The Forgotten Truth

What your church is not telling you

The Bible documents an insightful conversation between Jesus and a Jewish leader called Nicodemus. Recorded in John chapter 3, the conversation illuminates the most important question that can be asked: How can I obtain eternal life?

Nicodemus was a prestigious Jewish leader in the Sanhedrin, a legislative and judicial body in Israel composed of 70 men, led by the High Priest. Having heard of the Lord's miracles, he approached Jesus at night to learn more, not anticipating the truth Jesus would reveal:

"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 are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, 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? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 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.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:1-17)

As a 'teacher of Israel', Nicodemus was used to providing answers, yet he was baffled by Jesus' words, "You must be born again". He thought the ritualistic religion he represented led to God, but Jesus revealed he would never see the Kingdom of God without spiritual birth. What a shock that must have been to this highly esteemed rabbi!

Unfortunately, numerous religious clergy members today do not know this truth. They have led many astray by misrepresenting the Gospel, advocating infant baptism as the means of becoming a child of God. I have read the Bible from cover to cover several times, and I can assure you, there is no such teaching in God's Word.

No church can save, nor can any ritual or religious practice. Salvation is by spiritual birth through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We must be born again!

The need for this new birth is due to our sinful nature. We have all broken God's law and have fallen short of His standards. If we were to stand before Him and be judged by the Ten Commandments, each one of us would be proclaimed guilty. However, the perfect 'Lamb of God' took our place and bore our punishment so we can be pardoned. By understanding this truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit and by receiving Jesus as Lord, we are born again.

The extent of God's love for us is demonstrated at the cross. God promises eternal life to those who trust in Christ and His finished work. Another erroneous teaching has led many to believe God will measure their good works against their bad works to determine their eternal destiny. How wrong! If our good works could have saved us, Jesus' death would not have been necessary. He paid the price in full because we could not save ourselves!

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I highly recommend sincere seekers of God to request a New Testament through this site (or access Biblegateway.com and read John's Gospel, asking God to reveal His vital truth through His word. It has been covered up for too long!