Galatians 3:26-27
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

64. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
Thus, one is “born again … of water and the Spirit” when he is scripturally baptized.

65. THE TRUTH ALIENS MUST OBEY
He then becomes a new creation and is granted citizenship in the kingdom of God.