“Jesus answered and said, ‘Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’” (John 3:3 KJV)
That scripture, to me says it all. How much clearer can it be? Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. Being afraid to talk to Jesus where he would be seen by anyone who would report it to one of the other Pharisees, he came to Jesus under the cover of darkness and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do those miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
That was verse 2 of John Chap. 3. and Jesus answered, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Of course, we know the rest, Nicodemus wanted to know how that could be, a man could not enter into his mother’s womb and be born a second time? Then Jesus answered, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. V.6. That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” Being born of the flesh means born the natural way; born of the Spirit means, born of God, by way of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and committing our lives to Him. Then living as closely to His example as is humanly possible and if we sin, asking forgiveness immediately.
Therefore, I cannot understand where people get that when a person dies and is not saved, or has not repented of their sins, he/she will go to Heaven. Where does it say that in scripture? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but friends the scripture clearly says, “ye must be born again.” How then is it possible for a person who has never repented of their sins and has not experienced Salvation to go to Heaven?
In order to be born again, according to scripture, one has to repent of their sins and live a reasonably clean life; there must be evidence of a changed life; the Bible says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted before the world.” (James 1:27 KJV) besides all of the above and keep the commandments. in other words there must be fruit. Fruit is what we do for God out of a love for God and a desire to please Him.
Jesus also said, “the greatest of these (the commandments) is love”. We must love one another, our fellow man.
My own parents died when I was very young and I hope and pray I see them in Heaven. But it is not a certainty. I never heard my father repent of his sins; neither did I hear my mother say a prayer of repentance. But I did see a change in my father. He stopped drinking and cursing. My mother never did anything wrong that I saw. My father still smoked, but there is nowhere in scripture that says you are doomed to hell for smoking; although as some have said, you smell like you have already been there. Therefore, I am hoping and praying I will see them in Heaven someday. They were good people, but that does not make them born again Christians. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE; no man cometh to the Father but by me.”(KJV)
As the scripture says, we are all sinners, “For the wages of sin is death”. (Romans 6:23). That does not mean instant physical death. It means spiritual death and separation from God unless we repent and are forgiven. God is faithful, if you repent and ask forgiveness He is faithful and just to forgive. (I John 1:9KJV)
So it seems to me when the Holy Spirit taps us on the shoulder and says, “it’s time”, the best way to assure one’s entrance into Heaven is to respond to that gentle urging by repenting and asking forgiveness of sins. I remember when He tapped me on the shoulder. My knees turned to jelly and I could barely stand. I went down the aisle of the church and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life at the age of twelve. The seed was planted. But there was no change. Later at the age of 53 I was truly saved and my life was changed. I truly gave my life to Him.
Jesus willingly took ALL our sins on Himself on the cross; He died a horrible, agonizing death; He suffered unimaginable pain and shed His precious blood that all might be saved. The least we can do is ask forgiveness and live for Him, doing all He calls us to do; His work here on earth till He calls us home to that Heavenly kingdom; the “Shining City on a hill” with streets of pure gold and where the river of life runs through it; where there will be no more tears; no more sorrow; no more fear and no more death. Praise His Holy Name forever.
By Nell Berry 6/10/07
Bio: Nell, a 76 year old mother of four, grandmother of nine and great grandmother of two, soon to be two more, and her husband of 57 years now live in Alabama; recently moved from Missouri. Her interests are sewing, crocheting and writing. They love to go to their new church.