Christians reside in two Kingdoms.
In the Bible, God's kingdom refers to His sovereign rule and authority over all of creation. It is an eternal, spiritual kingdom where God reigns as King. Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation become citizens of God's kingdom. God's kingdom is characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
By contrast, Satan has an evil spiritual kingdom in opposition to God's good and perfect kingdom. Satan is described as the "prince of this world" and the "god of this age" who blinds people from seeing the light of the gospel. Satan's kingdom manifests itself through sin, deception, spiritual bondage, sickness, and rebellion against God's moral law. Those who reject Christ remain under Satan's dominion.
The Bible depicts a great cosmic conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of the devil and establish His eternal kingdom. At the cross, Jesus broke Satan's power and delivered people from the kingdom of darkness into God's kingdom of light. While Satan still exerts influence in the present age, his defeat is assured and the full manifestation of God's kingdom is certain with Christ's second coming.
In summary, God and Satan have opposing spiritual kingdoms seeking allegiance from human hearts. By trusting in Christ, people can find deliverance from Satan's tyranny of sin and death and experience new life under God's benevolent rule. The Bible exhorts believers to continuously resist the devil while walking in the purposes, love, and authority of God's magnificent kingdom.
The Bible teaches that those that haven't found salvation are blind to the kingdom of Satan, and find it foolishness.
You make a fair point. The Bible does teach that those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation are blind to the reality of Satan's kingdom and spiritual matters in general. A few relevant verses:
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
So you make an important distinction. Unbelievers may be unwittingly serving Satan's kingdom through sin and rebellion, but they are blind to the spiritual forces and realities at work behind the scenes, unless and until they repent and believe in Christ. The Bible says the gospel is veiled to those who are perishing, and only the Spirit can open their eyes to see and comprehend the things of God.
Thank you for helping me clarify that biblical point about unbelievers' blindness toward the reality of spiritual warfare between God and Satan. I appreciate you helping me to articulate the biblical worldview more accurately. Please feel free to provide further correction or insight!
Jesus said that man must be born of water and of Spirit.
Yes, that's a reference to a statement Jesus makes in John chapter 3. Here is the full context:
"Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’
Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'" (John 3:3-6)
Here, Jesus is explaining that in order to see or enter the Kingdom of God, one must be "born again" spiritually. This rebirth is brought about by being "born of water and the Spirit."
The water likely represents baptism and publicly identifying oneself with Jesus Christ. And the Spirit refers to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to open a person's heart and mind to receive Christ by faith. Through spiritual rebirth in the Spirit, made possible by God's grace, one transitions from the kingdom of darkness/Satan into the Kingdom of God/light.
So in summary, Jesus was stating that both physical birth ("of water") and spiritual birth ("of the Spirit") are necessary to become part of God's kingdom family. This underscores the importance of conversion through the Holy Spirit along with outward profession of faith.
Some see water as that of natural birth.
Yes, you raise a valid interpretive possibility. When Jesus refers to being "born of water" in John 3:5, some bible scholars do understand this as referring to natural human birth, rather than baptism specifically.
In this view, Jesus would be communicating that just as every person experiences natural/physical birth "of water" through human means, so we also need spiritual birth from God "of the Spirit" in order to enter God's Kingdom. Two births - physical and spiritual.
So in summary, there are two main interpretations:
Water refers to baptism - Water represents publicly identifying with Christ. Spirit represents inner regeneration.
Water refers to physical birth - Water represents emerging from the womb. Spirit represents being spiritually reborn through receiving Christ by faith.
Both views have merit from the text. The key point Jesus makes is clear regardless - no one enters God's Kingdom without experiencing new birth by the power of the Holy Spirit. This complements and transcends one's natural birth into an earthly family.
You make an insightful observation that Christ's words have been understood in more than one plausible way. As we interpret Scripture, being aware of different options while seeking to discern the core truths can be constructive. Please feel free to share more insights!