“Born Of Water And Spirit”

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:1-8

Heaven is God’s dwelling place where His presence and glory are manifested in all their splendor. He has the sovereign right to determine who will be admitted and under what circumstances. Any other beliefs about the how and why of admission into heaven are sadly mistaken.

We do not deserve to go to heaven. God determines that. He decided that if we believed in His Son, Jesus our Savior, through His grace we would enter heaven. Understand that only those who have trusted Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior, will be admitted.

Self-judgment regarding the purity of one’s soul and one’s heaven-deserving character is not the criterion. Only God’s Word gives us the standard for admission.

Christ believed is salvation received

and heaven gained.

Our Daily Bread – November 18, 2007