Born-again

I want to talk about something that is very important to every person on the planet.  I want to start with the nation of Israel and also the religious leaders in Jesus’ day.  Jesus loved these leaders but he did not condone their actions.  Jesus was always trying to show them their error, but they were set in their ways, stiff-necked and hard-hearted.

In John chapter 3, one of those religious leaders came to Jesus at night, maybe for fear of what would happen to him if the other Pharisees heard about it, wanting to get some answers first hand, his name was Nicodemus.  Nicodemus knew that Jesus was from God because of the miracles He performed, he also acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher, calling Him Rabbi.  This Nicodemus was also a teacher, but he still needed to be taught.  He must have known the Old Testament very well, as did the other Pharisees, they had read about the Messiah, but it was not enough to hear or read about Him, they needed to know Him personally and that was their problem.  Jesus was compassionate and kind so He explained to Nicodemus how that could take place in his life.  Jesus told him that you must be born-again in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus could have left him clueless but Jesus loved him and he also loves us, so He sent His love letter to each of us which it is called the Bible, or the Word of God.

These Pharisees were very religious people, like many today, that had the form of religion but lacked the power therein thinking that keeping the law was enough, not realizing that the Word taught this, “The just shall live by faith.”  This is found in the last part of Habakkuk 2:4 and the first part of Hebrews 10:38.  The Word also says this about the subject in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Many today are like the Pharisees, thinking they can get to heaven by their good works, let me make this very clear, it cannot and will not happen.  Think about the thief on the cross, the one who finally believed who Jesus was, saying in Luke 23:42-43, “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”  The thief never came down off the cross to be able to do any good works, yet he went to Paradise with Jesus because of his faith, believing who Jesus was.  This man also realized his condition knowing that he was a sinner and deserved what he was getting, he also knew that Jesus was innocent, being punished unjustly and said so, check it out in verses 40-41.

Jesus went on to tell Nicodemus in John 3:16-17, “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.”

This is truly good news for the Jew first and then for the Gentile, praise the Lord!!  Just like they needed to be born-again, so does everyone that is living today if they want, or expect, to go to heaven someday.  There is only one way and that way is through Jesus.  Make no mistake; there is no other way even though some teach that there is.  Maybe you are asking the same question Nicodemus did, how can a man be born when he is old?  If you are or have asked this question and didn’t find the answer, look up what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:1-21, study it and pray about it, let the Holy Spirit teach you, for He is in the soul saving business and He loves you.  Something to think about, may God bless you and have a great day!!