¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Sectarianism Is Carnal

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to ^(A)babes in Christ. ² I fed you with ^(B)milk and not with solid food; ^(C)for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^[a]ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for ^(A)had they known, they would not have ^(B)crucified the Lord of glory.

⁹ But as it is written:

¹¹ of whom ^(A)we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become ^(B)dull of hearing.

^31 (A)He who comes from above ^(B)is above all; ^(C)he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. ^(D)He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² And ^(E)what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. ³³ He who has received His testimony ^(F)has certified that God is true. ^34 (G)For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit ^(H)by measure. ^35 (I)The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. ^36 (J)He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the ^(K)wrath of God abides on him.”

Our Inheritance Through Christ’s Blood

2 Therefore, ^(A)laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ^2 (B)as newborn babes, desire the pure ^(C)milk of the word, that you may grow ^[a]thereby, ³ if indeed you have ^(D)tasted that the Lord is gracious.

^13 (A)No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man ^[a]who is in heaven. ^14 (B)And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so ^(C)must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever ^(D)believes in Him should ^[b]not perish but ^(E)have eternal life. ^16 (F)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten ^(G)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ^17 (H)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

^8 (A)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ^(A)unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.