We have all heard jokes about people showing up at the pearly gates seeking entrance into heaven. While some of these witty fabrications may bring a smile to our faces, behind most of them is the false assumption that we must do something in order to get into heaven. Some people are shocked when they learn that there is absolutely nothing they can ever do to be saved or to gain entrance into heaven.
John 3:1-15 contains the story of one of those persons. Nicodemus, a rabbi and a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, had a difficult time understanding the difference between religion and relationship. To him salvation depended on the things he did (religion), not the result of God’s free gift of grace (relationship).
It was at night that Nicodemus decided to pay Jesus a visit. Was this because rabbis studied at night? Was it because he wanted to avoid the crowd? Was it because he did not want his conversation with Jesus to be limited? I believe it was because he was troubled by some spiritual questions he wanted Jesus to answer. The important thing is that he was a seeker after truth and that he went to the right source to find it.
Nicodemus was rich, highly respected, and strongly religious – a Pharisee. He had given his life to study and obey the Law. He was also knowledgeable of the traditions supporting the Law. As we might say today, “He was leadership material. He would make an excellent chairman for an important committee.” Having heard a lot of interesting things about Jesus, he wanted to meet Him and hear what He had to say.
Jesus cut right to the heart of the matter Nicodemus wanted to discuss. He told him that he must be born again. When Nicodemus did not understand what this meant, Jesus explained that He was referring to a spiritual birth, not a physical birth. To be born again spiritually is a divine act controlled by God. It is a supernatural act that brings about a dramatic change in a person’s life. Nicodemus had not entered into a faith relationship with Christ. One way of expressing it is to say he was religious, but that he was not redeemed.
There are four primary truths a person must know in order to be born again:
Position does not save you. Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish Supreme Court. He was correct on many areas of doctrine, but he made one primary mistake: he externalized religion. Outwardly, he lived above reproach. He was part of the religious elite. Applying this to our lives today it means that being a deacon, or an elder, or even a pastor does not save you. Position does not save anybody, however high or important that position may be.
Popularity does not save you. Nicodemus was highly respected and popular in his community. He was recognized as a strong spiritual leader. Being born again has absolutely nothing to do with popularity.
Prestige does not save you. Nicodemus was a person to whom people turned for spiritual answers. He was a spiritual adviser who had spent his life studying the Scriptures. He was, in essence, a spiritual guru. But he had never been born from above.
Piety does not save you. Nicodemus possessed great knowledge. He was religious to the core, and was widely recognized for his piety. What this means for us today is that you can attend church regularly, tithe your income, practice spiritual disciplines, and still be lost because possessing piety saves no one. To be born again you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
There is only one way to be born again and one day go to heaven: You must go to Calvary, repent of your sins, lay them down, accept Christ as your Savior and Lord, turn to the right, and keep straight ahead.
The Paper Pulpit 
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