Upon This Rock: Building a Firm Foundation That Cannot Be Shaken

By Rosie Rivera

Many new believers struggle due to a lack of knowledge. The Bible states that we as baby Christians should desire the sincere milk of the Word that we might grow by it. Many people get born again and go back into the old lifestyle because they have no root in the Word and their foundation is weak. I would like to see every new believer become established and grounded in the Word so that they have a firm foundation that cannot be moved. Tests and trials come to each of us and the type of foundation our life is built upon determines whether we stand or fall. The more we understand the Word, the stronger our foundation becomes. God desires that we take His written Word and His revealed Word and apply them to our daily lives. This book is intended to inspire new believers to go after God, to get to know Him, and to love the Word. There is no greater joy than knowing Jesus who came to give His life for us so that we can have eternal life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490849416

Rosie Rivera

Rosie Rivera is an author, entrepreneur, and the testamentary executor of Jenni Rivera Enterprises, as well as an international speaker, author and an influential public figure. Rosie uses her platform to lift up, motivate, and give hope to sexual abuse victims as a survivor and counselor. Rosie has co-hosted the top Spanish morning shows such as Despierta America and Un Nuevo Dia and cohosts along with her husband a marriage podcast called The Power of Us on Revolver Podcast. Rosie has participated and starred in reality shows such as I Love Jenni, The Riveras, Mira Quien Baila, and Rica Famosa Latina currently on Netflix. Rosie is happily married to worshiper Abel Flores. The couple live in Lakewood, California, where they raise their three children Kassey, Sammy, and Eli.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Why Must I Be Born Again?

Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3 NKJV).

A man named Nicodemus who was a ruler of the Jews had come to Jesus by night. Why he came by night we aren’t told; possibly as a ruler he didn’t want to be seen by his followers. He knew Jesus was come from God because he was doing things no other man had done. When he spoke to Jesus, Jesus responded by saying that unless one was born again, one could not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was puzzled because he didn’t understand how a grown man could enter into his mother’s womb once again and be born. Just the thought seemed like an utter impossibility. Then Jesus said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’ (John 3:5–6 NKJV).

Nicodemus was still puzzled. He could not understand how this could be, so Jesus went on speaking to him In John 3:16-17 NKJV, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Maybe you’re as puzzled as Nicodemus was. Perhaps you’re asking, how may I be born again? What do I have to do?

Jesus said, You must be born again. The word must is a strong word. It means to be forced to, to have to, and to be obligated to do something. It indicates a requirement or an absolute. The requirement here is that one be born again before seeing the kingdom of God or entering the kingdom of God. It means that for one to be born again, something is required of that person. A person can’t just come into the kingdom of God uninvited.

You wouldn’t try to go into the White House uninvited, would you? Neither can you enter into God’s kingdom uninvited. God extends an invitation to you through the open arms of Jesus and His death upon the cross.

God requires a new birth because of Adam and Eve’s sin. Sin left a gap between God and man, and the only thing that can bridge that gap is being born again. To understand why this is an absolute, one must go back to the beginning and find out what actually took place when humanity fell and how as a consequence all people became separated from God.

When one is born into this world, one is born with the sin nature that separates people from God. This nature causes a person to lack the ability to perceive the things of God.

It all goes back to the garden of Eden when God made humanity in His image (Genesis 2:26) and placed the first man and woman in the garden, giving them one commandment: that of the tree in the midst of the garden, the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they should not eat, because in the day they ate of it, they would surely die. God placed in that garden everything the first couple needed to sustain life. God gave them dominion over the