Pete Van Zyl

The real key to understanding this verse is contained in John 3 vs 3-8 in the words that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus.

When we are "born again" of the Spirit, we have the Treasure (the quickening Spirit we received from Christ when we were born of GOD)- as a "new person" born of God that takes up residence in us. This is the "Treasure in earthen vessels" spoken of by Paul in 2 Cor 4:7 New American Standard Bible: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; --Throughout Scripture we see and hear about the battle between the "flesh and the spirit" and there are many various opinions and teachings about this.

The Truth is that our "vessel", (the living soul that we received from Adam when we were born of our parents), in the body that we live in with all of its "weaknesses and sins", CANNOT enter into or cross the Spiritual realm into the Kingdom, but the Treasure that we have within us - the "new person" born of God Himself -(John 1: 12-13) is who will inherit the Kingdom. That is precisely why Jesus said "you must be born again"!

Paul exhorts us in Rom.12:1 to" present our bodies as a living sacrifice" as the vessel /flesh always strives for "control" in life. The Treasure on the other hand, will not seek to exalt itself over the vessel, even though it is far superior, and in partnership with GOD is able to lead the vessel from Glory to Glory - IF ONLY the vessel would surrender to the Treasure first!. The ONLY relationship that your vessel can have with GOD is as a living sacrifice! The Treasure and vessel are separate beings and must be recognized as such. 

There is NO ONE in the Kingdom of GOD except those whom GOD gives birth to! Your Treasure in Partnership with GOD will lead you out of "war into peace, out of fear into serenity, out of failure into Triumph; and out of bondage into freedom! It will take you from Glory to Glory."

December 31 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Thomas K M A retired Defence Scientist from Indian Defence R&D Orgn.

Flesh and blood as referred in the Bible at different places have been interpreted in many ways. 

Inheritance has wide meaning. In genetics, genetic succession passing from parents to offspring is considered as 'inheritance'. But in the Kingdom of Heaven, that type of inheritance has no place. The Kingdom of heaven cannot be inherited just by being religious Christians or just because one has Christian parents. Rather, we must be entirely changed. For such flesh and blood as we are clothed with now, cannot enter into that kingdom which is wholly spiritual. 

Sometimes the word for flesh is used literally (as in Heb.10:20) Sometimes it is used in a figurative manner as in Rom.8:9 (you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit) meaning the new creation rules over the old. 

Matthew 16:13-17: “Flesh and blood has not revealed it to you but my Father who is in heaven.” Is this speaking of the physical flesh, or the corrupt nature of man not revealing Christ's identity to Peter? It came from God who is Spirit. Galatians 1:16: “Straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood.... “Obviously Paul was not referring to the physical flesh but rather to corrupt and sinful man. Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. “A case can be made either way in the interpretation of this text. For instance, Christians do not physically wrestle with their opposition. Paul is not referring to the physical body, we don't wrestle against sinful corrupt nature of other men but the spiritual forces of evil influencing him.

Hebrews 2:14: “For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same... “. Here the text does refer to the physical flesh but Jesus did not take on Himself a sinful nature. It means he became a human having the same physical flesh and blood minus the sin nature. As Rom.8:3 says Jesus came in the “likeness of sinful flesh”, in other words he was fully man, he looked like any other but without the sin. The word for flesh used here refers to mankind in their fallen state (the body of flesh).

Flesh and blood have a unique relationship with the human being. The colour of the flesh and blood of the human race is the same whether he is an Asian or a European or an African or an American, but with a sinful nature. 

When you are a new creation and when you are under grace, you have become the child of God and then there is no importance to the blood relation of your parents, where as we have an intimate spiritual relationship with God, our Abba the father. We become the heirs of the Kingdom of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son ship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”(Rom8:15)

The Spirit of son-ship which we have received from God is the Spirit by which we cry, “Abba, Father.” Have you ever cried to God like He is your Daddy? Yes, He is El Shaddai. He is Elohim. But in the new covenant He is Daddy! The Holy Spirit put the Aramaic word “Abba” there, which means “Daddy” or “Papa” in English, and didn't have it translated because He wants us to know that God is not a distant, impersonal being, but a close and intimate Daddy! That is the Spirit of son-ship. For God everyone is His Children. For Him there is no grandchildren or grand grandchildren. All are His children.

When speaking of sinful man who consists of flesh and blood, he cannot enter the kingdom of God without a new creation. In Jn 3:3-5, Jesus explains that a fallen man cannot enter God's kingdom without being spiritually regenerated and he will not even see the Kingdom of God.

December 30 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kenneth Heck

The Jews at the time of Christ time falsely believed they would be preferred in the Kingdom of God because of their superior blood line from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob compared to the gentiles. The Kingdom of God is spiritual, but with Christianity it has spread its influence over the nations of the earth, and with Christ's second coming it will have even greater dominance than before. 

At the time of the resurrection (after the 1000 years, the great white throne judgment, and the descent of the New Jerusalem) the Kingdom of God will be in complete dominance over the earth. The resurrection bodies living on earth at that time will not bear the curse of original sin and will most likely be genetically different from our present human bodies. This is why there is no way to inherit the Kingdom of God through a blood line the way the Jews reckoned their genealogy. Rather than genealogy, righteousness is the key to living in or under (on earth) the Kingdom of God.

December 31 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report