by: Dr. Allen Domelle
John 3:17
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
The verse above comes at the end of a dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a spiritual ruler of the Jews; he was a Pharisee. He was a man who knew the Jewish laws and customs, but he had seen so many of Jesus’ miracles that he knew there was something different about Him.
The dialogue was about being born again. Nicodemus couldn’t understand how a person could go back into their mother’s womb and be born. Jesus expounded on being born again by telling him that a person must be “born of water and of the Spirit.” In other words, Jesus explained that there must be a second birth in order for a person to get saved. After Jesus explained the second birth, He then told Nicodemus how to have a second birth. Several things in these verses explain how a person gets saved.
First, salvation has nothing to do with religion. Nicodemus was a Pharisee; he was a religious ruler, and yet his religion was not good enough to save him from his sins. Whatever your denominational background may be, you must understand that it cannot save you from sin. If we could take a peek into Hell, we would find that every denomination is represented in Hell. Religion has not paid for your sins.
Second, salvation is not obtained through a human personality. Nicodemus was a religious personality, and yet he still needed to be born again. The pope, rabbi, pastor, elder, priest or any other religious leader cannot take away your sins. You are still lost if you are trusting for a religious leader to absolve your sins and save you.
Third, salvation is not obtained by religious works. The Pharisees were a very moral people, but Jesus still emphasized that Nicodemus needed to be born again. You can try to be good enough to get yourself to Heaven, but you will still fall short of salvation no matter what your good works may be. Works will send you to one place, and that is to Hell.
Fourth, salvation is not for a chosen or elect person. God makes it clear that salvation is for “whosoever.” It is foolish to think that God elects people to get saved because He offers salvation to all. Jesus didn’t die for an elect few; He died for the world. Verse 16 doesn’t say that Jesus so loved the elect, but it says, “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” No matter who you are or what you have done, God loved you enough to die and pay for your sins. He loved you enough to offer you salvation.
Fifth, salvation only comes through Christ. The verse above says, “…but that the world through him might be saved.” Friend, the only way you can get saved is through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only One Who can save you because He is the only One Who made the total payment for your sins through His sacrificial death, His burial, and His resurrection.
If there has never been a time you can point to when you put your complete trust in Christ to be your Saviour, make today that time. If you will ask Christ to be merciful to you as a sinner and save you, He will save you. If you have any questions about your salvation, please feel free to contact me so I can help you to settle this all-important decision.