Salvation, Resurrection, & Being Born Again in Christ

Easter has now passed, but we must never forget the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ made to give us eternal life. In being born again in Christ, we take on the meaning of his death, burial, and resurrection in our lives on Earth and place our faith in the Spirit.

What Does Being Born Again in Christ Really Mean?

The introduction of the concept of being born again in Christ is the transformative aspect of Christian teachings, and it is firmly rooted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our ultimate salvation can be found through repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and infilling of the Holy Spirit. However, this was seen both as a surprising and revolutionary requirement when Jesus first introduced it in the final days of his ministry on Earth.

Teaching the Teacher

In John 3:1-21, we get a glimpse into a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus, a religious leader of the day. Curious and troubled by what he had seen and heard about Jesus, Nicodemus came at night and acknowledged the miracles he had seen, alluding to the presence of God in the acts. Jesus, however, pointed beyond those miracles and went straight to His mission on Earth when He stated, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

It is possible to imagine this learned spiritual teacher’s confusion at such a statement, seemingly out of context and impractical. As a result, he pursued the matter by asking, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

 

In his response, Jesus affirms His point, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” This statement changes everything ever taught up to that point about faith. Jesus speaks of a second birth through the Spirit as the essential element of salvation by receiving eternal life.

Providing the Path in Life and Death

While Christians today consider becoming born again in Christ the foundational transition between a lost and saved life, many are surprised to find it used only three times in the New Testament. That makes this key message ever more important to discern, as the way into the kingdom of God is only obtainable if this path is taken.

 

Christ reinforces the imperative of this statement in John 3:7-8: “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jesus showed by His life how man is to live according to the Scripture. Even more, however, he speaks to emphatically state that faith and obedience are not enough to achieve eternal life.

 

Jesus makes it clear in John 14:6 that His way is the only way provided to man to receive this salvation, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is completing His teaching here, explaining how both His life and death reflect the necessary steps in fulfillment of His purpose, the Resurrection.

 

Remember that as the Second Coming nears, it is ever more important to become a born again Christian before the end time. The mission of Endtime Ministries is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to every person on Earth, for the endtime is now! Only when one is born again can you discern the truth and understand the reality of what God’s word tells us about how His plan is being fulfilled today. Learn more about salvation through being born again in Christ with our Salvation Package DVD series and come to know the truth of being saved and following Christ.