Faith in Jesus gives eternal life. We understand this from our side of the cross. In Jesus’ day, Jews thought it was essential to be born into the right family, the family of Abraham. Nicodemus came to Jesus with a question, and Jesus taught him about a new birth.
John 3:7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”[1]
Human birth is a reality, but it is also mysterious. Physical life is born through the intimacy of human love. Jesus taught that spiritual birth is necessary but also unexplainable. Nicodemus had a hard time understanding there was a need for rebirth. He had been born into the right family and lived an exemplary life as a Pharisee. Surely, it was the Gentiles who needed to be reborn, not the Jews. He didn’t understand that the new birth would give anyone who accepted it a new spiritual beginning.
God Loves the World
God poured all the sins of humanity on Jesus as He died on the cross. We can’t fathom the depth of the pain Jesus must have experienced. Many people have been crucified, but no one has experienced the pain of the sin of humanity. This is a love that we can’t understand because it is so great.
John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [2]
The author of Hebrews in 10:10 tells us Jesus is the final sacrifice. No longer would there be any need for animal sacrifices because Jesus paid the price for our sins. To believe in Jesus as our Savior is more than intellectual knowledge; but is placing our trust in Him as our Savior. It is faith in Jesus that changes our eternal destiny.
Eternal Life in Heaven
One day, all of us will step into eternity. Believers in Jesus will depart into heaven because Jesus has saved us from hell. The Lord desires that each person receive the gift of salvation so they can spend eternity with Him. There, the majesty and beauty of heaven are beyond our understanding. In heaven, there will be no more death, disease, or sin, and we will have new eternal bodies. Best of all, Jesus will be there with the angels and others who have died in the faith. Revelations 21:4 The Lord will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” [3]
Faith in Jesus gives eternal life. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-and-nicodemus
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.