These
are the words Jesus spoke to one of the most religious men of his day (John 3:1-8). Nicodemus had come to Jesus one night
to inquire about His new doctrine. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He believed in God, he prayed, fasted,
tithed, attended worship services, read the Scriptures and tried to keep high moral standards. Yet, with all these credentials,
Jesus told him he had to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God.
The Word and the Spirit
Jesus said, "… Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."(John 3:3). "… Unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Later in the book of John he
said, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you" (John 15:3). Paul wrote that Christ
gave Himself to sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water by the WORD (Ephesians 5:26). Peter wrote that we
are born again "… not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
(1 Pet 1:23). The WORD is the seed that comes into your heart and causes faith to grow.
Not only must you have God's
Word in order to be born again, but you must have God's Spirit. It is "not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the HOLY SPIRIT" (Titus
3:5).
There are several ingredients needed in making concrete. You need sand, cement, and water primarily. There is
plenty of sand in the desert, but concrete doesn't appear just because it's there. There is an abundance of water
in the ocean and plenty of sand, but the ocean is not full of concrete. Likewise in order for you to be saved, the Word and
the Spirit must be mixed with repentance and faith in your heart.
Believe and Confess
"…
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you CONFESS with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
heart one BELIEVES unto righteousness, and with the mouth CONFESSION is made unto salvation" (Rom 10:8-10).
Your
faith in God's Word is expressed with your heart (believe) and with your mouth (confess). If you truly believe in your
heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, there is no reason you should not be willing to confess him as Lord. The moment
you believe in your heart upon Jesus and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, you are born again.
"But as many as
received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name," (John 1:12).
Saved by Grace through Faith
There is a mixture of God's grace and power with your will and faith.
It is not just all of God, and certainly it is not just all up to you. It takes both GOD'S ABILITY and YOUR WILLINGNESS
to bring about the new birth.
"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" (Eph 2:8-9).
We could never be saved except by the pure
grace of God. Man is certainly undeserving according to his own merits. It is God's power working through His Word and
Spirit that brings about the new birth. Yet without an attitude of repentance and faith, God's power will not work in
a man's heart. Man's will must be obedient to God's will before he can receive God's blessings.
A
New Creation
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new" (2 Cor 5:17).
The new birth makes you a brand new creation. You are created after the
image of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:10). This is done by RENEWING THE MIND WITH GOD'S WORD, and submitting your body to
the authority of that word (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23-24).
Into God's Kingdom
Giving thanks
unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: HE HAS DELIVERED US FROM
THE POWER OF DARKNESS, AND TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF HIS LOVE, in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:12-14).
When you are born again, you are taken out of Satan's kingdom of darkness,
and you are placed into the kingdom of Jesus, the kingdom of light. It is not something you just hope or wish for. It is fact.
The child of God does not have to be lorded over by Satan ever again. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall
be free indeed" (John 8:36).
The Law of the Spirit of
Life in
Christ Jesus
This new kingdom is a spiritual kingdom; but just because salvation is basically
a spiritual rebirth does not mean that is has no effect on your body, mind, or everyday living. It can and should have a great
impact on every part of your life.
In every society, there are certain laws that govern the actions of the inhabitants
of that area. It is the same in spiritual life. There are laws for those in Satan's kingdom, and there are laws for those
in God's kingdom. The new birth gives you a new law. "THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS Has made me free
from the law of sin and death" Romans 8:2).
The law of life includes love, joy, peace, happiness, prosperity, abundance,
health, contentment, and blessings. These provisions are made for the Christian in the New Covenant. It is law -- spiritual
law. You must enforce it in your life. God will back you. His Word is true and unchanging.
Forgiveness---Remission
of Sins
The day you make Jesus your Lord and Savior you are forgiven of all your sins; in fact you were legally
forgiven when Jesus gave His life as a ransom for you. But you do not experience that forgiveness until you receive it by
faith.
Although a person may have committed many sins, the chief sin of the unsaved is NOT BELIEVING ON CHRIST john 16:9).
When a person gets that straightened out, the root of the problem is solved. The blood of Christ cleanses the heart the moment
a person believes and confesses Him as Savior. Thus all the past sins are remitted or taken away by the powerful cleansing
work of His blood (1John 1:7). "…We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of his grace; (Eph 1:7).
Assurance of Salvation
"And this is the testimony: that God
has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does
not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have
eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (I Jn 5:11-13).
If you meet the
conditions given in God's Word for salvation, you can know you are saved. God's Word says that you can know. That
is what you must stand on - His Word - Not your feelings, emotions, church membership, high morals, or sincerity.
Pray
this prayer out loud.
Heavenly Farther, in Jesus' name I repent of my sins and open my heart to let Jesus
come inside of me. Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior. I believe you died for my sins and you were raised from the dead. Fill
me with your Holy Spirit. Thank You Farther for saving me in Jesus name. Amen
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