[SPECIAL NOTE TO MY READERS: This is my 100^th original column.  I thank God for this amazing milestone and pray that each one will find the audience He intends.  To Him be the glory!]  

Imagine being an orphan chosen for adoption in a process you couldn’t hope to understand.  Now suppose that the transaction was conducted remotely, at long distance.  You are told that your prospective parent is a truly wonderful person, of sterling character and stainless reputation—not only virtuous but infinitely loving, unstintingly generous, completely understanding, and unfailingly kind.  His resources are inexhaustible and he comes from a place that is absolutely out of this world.

His letters say that he longs to take you there, to live with him forever.  You are encouraged to be ready and watching for him, because he will come for you very soon.  Meanwhile, He urges you to be strong and courageous because the wait is almost over.

But you have never met him face-to-face, have never seen him, never heard his voice nor felt his embrace.  Although you’ve dreamt of that moment, and tried to picture it a thousand times, you are unable to visualize the scene.  What will he look like?  What will he sound like?  Will he be disapproving or disappointed when he meets you in person?  Will he stand aloof, or sweep you into his arms like a long-lost love?

How will you greet one another?  What will you do our say?  Will you blurt out something silly and stupid?  Will you even be able to speak?  Or will you stare, mouth agape, unable to process what your eyes are reporting as fact?

How will your mind and body react?  Will your knees buckle?  Will you faint from all the pent-up anticipation and the sudden release of tension?  Will you clap your hands together in excitement and laugh in wonder and delight?  Will you hug him?  Will you wipe away a tear or sob uncontrollably because your prayers have been answered, he is finally here, and you are going home at last?  Or will you simply breathe a deep sigh of relief and contentment, realizing that from now on, home is where he is, whether in his lofty mansion or anywhere else.

As you may already have guessed, this drama is unfolding all over the world, right now.  The part of the orphan is played by us.  The part of the adoptive parent is played by God.  The stage is fully set for the final act.  But there’s a problem.  Those who have never read God’s letters (the Bible), think that all human beings who come into this world are born into a single family (God’s).  Trouble is, the paternity test says something different.  Read it for yourself:

“He [Jesus, God’s only begotten Son] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:10-13)

Israel as a nation did not receive (welcome, accept) the kingship, the lordship of her Messiah, Jesus.  But to those individuals who did believe on (trust in) the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior, whether Jews or Gentiles, to THEM he gave the power (right or authority) to BECOME the children of God.  THEY were “…born of…God.”

How does one solve the paternity problem?  Through a second, supernatural birth (spiritual this time, not physical).  Jesus explains it to one of ancient Israel’s premier teachers and leaders:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master [a top teacher and leader] of Israel, and knowest not these things?”  (John 3:1-10)

Jesus was quizzical and his nocturnal visitor nearly speechless.  But Jesus made clear that regardless of the fact that Nicodemus may not have heard this teaching before, it was essential that he hear it now, believe it and take action.

Consider Jesus’ statement (repeating the word “truly” for emphasis), that unless a person has been born again, he or she will not see the kingdom of God.  His second statement (also doubly affirmed), makes the consequence of not being born again more explicit.  The language changes from “will not see” the kingdom of God, to “will not enter.”

Jesus then goes on to admonish this deeply religious and highly respected Pharisee not to marvel at His insistence that, “You must be born again.”  Here, the language changes once more from a simple declarative “except or unless” one is born again, to an imperative (a command)—”You must be born again.”

Jesus proceeds to explain to Nicodemus, and to us, why this act of God the Holy Spirit—spiritual birth—is so necessary and therefore vital: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

The insurmountable difficulty with our flesh is that it is highly perishable.  We can’t live forever in our mortal bodies.  Spiritual birth is entirely different and poses no such difficulties.  Those bound for heaven will one day receive new, indestructible bodies, to equip them to live there as permanent residents.  Will you be among them, a member of God’s family and a rightful heir?  It’s not safe to leave this one to chance.  Best to make sure.  If you have not already done so, ask yourself these four questions:

1. ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD, am I a child of God?
2. Do I want to be a member of God’s family and receive a share of Christ’s inheritance?
3. Do I want to live forever in the Kingdom of God?
4. Have I been born again?

If you have ANY doubts, please–read on.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)