When our body dies, our soul follows our spirit to its final destination. The ONLY way to heaven is to be Born Again.

The conversation begins with understanding the difference between flesh and Spirit. 

• There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 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. John 3:3-7.

Only through rebirth by the Spirit of God. When we believe Jesus died for our sins, we confess and repent of them and receive the Holy Ghost from the Father to help us avoid sin among other things. At that moment, we are reborn as a new creature (creation), a child of God the Father through adoption by His Spirit whether we "feel" anything or not. The "feeling" is irrelevant. It is the Spirit (truth of God) that bears witness our spirit!

• The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:16.

This means the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Ghost) bears witness with our (man's) spirit of truth that we are the sons of God because we believe in Him! It also means the Word (Spirit)  and the will of our Father (Spirit) by which we know Him also dwell in us! (Please read all of the following verses even if you know the first verse, John 3:16.)

• For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is  condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:16-20.

Stated another way, the Word is the Spirit, and let's see the kingdom of Heaven through believing in Jesus-the Word. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit we receive through repentance from our sins, letting us "enter" into the Spirit. 

• And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34.
• Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3.
• Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5.

Stated another way for clarity: we cannot see the kingdom of heaven or go in unless obey the Father's will and become:

1. Cleansed in the body of our flesh from sin through belief in the cross as the door (the death and resurrection of Jesus according to the Word).

• But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep...I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:2 and 11.

and

2. Reborn (renewed) by the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Ghost) through repentance.

• Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 2:3.
• Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5.

After we are born again, we enter the Spirit as we walk out our lives communing with and enjoying the will of our Father personally and individually. When we go out of the Spirit (e.g., after prayer with the Father), we find peace as a sheep finds pasture because Jesus is the shepherd of God's sheep (followers of Jesus).

• I [Jesus] am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep...I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture...I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:9, 11 and 14.

Now that Jesus is in heaven, we are His ambassadors to do His work. The work of Saved.Church is that of a Porter.

• For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and  commanded the porter to watch. Mark 13:34.
• To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. John 10:3.

Praise God!

Yes, generally, but there is a slight distinction. Becoming born again is immediate, and being saved is from the penalty of sin when our bodies die, a future event. Only the born again are saved.

Human birth is "of water" from the mother. The "born of water" in scripture is a reference to the cleansing of the individual from sin. If we believe the fact Jesus shed blood and died by crucifixion and trust He did so to pay the penalty for our sins on our behalf, as He said, we are cleansed from them. Thus, being "born of water" gets us back to the baby stage-sinless before God, but we must also be "born of the Spirit" through repentance.

Repentance is a true desire to turn from sin and sin no more. Repentance is required for salvation. Repentance brings us the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38 below) in order to be raised from the dead when our bodies die, and more. For completeness, the devil also believes the Word of God and knows the bible better than we do, but the devil and his followers (the "enemy") are evil. The enemy of God does not confess sin or repent from it.

The death of Jesus on the cross is the means to wash our past sin from us according to the Word of God which He is. After we are "washed" (cleansed) of our past sins, we must also repent from sin as an act of faith to avoid future sin in order to receive the renewing of the Holy Ghost and be "born of the spirit" ("born again").

• Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5.
• Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38.

Become Born Again: Believe Jesus shed blood and died to save you from the penalty of your sins. Confess your sins by admitting you are a sinner, and repent from them. You may: Pray this prayer, sincerely. Do this before God the Father and live as a child of God in avoidance of sin.

Yes. The phrases "born again" and "born of the Spirit" mean the same thing in the context of salvation. 

When our body dies, salvation means our soul is saved from an eternal second death of torment in the lake of fire in hell. We must be born again of the Spirit for our souls to be saved. 

• For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18.

Being born again means we become a child of God the Father. If someone is not born again, they are not born of the Spirit into the family of God and shall not be saved. Simply stated, the unsaved of this world live according to the will of their flesh and die in hell by the sin of it.

Please know, the devil's number one goal is to get you to believe there is no hell. Former Satanists confirm that goal.

Yes! The essence of "God is love" is the Father, our Father, the soul of God. How do we know what His will is in order for us to do it? The Word contained in the New Testament of the Bible tells us all, and we ask Him personally. 

Jesus died so we could know the Father as He does, as a son in the kingdom of God. Jesus and the Father both want it that way.

• For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:50.
• For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Mark 3:35.

When we become born again, God is our Father and He wants to talk to us individually! We do not need anyone to help us. The grace of Jesus covers our mistakes as part of His body, the penitent church because we do not want to sin even though we are free from the penalty of it.

• That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21.
• Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Ephesians 6:24.