Listen to Audio Devotion

John 3:3, LEB
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.””

John 3:5, LEB
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who was well-respected by his community. He was knowledgeable about the law, what to do and what not to do and followed Jewish laws strictly. However, he was still spiritually lost.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he was seeking answers about how to be saved. Jesus explained to him that no amount of good works could erase a person’s sinful nature. Instead, everyone who desires to serve God must be born again. This means that we must believe in Jesus as our Savior and allow Him to transform our lives.

When we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit, who gives us a new nature. This new nature enables us to have a real relationship with God. We no longer have to rely on our own efforts to be good enough for God. Instead, we can trust in His grace and mercy. Truth be told, at the end of our earthly lives, we will stand before God and give an account of our lives. Our good works and kind behaviour will not save us.

So, the question is not whether you need to good or not. Are your doing good to earn a place in heaven, or earn people’s appreciation, or some kind of temporary self-fulfilment, or are you doing good as an overflow of what Jesus has done for you on the cross?

Let’s pray

Dear God, we know that we are sinners, and we need your forgiveness. We believe that you Your Son die on the cross for our sins and we ask you to save us and make us clean. We want to die to our sins and be born again and have a real relationship with You. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.