Are you saved? – Part I

Text: John 3:1-36

Key Verse: John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (NKJV)

Salvation is one of the four cardinal doctrines of the church. Salvation is fundamental and foundational because that is where you take off from in your Christian journey, and then you begin to grow and mature in the Christian faith. Here comes this very important question: Are you saved? Because if you are not saved, there is a lot of problems.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, “truly, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” You cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, except you are saved from your sins. To be born again is a spiritual rebirth and it happens when you realise that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23) and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

In John Chapter 3, you will see the possibility of someone become ahead of a church without having Christ in his life; no living relationship with Christ but he has become a deacon in the church; no living relationship with Christ, as a constant in our lives and no living relationship with Christ, but he has been ordained as Pastor, Deacon, Deaconess, Elder, etc. Some are Sunday School Superintendents and heads of units in the church, but they still need Christ. Sometimes, they could be the heads of the prayer team without a living relationship with Christ. You may say this is not possible, but it is. A person can be anything without Christ be it a choirmaster or head of evangelism.

Nicodemus was a member of the topnotch Jewish supreme religious body, known as the Sanhedrin, which was responsible for determining which way the religious climate of the Jews would face and go at any time. He was also a member of an influential religious sect within Judaism, called the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the strict and straight sect in Judaism. In Mathew 23, Jesus branded the Pharisees as hypocrites repeatedly and made a lot of pronouncements against them. Jesus said the scribes and the Pharisees sit at the seat of Moses and whatsoever they teach you, do but don’t do after their works because they say and do not. They may teach you the Word of God, but they don’t have an example to show that God is really alive in their lives. There are many people like that in churches all over today and people are shouting Christ all over the place, but when you look into their lives, you will not see fruits that abound unto the glory of God. Jesus told us by their fruits we shall know them. In some churches, you will see those who steal in the house of God; those who are drunkards; those who visit native doctors and those who commit immorality.

Nicodemus said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher sent from God.” (John 3:2) Nicodemus was one of the religious leaders, who knew that Jesus was a teacher sent by God, but they had refused to recognise Jesus as the Messiah and surrender their lives to Him. They knew and it was plain to them, but in spite of the knowledge they had, they refused to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. I don’t know what you know; you may know something. Part of the problems we have in the body of Christ today is that we have so many people that have head knowledge about Jesus without a living relationship with Christ.

Today’s Nugget: Being Born Again is to be Saved.

Prayer: Jesus, I accept you as Saviour and Lord

Prayer lines: 08054477940.

E-mail: servantofgod111@yahoo.com

Rev. Pastor Ejikeme Ejim, General Superintendent Assemblies of God Nigeria.