In the gospel of John, Chapter 3, a Jewish religious leader whose name was Nicodemus came to visit Jesus after dark one evening. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and we know that the Pharisees were not fond of Christ. They were confounded by his razor-sharp wisdom, and were not able to trap him with what they perceived as their top-notch, intellectual prowess.  Some speculate that the reason Nicodemus chose a late hour to visit Jesus was because he didn’t want to be seen dialoguing with him in open daylight. Whatever the reason, Jesus met with Nicodemus on this occasion, and all of us should be so incredibly thankful that the record of their conversation is in God’s Word.

Nicodemus had no doubt heard of all the miracles, signs, and wonders that were done by Jesus, and he knew that Jesus was a great teacher, because he referred to him as ‘Rabbi’, which means ‘teacher’. Nicodemus was a leader in his community. He had been educated with the upper echelon of Jewish society. We can deduct from his desire to meet with the Master that he was, at the very least, inquisitive about learning something from Jesus that he had not learned or understood before.

Nicodemus had a mindset like many people living today. He lived by what he could experience through his five senses, but he had not developed his brain-cells to think outside the box. Nicodemus told him, “I see you, Jesus! All that stuff you’re doing is blazing a trail never blazed before. God is definitely with you!!!”  In John 3:3(NLT), we see that Jesus did not waste any time getting to the meat of the matter. He responded by saying, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Again, Nicodemus had a very literal way of looking at things. He was not prepared to get his mind blown in the way that Jesus laid it on him. In verse 4 he asked, ““What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?””  In John 3:5,6 (NLT), Jesus replied, “5 I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.” A water birth takes place when we are physically born. A baby is encapsulated in water in its mother’s womb. Jesus Christ was hipping Nicodemus to a birth far more substantial. Jesus was referring to the rebirth of our spirits! This is what it means to be born-again. It is a spiritual rebirth! And boy do we need it!

God tells us that His Word is true, and it never fails us. Adam and Eve made a colossal mistake when they accepted the word of the devil over what God had told them. In Hebrews 11:6, God tells us that faith is required in order to please Him. It is impossible to please Him without it. Faith is our response to God’s goodness. It shows Him that we love and honor Him AND His Word. This same faith is required to become His child.

Adam’s sin caused a disconnect from God. He and Eve passed their sinful condition to all of their off-spring, and this includes you and me. Romans 5:12(NLT) says, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”  Before Christ, humanity was in really bad shape. We had a sin condition. This isn’t what God wanted. He wants everyone to be saved, and He gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to the world so that we could be a part of God’s family.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21(NLT) says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”  Truly we have an amazing, powerful, and loving Heavenly Father. He made a way through Jesus Christ to redeem us from the grips of hell, and usher us into His Glorious Kingdom!

Romans 10:9,10 (NLT) says, “9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” This is how we receive salvation and become born-again. It begins our spiritual journey in Christ. We become alive through God’s love when we receive salvation and make Jesus Christ the Lord and head of our lives. It is the greatest decision that any human can make. There is nothing better in the entire universe!

If you want Jesus Christ to come into your life, please pray this prayer of salvation:

Heavenly Father,
I have sinned against You. I have said, thought, felt, and done things that were not according to Your Will. Please forgive me, Heavenly Father. I want to be Your child. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again through the power of the Holy Spirit. Father, I give you my life this very moment, and I pray that You will transform me into the person that You want me to be. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. I want him to be the head of my life. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

If you would like us to pray for you, or if you have questions, please contact us.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NLT)■

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.