Born Again

Just a note, last post I used the New American Standard version of the Bible. I will mainly use the NIV because it is the version I am used to using. If I do use a different translation or version, I will be sure to note it.

A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus by night to talk to him. Jesus got straight to the point when he said "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (This story comes from John 3, this is verse 3). Nicodemus then asks the obvious question, How can one be born again?

Jesus states in the following verses: "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." So what does that mean? What I get from this verse it that we are physically born from our mothers, but the rebirth that Jesus was talking about was a spiritual one and this birth is "of water and the Spirit." Does that mean that in order to be saved from Hell and go to Heaven one must be baptized?

Well let's take a look at what Jesus says later on in John Chapter 3. "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. He who believes is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:16-18 (KJV). It seems that in verse 18 Jesus is saying that belief is the important thing, for those who do not believe are condemned, because they did not believe in Jesus Christ.

One of the verses mainly used by those who profess baptism as required for salvation is Mark 16:16 which states: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned" (KJV). Many focus on the first part of the verse, that you must believe and be baptized to be saved. However, if you get baptized and think you are saved because of your action and don't truly believe in God, the second part says that those who don't believe will be condemned. So which is more important according to this verse? It seems that belief is most important. So where then does baptism fit into salvation? I have found that a person gets baptized because of salvation and not for salvation. More on this in the next post.

In the Beginning...

There are lots of different religions out there and each of them claim to be the right one. I am personally a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Christ and that by Him we are saved. Saved from what? you might be asking. Well, saved from the consequences of our wrongdoings (sins), namely Hell. How do we get saved from this place (or condition) that is totally without God and without any of the good things He has placed into the world. Think about it, life with God is truly eternal life, full of love, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, peace and rest. Life without God (and thus anything good) is full of turmoil, rape, murder, distress, hatred, and pain.

We on earth are caught in-between these two extremes. God made a world in the beginning and called it "good" Genesis 1-2. Then Adam and Eve ate from the fruit they were not supposed to: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Now mankind not only knew good, but evil as well. Thus mankind was driven from the garden Genesis 3. Our world is a mix of heaven and hell. We can do good to each other, but at the same time we have the capability to do evil. We all have that fallen situation with God Romans 3:23. We've all done wrong at one time or another (I know I have!) And the payment for our wrongdoings is death Romans 6:23, not only death in this life, but death in the next Revelation 20:11-15.

So how do we avoid this spiritual death and get right with God? Well if we look at the second part of Romans 6:23 we see that we can have life from the free gift offered by God of His Son, Jesus Christ. Also Romans 3:24 says that we are "justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." So God has given His Only Begotten Son as a gift: Jesus' death on the cross is the sacrifice that pays for our sins. Now the offer is the gift of eternal life and it is free. But how does one accept this gift? Do we just believe or is there something we have to do? Is there a special prayer we have to say? I will be discussing these questions (as they are not so simple) in more depth on my next posts.