It was a conversation I wish I could have been a part of. I’m referring to when Nicodemus went to Jesus at night. It’s recorded in John 3:1-5.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
The gospel of John shows us the journey of faith Nicodemus would take after this conversation.
- In John 7:44-52, Nicodemus seems to be standing up for Jesus as the other Pharisees and chief priests spoke against Him.
- In John 19:39 after the death of Jesus, it was Nicodemus “…Who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and ales, about a hundred pounds weight.”
- We don’t have the rest of the story regarding Nicodemus, but I hope he obeyed the gospel.
What we do know is what Jesus taught him. One must be born again if they are to see the kingdom of God. What exactly did Jesus mean and what did this look like in the first century?
The book of Acts is a great book to see exactly how people were born again. See my blog “Salvation Stories.” Another great place is in the book of 1 Peter. The apostle spoke about the saints who had been born again. Notice the following passages:
- 1 Peter 1:3: “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 1:23: “…For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God…”
What is that God has done so that we might be born again? What is it that we must do to be born again? Peter gives us the answers.
Notice what God has done.
- “…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” 1 Peter 1:18-20.
- God sent His Son Jesus to earth. Jesus lived a sinless life, 1 Peter 2:21-25. He bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might be redeemed.
- God raised Jesus up from the dead.
Notice what we are to do.
The apostle reminds the scattered Christians what they had already done to be born again.
- They heard the good news of Jesus preached to them, 1 Peter 1:12. Through the preaching of the gospel, they heard of the grace of God that had been foretold by the prophets about the Messiah. The word of the Lord had been preached to them, 1 Peter 1: 23-25. They heard about the life of Jesus and what He did for the sake of the world.
- They loved and believed in Jesus, 1 Peter 1:8. They had never seen Jesus, but they could still believe in Him because of the word of the Lord preached.
- They repented of their sins, 1 Peter 2:11. When one hears the gospel, they will also hear about repentance. Repentance (turning away from our sins) is necessary to be saved. The apostle continued to urge them to turn away from their sins.
- They were baptized to be saved, 1 Peter 3:21. “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This is how they were born again. We too must hear, believe, and obey the gospel. Notice in 1 Peter 1:22 where Peter says, “Since you have in obedience to the truth, purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart…” They had obeyed.
- The gospel can be preached.
- The gospel can be heard.
- The gospel can be believed.
- The gospel can be obeyed.
Peter shows us how people in the first century were born again. Have we been born again?