Born Again
Born Again
Nicodemus came to Jesus in John chapter 3, he came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus was lost, he was unsaved, he was a child of the devil, he was in the dark, and he was a religious man. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be “born again” to “see” the Kingdom of God and to “enter” the Kingdom of God. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 KJV). “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5 KJV). Jesus not only said it once, He not only said it twice; He said you must be born again three times. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7 KJV).
Later in John chapter 3, Jesus uses an example from the Old Testament. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15 KJV).
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, he was a ruler of the Jews. He was familiar with the incident about Moses involving a brazen serpent. “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9 KJV). Notice, for a man to live, all he had to do was look at the bronze serpent.
Jesus Christ showed Nicodemus his spiritual state. Nicodemus was bitten by the snake. He was a sinner. There is no religion that can save Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a religious leader, a ruler of the Jews, he was still going to Hell apart from Christ. Nicodemus needed to know the only remedy for sin is the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14b KJV).
All mankind has been bitten by the snake. All mankind is a sinner and deserves to go to Hell. However, God loves all mankind and wants not one person to go to Hell. “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4 KJV).
The only anti-venom for sin is the Blood of Jesus Christ. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5 KJV).
As the bronze serpent was lifted in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. Jesus Christ became sin (judgment) for all of us. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21 KJV).
The Bible says, by His stripes, we are healed. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24 KJV).
When Jesus Christ was on the Cross of Calvary, He said “IT IS FINISHED!” The payment for sin HAS BEEN (past tense) finished, the payment for sin IS (present tense) finished, the payment for sin WILL ALWAYS (future tense) be finished. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30 KJV).
Jesus Christ died on the Cross for ALL sin. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15 KJV).
Jesus Christ makes two promises in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). The first promise in John 3:16 is “should not perish.” A person that places their faith in Christ alone will never go to Hell, they will never perish. Why will they never perish? Christ paid for ALL sin at the Cross of Calvary. For a person to understand they are forever going to Heaven, they need to know that they cannot go to Hell. Why? Christ paid for ALL sin. Many individuals think that some future sin will make them “lose” their salvation which is a false message. There is no future “sin” that can make a person “lose” their salvation. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross for all sin, all of our sin today was the future at that time when Christ died for our sin. When Christ died for sin, He died for ALL sin for ALL mankind. The second promise Jesus Christ gives is eternal life. Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross does nothing for a person unless it gives that person eternal life the very second they believe in Christ alone. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24 KJV).
Why does a person need to be born again? The second birth has to be different than the first birth. The first birth is of the flesh, it is a sin nature. The new birth is born again without the old nature. The firstborn is born of man, it is the sin nature, it is the flesh. The second birth is of God. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13 KJV).
The second birth has no sin. The new birth is a perfect nature from God. If the new birth does not sin, that means that it cannot die, hence, eternal life! “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (I John 3:9 KJV).
Every person has the corruptible seed, the sin nature. To be born again, they must be born of an incorruptible seed that does not sin. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (I Peter 1:23-25 KJV). The new birth (born again) is a spiritual birth in Christ Jesus.
If you have never received Jesus Christ as Savior, what is stopping you right now from accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior? In your mind, you can say something, "I don't know everything; however, I know I am a sinner. I know I do not want to go to Hell when I die. I want to go to Heaven when I die. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for ALL my sins (past, present, and future), buried for me, and resurrected for me."
There is no confirmation, confession, communion, water baptism, church, pastor, priest, religion, or any good deeds that will pay for sin. The Christ, the Lamb of God was revealed in the flesh to take away the sins of the world. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 KJV).
The payment for sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 KJV). Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22 KJV).
Trust in Jesus Christ as your only hope to save you from a Hell you deserve to a Heaven you do not deserve because only the Gospel of Christ can change your eternal destiny from eternal darkness to eternal light. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14 KJV).
Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior today and be born again and forever a child of God. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13 KJV).
The very second you place your faith in Christ alone, you receive eternal life, and you forever have eternal life because Christ paid for all your sins. When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, that person can "know" they are going to Heaven when they die because the Bible says they can "know." "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (I John 5:13 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past, present, and future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
God loves you. Lord Savior Jesus Christ revealed Himself in the flesh for one reason: to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
All individuals are sinners. The payment for sin is death.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ died for your sin and resurrected for you.
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
If you believe in Christ alone, you receive eternal life.
John 6:47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you could be "saved" by being water baptized, doing good works, being a good person, or following the Ten Commandments? Why did (the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future) the Ever Presence Jesus Christ reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross and resurrect the third day? No church can reconcile. No sacrament can save. No work or tradition of men can redeem. Only Jesus Christ can save a person from a Hell they deserve to a Heaven they do not deserve -all by grace!
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things, then Jesus Christ died in vain. However, Jesus Christ did not die in vain. Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God, and only the Lamb of God can make a perfect sacrifice for sin. There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ's death payment for sin -death payment of past, present, and future sin: ALL SIN!
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are "bad." People go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior. People believe NOT Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. People do NOT trust alone in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Know that God is gracious to you. He has already died for all your sins (past, present, and future), He was buried for you showing all the world He died for your sins, and He was resurrected for you, showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do: IT IS FINISHED! Your sins are paid in full. I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation -believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection. Trust alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you know someone who is "not saved," share the Gospel message with them or forward this message to them.
The Good News Voice is affiliated with The Grace Gospel Church. If you are looking for a Bible preaching, Gospel sharing, Body loving congregation, look no further. Join us in Taconite on Sundays at 9:30 AM. The Grace Gospel Church is the first building on the right when you turn into Taconite. We are live on Facebook at 10:00 AM if you are unable to join us in person. God bless, love Lance & Karla.
Pastor Lance Edminster
The Grace Gospel Church
The Good News Voice
Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com
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Once Saved, Always Saved: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:28-30 KJV).
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