To all who have served sin, and have not been regenerated, the kingdom of God is denied. Concerning this, read: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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 3:3,5–8.
That the regenerated do not become perfect in this life, but must fight unto death against the flesh, the world, and sin, read: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after,” etc. Phil. 3:12; 1:30; Col. 1:29; Rev. 2:10.
“I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9:27.
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led by the Spirit,” etc. Gal. 5:17,18; 1 Pet. 2:11; Rom. 7:18,23; Jas. 3:2.