A Talk About Salvation

Throughout the last year that we have been writing Millhouse Ministries, there is a phrase that we have often used. For most of our readers, it should be a phrase that is easily understood. However, since our goal is to help spread the Gospel Message, today I want to make sure that the phrase “born-again” is understood by all who have made their way to our page. The phrase “born-again” is something that has been questioned even when Jesus Christ was completing His ministry, He was even questioned about the meaning by a man named Nicodemus.

“3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.””

John 3:1-8

In order to understand what it means to be “born-again”, we need to first understand who Nicodemus was and who he represented. We see in verse one that he was a ruler of the Jews, this meant that he was actively practicing the Law. Yet, he acknowledged that Jesus was sent from God. Here Nicodemus is a representative of all mankind. 

I am not sure what response Nicodemus was expecting from Jesus, but I am sure that it was not the response he got. At the time, many Jews believed it was their Abrahamic heritage or their reliance on the Law that would earn their way into heaven. They thought their salvation was assured as God’s chosen people. However, Jesus tells this man a surprising outcome. “3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” One thing to point out here, is that any time you read the words “truly, truly” that is a sign something important is about to be said. For us nowadays, it would be similar to us using phrases like “seriously” or “pay attention” before we make our point. In verse three Jesus is making the all-important point of how one is to reach the kingdom of God. He does not assure Nicodemus that it is his works or his heritage that will allow him to reach the kingdom of God, it is if he is born-again.

The word that Jesus uses for “again” is “anothen” which means “from above”. Jesus was point blank stating that unless Nicodemus, who is a representative of all mankind, is born from above he will not reach the kingdom of God. Nicodemus failed to recognize the importance of what Jesus was stating. Instead of realizing the spiritual connection, he focused on the physical; even asking Jesus if it was possible for a grown man to return to the womb of the woman who bore him. 

Jesus doesn’t leave him wondering for long however, and again starts His next sentence with the phrase “truly, truly”. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”” John 3:5-8. Jesus is making it clear that it is not a simple reformation to be born-again; but it is a radical conversion that can only be brought on by the Holy Spirit when one accepts Christ as the reigning King of their life. Scripture is filled with evidence that all “works” that are done will not be enough for someone to earn their way into the Kingdom of God ““Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice,” 1 Samuel 15:22-23. This verse is talking about a sacrifice, but the same principle is applied to works. It is better to obey the voice of the Lord than to have acts that do not bring Him any glory. Works without Christ are works of the flesh, and Jesus is saying that works of the flesh only belong to the flesh; not to God.

I am sure that Nicodemus was quite taken aback by this idea as well. The fact he continues to ask questions shows his eagerness to find the truth. Yet, to be told that all the works that he was doing would not win him the right to heaven was not an idea that was being taught at that time. This is still an issue today with many man made religions preaching ideas of works first rather than Christ first, and for those who follow those false teachings I am sure would be just as shocked as Nicodemus to learn that their works are considered no more than filthy rags. “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf,And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away.” Isaiah 64:6 It is only through a Spirit filled life can one’s work be seen as righteousness, and that is because what is “born of the Spirit is spirit”, a Spirit filled life belongs to God and the works belong to God not man.

Jesus points out something that has always been interesting to me. “8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.””It is true that we feel the wind on our skin, we see it moving the leaves on the trees and as it pushes the sails on a boat; but while we can sense what direction it is blowing we do not know where it started. We accept the fact that there is wind without ever fully understanding the concept of it. And yet, there are many who cannot accept that they simply need to accept Christ in order to be saved. The idea that through accepting Him allows one to be born-again makes no sense, they are exactly like Nicodemus. But for those who have understood that it is not through any works that they can do themselves, they understand that to be born again means to accept Christ and be made a new creation. “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 The old self has passed away, we become a new creation when we accept Christ because He reigns on the throne in our hearts. God is wholly perfect, He cannot abide in sin. “5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 While we are still capable of sinning, it holds no pleasure for us because that aspect of our being has passed away. “ 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 those who are born-again will mess up and sin, but they do not make a habit of it; therefore they do not continue in their sin.

The fact of the matter is, in order to be born-again we need to accept that we are sinners. We cannot hold to false ideas that it is our works, or traditions, or heritage that will cause us to become saved. This was the idea that Nicodemus had that Jesus quickly pointed out was wrong. Instead, we need to recognize that we cannot earn our way into heaven through anything that we can do ourselves, we need to recognize our need for a Savior. We need to recognize our need for Jesus Christ to make us new creations through the Holy Spirit. When we become new creations in Jesus Christ, we have become born-again and then have a living hope that God will fulfill His promises that are found in the Bible. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex