The Way to God and How to Find It · Chapter
II: The Gateway Into the Kingdom explained
Moody expounds on the necessity of the new birth as the gateway into God's kingdom, emphasizing that it is the foundation of Christian hope and the only means of entering heaven.
What happens
Moody expounds on the necessity of the new birth as the gateway into God's kingdom, emphasizing that it is the foundation of Christian hope and the only means of entering heaven. He clarifies what regeneration is not, argues that human effort cannot achieve it, and illustrates the mystery of the Spirit's work through the analogy of the wind. He concludes with a stirring appeal, warning that without the new birth, one cannot see the kingdom of God or be reunited with departed loved ones.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
The emotional/psychological peak occurs in the stark diagnosis of the backslider’s condition—their ear is “unc…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- The Necessity of the New Birth
Central theme: without being born again, one cannot enter the kingdom of God.
- Human Inability and Divine Grace
Human effort cannot achieve salvation; it is a work of the Spirit.
- Faith and Belief in Christ
Salvation comes through believing in Christ, as illustrated by the serpent in the wilderness.
Characters to notice
- Moody
The author and preacher, expounding on the doctrine of the new birth and addressing the reader directly.
- Jesus Christ
Quoted as the source of the doctrine, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'
- Nicodemus
The Pharisee to whom Christ taught the necessity of the new birth; his questioning illustrates human confusion.
- Moses
Referenced in the illustration of the serpent lifted in the wilderness, symbolizing Christ's crucifixion.
- John Bunyan
Mentioned as the visionary of the land of Beulah, which the unregenerate cannot behold.
- Abraham Lincoln
Not directly mentioned, but the text references Abraham's glimpse of the heavenly city, aligning with the character.
Key passages
“Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Unless a person is spiritually reborn, they cannot enter God's kingdom.
The foundational verse of the chapter.
“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.”
The Spirit's work is invisible and mysterious, like the wind, yet its effects are real and observable.
Moody uses this analogy to explain the mystery of regeneration.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the bronze serpent, so all who look to Christ in faith will receive eternal life.
Used to illustrate salvation through faith in Christ's sacrifice.
