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.