Christ’s Mandate - John 3:3

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3

    One of the most oft-quoted verses in all the Holy Scriptures, John 3:3 presents an indispensable qualification for salvation - we must be born again if we are to see the kingdom of God. Jesus doesn’t suggest to Nicodemus that he be born again. He declares without hesitation or ambiguity - he MUST be born again. So, it isn’t difficult to understand the Pharisee’s incredulity regarding the idea of rebirth. “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?’” - John 3:4. We can almost hear his quandary, “born . . .again?”
    Christ was explaining to him that regeneration of the human soul was a sine qua non, a non-negotiable requisite for salvation and Nicodemus was having a world of difficulty understanding this fundamental principle. So Jesus elaborated - “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” - John 35. Christ had just revealed one of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith: spiritual rebirth.
    Two sit in church on Sunday, one is there because he understands that he is “supposed to be there,” while the other listens to and reflects upon the Word of God. The one’s mind races back and forth between the game later today and those things which distract him throughout the week. The other contemplates God’s Word and how it impacts him today, tomorrow, and every day of his life. One’s life “is of the world,” while the other’s is merely “in the world.”
The difference between these two is that one’s soul remains unregenerate while the other’s soul has been “regenerated” by the in filling of the Holy Spirit; this one has been reborn through the “water and the Spirit.” The water represents the washing of the soul. All the uncleanliness of the world has been washed away and the Holy Spirit has replaced the distractions and complications of a fallen world. This soul has been regenerated to eternal life.
    The eternal life Christ promises us comes through this rebirth. The mark of this rebirth; the fruit of this rebirth, is our very faith! “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” - 1 John 5:4. Without regeneration, without rebirth, we cannot have faith, because regeneration precedes faith! To come to faith in Christ Jesus we must first be reborn.
    But what of our sacramental duties? What of tithing? What of fasting? What of them? None of those peripherals, none of those incidentals are necessary for obtaining the faith we so need for salvation. They are certainly desirable for the Christian but not necessary for obtaining saving faith. But of being reborn, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again . . . .” Without the spiritual rebirth, no one will be saved! Without the spiritual rebirth, we “cannot see the kingdom of God.” It is not a negotiable item. It is a must do if we are to seek the kingdom of God.
    There is no one in heaven who did not experience the rebirth. It is necessary. It is vital to our very salvation. Without it we would never seek God. With it, we are constantly seeking the kingdom of heaven so that all things will be added to us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23.