Question:  Dear Greg,

            I have read what you say about being saved by grace.  Thank you.  I am concerned about what John 3 says about baptism:

1.      “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2.      The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3.      Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4.      Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5.      Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

How does this work with being saved by grace?  It looks like Jesus Christ is very clear about qualifying for the kingdom of God.  Please explain.

            Thank you,

            Stan

Answer:  Dear Stan,

            There is nothing in John 3 that suggest meritorious work—human actions that would “qualify” them for salvation.  The criteria Jesus gives is being born again.  While the spiritual re-birth does not compare exactly, in every regard, with human birth, it does give us the picture that we are spiritually re-born because of God, not because of us.

            The work of producing a new life comes from the life of the parent, the giver of life.  Nothing, with either human or spiritual birth, comes from the diligence, overcoming or hard work of the person who is yet to be born.  The spiritual birth differs, of course, from physical birth in that a person who is spiritually re-born has choice, whereas we are not consulted about our physical birth

            Our choice is whether to accept the new birth in Christ, to surrender to him, to yield to him, believing and trusting in him alone as the source and power of our salvation—renouncing any other manner, means or power of attaining salvation.  We must accept Jesus as Lord of all or he won’t be Lord at all.  We do not tell him that we want his goodness and combined with our goodness we will “qualify” for salvation.  He isn’t interested in such a proposition.  As far as salvation, it is either Christ or nothing.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht