Devotion: saving Nicodemus

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your spiritual word of eternal life that we may feed on and will not get hungry again, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Setting

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a conservative, a legalistic Jew, a rabbi, and a member of the Sanhedrin council. He was a prominent persona in the Jewish community. One night, he had a clandestine meeting with Jesus. Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus respectfully addressing him as a rabbi from God. In response, Jesus said that no one can see or enter into the kingdom of God unless he is born again. The Greek word for born again, is anothai which means born from above. No one can be saved unless he is born from above, supernaturally, by God. The prerequisite to salvation is a spiritual new birth from God. 

John 3:1-7

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to him 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.” Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” 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?” Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’

Commentary

Jesus was speaking spiritually but Nicodemus was thinking naturally. A person is born of water when he/she is born naturally. A person is born of the spirit when he/she is born again spiritually birth by the Holy Spirit, John 1: 12. Salvation requires a spiritual rebirth in addition to a natural birth. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom and Jesus is the king of all born-again believers. 

A natural birth gives birth to a natural life, which is spiritually dead, Romans 3:23 and Ephesians 2:1. A spiritual rebirth gives birth to a born- again spiritual life, 1 John 5:12.

When a person confessed his or her sin, believes, and surrenders his or her life to Jesus, he or she is born again into a new creation, 2 Corinthians 5: 17. Only a spiritual heart transplant by Jesus Christ can save Nicodemus. Education, pedigree, wealth, power, and keeping the Mosaic law cannot save him.

John 1:12, But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name.

Romans 3:23, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:1, You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins.

1 John 5:12, He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

Application

Everyone is born of water but a Christian is born of water and the spirit. If you are born once, you will die twice, natural death followed by eternal death.

If you are born twice, you will only die once, natural death followed by eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ. . The second death has no effect on you. At death, your soul will be in heaven with Jesus forever. 

Salvation is by grace alone, by faith alone, and by Christ alone. Today, you can be saved if you confess your sins to Jesus, believe that Jesus died for your sins, and surrender your life to Him. You can do this by saying this prayer sincerely from your heart:

“Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins. I surrender my life to You, Amen”

Congratulation if you said this prayer. This is the first and most important step. Find a local bible believing church and tell your decision to the local pastor. Join, serve, and grow your faith in the local church. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith and not by works, so that we cannot boast about it. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for our sins. I pray for anyone who is not born again to receive the gift of salvation today, in Jesus’ name, Amen.