People resist change. The truth is it doesn’t
matter how wise or educated you are. There are smart or religious
people sitting in churches every Sunday who are as lost and troubled as a man
named Nicodemus because they have head knowledge, but no heart knowledge. (Look
at this conversation in John chapter 3.) Many people get involved
with church, but not with Christ. People need to understand that the church
can’t save you – only a relationship with Christ can save you. There is no
doubt that religion (the church) will clean you up. It’ll make you look
real good but that’s only head knowledge. If a person is to be saved, his heart
has to be changed and that comes only from a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ… That’s the message Jesus was preaching to Nicodemus. Nicodemus, the
seeker, came seeking answers about religion & Jesus told him, “It’s not
about religion – it’s all about a relationship…” Being born again is a God
thing. It's all about God’s grace, not the grace of man.
Grace goes beyond our comprehension. By our
human nature, we want to merit God’s favor. We want to be the ones that get us
into heaven. Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being
born again…” That’s God’s plan – you must be born again… Jesus tells
Nicodemus, “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…”
Nicodemus didn’t understand
this. He was struggling with the idea of a man being born again, and
he couldn't understand how a grown man could be born again,
and went away back into the darkness. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says, “Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (or creation); old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new…” Resisting change because
you don't understand will never allow you to experience God's great grace. Make
this your song today:
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to
take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His
promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!” Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve
proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for
grace to trust Him more!