A simple example of how confused people are concerning salvation.

If someone asked you if you are a Christian, would your answer be yes? And, if someone asked you if you are born again, would you also say yes? The two questions are actually one and the same but I suspect many may give two different answers. This is a simple example of how confused people are concerning salvation.

Nicodemus was a very devout religious man a Pharisee, and he was even a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the highest court in the land among Jewish people. yet he had no understanding of what it means to be born again.

John 3:4 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?"

Nicodemus asked a not so unexpected question from someone who is unsaved and therefore understands not spiritual things.


John 3:5 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.


Jesus says we must first be born of water to be saved, referring to water baptism (repentance), And then in order to have a new regenerated nature we need the work of the Holy Spirit, born of the Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit baptism.

Noticed the preaching of the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts, when asked by the crowd, what must we do to be saved.

Acts 2:38 And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This is the work of the Holy Spirit: -

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

This lesson should clear up the salvation issue for anyone who may not have understood the process.
One thing that I would like to emphasis here is that there has been great neglect in many religious circles concerning the role of the Holy Spirit.  Let me say emphatically that the Holy Spirit indwelling is not optional!!!

Rom 8:9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spiritof God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a childof God]