The Waters of New Birth
The Waters of New Birth
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” – John 3:5
How is a person saved?
We live in an age where there are lots of ideas on how to be saved or how to get to heaven.
- Some say we just have to be a good person
- Others say all religions will get you there
- Still, some others say we’ll all end up in heaven eventually no matter what
But Jesus tells us something different. In John 14:6 He says,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is only one way to salvation and that is through faith in Jesus.
This isn’t a very popular belief in our current culture of tolerance, but this is the truth.
This shouldn’t be surprising, though. At its core, our sin, which condemns us, is that we put other gods before the one true God. It may be money, ourselves, or literal false gods, but it’s all a rejection of the Triune God as our God. We should not be surprised that God would not bring salvation through the worship of false gods.
We should also not be surprised that being a “good” person isn’t enough. First, who defines “good?” Second, God clearly says his standard isn’t good, it’s perfect.
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48
So, we must have faith, but how do we do that? Is our weak and wobbly faith enough?
We can’t even believe on our own.
“Jesus answered. ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.’” – John 6:44-45
Means of Grace
God gives us faith through His wonderful grace, by what we call His “means of grace.” One of those means of grace is Baptism. Through the water with the Word, we are washed clean of our sins, faith is created in us, and we are born anew as children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of God. What a wonderful gift Baptism is!
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4
Even our faith is a gift of God. That is how we have faith and that is why, even though our belief is like the shifting sands of the beach, God’s faith most assuredly saves.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gracious gift of salvation that you have brought to us through Jesus Christ and which you promise us in Baptism. Help us to always remember that we have been washed clean of our sins and that we now live as children of God and citizens of Your Kingdom.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
