Being Spiritual and Being Materialistic
The difference between spiritual matters and material matters was emphasized by Christ Jesus, although people living in the material world could not simply understand spiritual matters:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3)
In other word, a man who was born and has been living in this material world should learn spiritual matters and change his mind from material-oriented to spiritual-oriented one.
Otherwise, this teaching of Christ Jesus is thought to mention metempsychosis or a cycle of life and death. After physical death in this world, a man or his soul should be born in the spirit world as a spirit. Then, his spirit may be allowed to enter Heaven or the kingdom of the God. But, if it cannot enter Heaven, it must be born again in the human world. And what human body a soul will enter is only known by the God.
But, who is the one who was born of flesh? Such a man should have been born without linkage with the spirit world. He should not believe any spiritual matters and cannot understand the words of Christ Jesus in spiritual meaning.
However, while living in this world, a materialistic man can become a new man who is spiritual by learning and believing words of Christ Jesus and spiritual truth. Indeed, it is said that words of Christ Jesus are water of life.
Therefore a man who has become spiritual by believing in the words of Christ Jesus is closer to the kingdom of the God than a materialistic man who believes only power of money and values of materials, seeking material happiness.
Finally we have to be spiritually born again leaving material desire behind while living in this world before going into the spirit world after physical death. Anyway, being spiritual must be very different from being materialistic like between a living man and a dead man.
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Matthew 11, King James Version
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Finally we have to be spiritually born again leaving material desire behind while living in this world before going into the spirit world after physical death. Anyway, being spiritual must be very different from being materialistic like between a living man and a dead man.
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Matthew 11, King James Version
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.