1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

THE WAY TO HEAVENLY LIFE 115
is spirit." John 3 :3, 5, 6, NW It must be a
spiritual birth, a birth by God's spirit to become
his spiritual sons . Parents of flesh and blood have
nothing to do with these sons of God, for they are
"born not from blood or from a fleshly will or
from man's will, but from God" .-John 1 :13, NW.
Not only God's spirit or invisible active force
performs a part in this birth to heavenly life, but
also what Jesus called "water" plays its part first .
Not the water of baptism, although heirs of heaven
must copy their Forerunner and be immersed
in water ; but the water of the truth. Water has
cleansing, purifying power, and so does the word
of truth : "You have purified your souls by your
obedience to the truth ." "The Christ also loved the
congregation and delivered up himself for it, that
he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the bath
of water by means of the word ." "Sanctify them
by means of the truth ; your word is truth ."
-1 Peter 1 :22 and Ephesians 5 :25,26 and John
17:17, NW.
5 The person favored with the heavenly opportunity
must first hear the truth concerning the
only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent
forth. True knowledge is the foundation for the
real faith that leads to right works . God's Word
strictly tells us that "without faith it is impossible
to win his good pleasure, for he that approaches
God must believe that he is and that he
becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking
4. Besides spirit, by means of what else must one be
born?
5 . How is birth by such water accomplished?