A Second Birth | Today with Dr. Mark Jobe

“No matter how hard we try—even if we are as devout as Nicodemus—we cannot earn salvation. While the bad news is that we’ve fallen short (Rom. 3:23), the good news is that Jesus came to be a solution to our sin problem.”

My wife and I have three adult children. And even though our first child, was born 31 years ago, I remember every detail. We had tried to conceive for some time. After six years, we were excited for the birth of our daughter. I remember how we raced to the hospital and how a long 28 hours later our baby girl was born. To make it official, the doctor signed a certificate marking the exact moment of her birth.

Your birthday marks the beginning of your physical life. But another date is even more significant: your second birth. Do you know what it means to be born again? John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in history: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus spoke these words during His conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus was very religious, wealthy, and respected, yet he asked: “How can someone be born when they are old?” Jesus explained that this was not a second physical birth, but a spiritual birth (John 3:5–8). Rebirth marks the beginning of a person’s spiritual life.

Titus 3:3–7 teaches that you can be alive physically but dead spiritually. Sin separates all of us from a holy God. No matter how hard we try—even if we are as devout as Nicodemus—we cannot earn salvation. While the bad news is that we’ve fallen short (Rom. 3:23), the good news is that Jesus came to be a solution to our sin problem; He paid a price we could never pay.

At Christmas we celebrate our Savior’s birth. Jesus came because none of us could measure up. He died to pay a price for our sin and reconcile us with God. The Bible says we receive the gift of salvation when we believe the message, repent of our sins, and acknowledge Jesus as our Savior.

I was saved at age 15 in the basement of my grandmother’s house. On that day, my life turned around. Friend, I invite you to accept Jesus as your Savior today! The Bible says you’ll experience spiritual rebirth and will be brought from death to life (John 5:24).

If you want to know more about being born again, please call (888) NEED HIM or go to our website:
moodybible.org/knowing-christ.

BY Dr. Mark Jobe, President

Dr. Mark Jobe is the president of Moody Bible Institute. He has served as the lead pastor of New Life Community Church, one church that meets at 27 locations. Mark earned a diploma from Moody Bible Institute in 1984, a master’s degree from Moody Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in transformational leadership from Bakke Graduate University. He is the author of What Now?: How to Move into Your Next Season (Moody Publishers) and can be heard on Bold Steps, a daily program on Moody Radio. He and his wife, Dee, have three adult children and four grandchildren.