Scripture states that Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, a leading member of the Sanhedrin Council, as well as a popular, intelligent and wealthy man, came to question Jesus the Christ – under the cover of night – concerning his desire to understand what is required for salvation.
Christ answered this intellectual scholar with these words, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
How ironic it is that today, over 2000 years since God described, plainly, what is necessary to be a partaker of His plan of salvation, that many theological scholars still don’t have a clue as to what is required to be saved.
First, you must repent!
You must become godly sorry for past thoughts, deeds and actions. You must become so humbled and broken up about your rebellion against the living, holy God that you turn to Him in real sorrow and “plead” for His mercy and forgiveness. To repent means to “cry out” for His mercy and help, to overcome our evil natures and to develop His righteous character.
The desire and the humility required to plead and cry out to God for His mercy and forgiveness must come from God. Only the Spirit of God can draw us into obedience to Him. God’s man can put us on a path to salvation but only the Holy Spirit can save.
Second, after the new birth, there must be an outward display of what happened inwardly. Baptism is the outward demonstration of the inward rejuvenation of the heart. Complete immersion in water to symbolize the total death and washing away of sin and the resurrection into new life.
And last, and not least, born again converters must be taught how to develop the mind of God and to incorporate the principles and practices of righteousness into their daily living.
True repentance is of the heart.
Receiving God’s mercy is the only way to obtain the unearned pardon of sins.
“Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
