Religious but Lost - Jesus promised that if Nicodemus trusted Him as Savior, then he would enter into a brand-new life. His old flesh nature would be replaced so that he could have a real relationship with God - instead of appearing to be a religious man, Nicodemus would be a true believer. No one gets into heaven because of good works and kind behavior. At the end of our earthly life when we stand before God, only our relationship with Him will matter

Many religions say righteousness can be earned, but when we trust in Jesus, He freely offers us His.

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;

"this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him,`Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.'

"Jesus answered and said to him,`Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

"Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?'

"Jesus answered,`Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.`

"`That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'" - John 3:1-6

Nicodemus would probably be welcome at any church today. 

He seems an ideal member — principled, knowledgeable, and courteous.

And as a Pharisee, he followed strict Jewish rules, which certainly made him religious. 

However, Nicodemus had serious drawbacks: He was blind to the truth and spiritually lost. 

In other words, he didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. 

When Nicodemus came to see the Lord in John 3, Jesus explained to him that no amount of goodness could erase or change a person’s nature. 

Instead, everyone who desires to serve God must be born again. 

Jesus promised that if Nicodemus trusted Him as Savior, then he would enter into a brand-new life. 

His old flesh nature would be replaced so that he could have a real relationship with God — instead of appearing to be a religious man, Nicodemus would be a true believer. 

No one gets into heaven because of good works and kind behavior.

At the end of our earthly life when we stand before God, only our relationship with Him will matter. 

We will want to show Him that in place of our old sinful nature, we now have the living Spirit we received when Jesus Christ came into our life. 

Bible in One Year: Genesis 4-7

Your Friends at In Touch Ministries

Charles Stanley

Charles Frazier Stanley Jr. (September 25, 1932 – April 18, 2023) was an American Southern Baptist pastor and writer. He was senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta for 49 years and took on emeritus status in 2020. He founded and was president of In Touch Ministries which widely broadcasts his sermons through television and radio. He also served two one-year terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1984 to 1986.

In Touch Ministries

intouch.org

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