Daily devotion – You must be born again!
In John chapter 3 we find one of the most important conversations ever recorded in Scripture. A religious leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, searching for truth. Though Nicodemus was educated, moral, and deeply religious, Jesus immediately revealed that religion alone could never save a person. He told him plainly:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3
Nicodemus struggled to understand. How could a grown man be born again? Jesus explained that He was not speaking of a second physical birth, but a spiritual birth brought about by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5-6
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Every human being has experienced a physical birth, but Jesus declared that we must also experience a spiritual birth. Without it, we remain separated from God because of sin.
The reality is simple yet eternal:
If you are born once, you will die twice.
Every person born physically will one day face physical death:
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” — Hebrews 9:27
Those who reject Christ will also face the second death — eternal separation from God.
Revelation 20:14
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
But if you are born twice, you will die once.
When a person repents of sin and places their faith in Jesus Christ, they are spiritually born again by the Holy Spirit. Though the body may physically die, the believer immediately enters eternal life with Christ.
Jesus said:
John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”
The Apostle Paul also declared:
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Someone once asked Billy Graham why he preached so often on the words, “You must be born again.” Dr. Graham wisely replied, “Because the Bible says you MUST be born again!”
No amount of religion, good works, church attendance, or morality can save the soul. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Today, the question is not whether you are religious, but whether you have truly been born again through faith in Christ.
Romans 10:9
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Calvary Women — don’t forget this morning at 9:30am at the chapel there will be a Bible study especially for you. What a wonderful opportunity for women of God to gather together in fellowship, prayer, and the study of God’s Word.