There was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. . . Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:1-3, 5 (NASB95)
When we are born into this world, our spirit man is
dormant. In order for our spirit man to come alive, or
to be “born again,” we need to come into a relationship
with Father God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Under
the new Grace covenant, the Apostle Paul tells us HOW:
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that
you believe and are justified, and it is with your
mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10. (NASB95)
To confess in the Greek here means
to agree or concede, and the word Lord in the Greek
means to give someone deciding power over your life.
In other words, the plan of salvation requires that a
person both believe in the shed blood of Jesus Christ
to cover their sins, AND he/she must come into
agreement with the Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering
his/her life to His Lordship, His leading and guiding
from that point forward.
Jesus said,
“And he said to them all. If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Luke 9:23. (NASB95)
This means that a Believer/Follower of the Lord
Jesus Christ is willing to deny his/her flesh [sin]
DAILY in order to embrace the Lord's agenda. It is not
easy, but it is worth it. And the Lord has supplied us
with a provision of power, His Grace, to enable us to
live the life He calls us to. It is not by our own
works or power that we come into salvation in Christ
Jesus, but by His shed blood alone, and our willingness
to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. As the Apostle
Paul explains,
“For it is by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this not from yourselves. It
is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can
boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9. (NASB95)
So, do you want to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Savior? It is not the words you pray that will save
you, but it is the attitude of your heart. Do you
admit that you are a sinner in need of God's
forgiveness? Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for
your sins, and that He was raised from the dead in
order to make a blood atonement for your sins? Are you
ready to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, laying
down your own will and agenda to embrace the will of
the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you ready to participate in
a DAILY relationship with Father God and Jesus Christ
in accordance with
John 17:3? (NASB95)
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the
only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
If you have answered YES to all of these questions,
then I encourage you to pray a prayer now, something
like this. . .
SALVATION PRAYER:
Father God, I recognize that I am sinner in need of
forgiveness. I ask that you would cover my sins now
with the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask
that Jesus would come into my life now. I surrender my
life to Jesus and acknowledge that He is now Lord of
my life. I ask that you would guide me into your
perfect will and plan for my life from this day
forward. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Salvation is free,
but it was not cheap. And choosing to follow Jesus is
simple, but it is not easy. And anyone who claims
otherwise is a liar.
