by Charles Alligood

(This article was first published in the early 1990s)

The news media, government agencies, and our schools are emphasizing a need for instruction on “the facts of life” even to the youngest of our school children. The chief concern, however, is not to teach the biblical principle of “go forth and multiply.” It is a desperate attempt to minimize the inevitable consequences—disease, dissipation, and death—of a morally irresponsible nation. Blind parents have been led foolishly to believe by equally blind officials that pouring a little more gasoline on the burning house will somehow control the flames. Such moral declension and ignorance, even within religious circles, prove that our society knows little about “the facts of life”—the facts of eternal life.

How desperate is the need of this hour for someone to declare clearly and uncompromisingly that great biblical maxim: “Ye must be born again.”

To the well-educated Nicodemus who approaches Jesus by night, our Lord proclaims: “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” At this point education completely fails him, leaving Nicodemus to grope in spiritual darkness: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

Not only has Nicodemus been a student of great learning, he is a “master of Israel,” or a teacher. In spite of all his years invested in studying and teaching, however, he does not know the basic facts of eternal life.

The greatest need of the well-educated in our society is the new birth. Without it they will continue to trust education as a main defense in our nation’s battle against the ill effects of a moral disintegration. Educated ignorance will shout from the housetops: “Educate the murderer. Educate the thief. Educate the drug user. Educate the sex offender.” The uncompromising message of our Lord Jesus, and the only message of hope, is: “The well-educated must be born again. The murderer must be born again. The thief must be born again. The drug user must be born again. The sex offender must be born again.”

As a ruler of the Jews Nicodemus is rebuffed by our Lord’s pointed message: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Could it be that one of such political power and social prestige is ignorant of the facts of eternal life? Could it be that one who has attained a measure of worldly wealth is lacking in the basics of life? Judge for yourself as you listen to his pitiable reply: “How can these things be?”

The greatest need of the rulers of our society is neither more money nor more power. It is the new birth. The mayor must be born again. The councilman must be born again. The sheriff must be born again. The legislator must be born again. The governor must be born again. The congressman must be born again. The President must be born again.

The greatest need of the socially prestigious and wealthy of our society is the new birth. The bank president must be born gain. The businessman must be born again. The doctor must be born again. The prime-time athlete must be born again.

Never for a moment should anyone trust his social standing, his wealth, or his political authority to exempt himself from the most basic principle of life—“Ye must be born again.”

As a religious Pharisee Nicodemus stands in stunned silence while our Lord poses a most devastating question: “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” In all of his religious activity and instruction the zealous master of Israel has bypassed the most fundamental fact of eternal life: “Ye must be born again.”

In today’s perspective it would be as if the Lord is asking: “Nicodemus, are you a preacher of the Gospel and yet know not that you must be born again?” How sad! There are even preachers who know nothing of the facts of eternal life.

As a veritable son of the revered Abraham, Nicodemus nevertheless needs a new birth. Eternal life is not passed along through fleshly generation. Sons and daughters of saints must be born again. The children of great men of God must be born again. The flesh offers no hope.

Poor Nicodemus. To have so much he has so little. Before him stands the Messiah for whom Israel had long awaited. Before him stands the Anointed One whose name was extolled and whose coming was predicted by faithful prophets through the ages. Before him stands Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, the very Son of God. Before him stands Truth wrapped in a robe of flesh. Before him stands the Life, the Lord of Glory. Yet, Nicodemus sees only “a teacher come from God.”

Our Lord’s demand of this lost Pharisee is the same as for anyone today who would have eternal life: “Ye must be born again.” Nicodemus is given no other option. You have no other option.

Nicodemus is facing the same dilemma you face if you are lost and have heard the Lord’s message concerning the new birth. He sees the message as imperative, as impractical, and as impossible!

To have spiritual life Nicodemus must experience a new birth. That’s imperative. But, how? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb? No. If possible, that would still be impractical. Can his flesh produce a spiritual birth? No. That’s impossible. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Nicodemus ponders the mystery of the new birth. To have eternal life he must do that which he cannot do, he must be that which he cannot be, and he must possess that which he cannot acquire.

Is there any hope for Nicodemus? Yes, if he despairs in all that is earthly and carnal. He must see the hopelessness of his intellectual ability, his financial ability, and his religious ability. He must see that eternal life is not granted through fleshly inheritance.

Is there any hope for Nicodemus? Yes, if he feels he must get to Christ. If worldly pleasures and relationships lose their claim on him, and the claim of Christ reigns supreme.

Is there any hope for Nicodemus? Yes, if he depends entirely upon the Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish that which Nicodemus cannot accomplish.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness . . . .” Because of their rebellion against God during their wilderness journey, the Israelites were plagued with an invasion of deadly, fiery serpents. Those who suffered the fatal sting of the serpent found no cure in all the camp of Israel until God instructed Moses to mold a serpent of brass, place it upon a pole, and lift that brazen serpent high above the center of the camp. Every dying Israelite who believed God’s Word and looked to that brazen serpent lived.

“. . . even so must the Son of man be lifted up: . . . .” And He was! As the sympathizing Saviour, Christ Jesus became the sinner’s substitute upon the cross of Calvary. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Truly, the sinner who depends upon the Lord Jesus Christ shall never perish. The sinner whose heart has been moved by the Holy Spirit to forsake the world and to flee by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ has eternal life! “He that hath the Son hath life.”

The Scriptures imply that Nicodemus did flee to Christ. Before the chief priests and Pharisees he offers a timid defense of Jesus. Finally, he and Joseph of Arimathaea take the crucified body of our Lord Jesus, wind “it in linen clothes with the spices,” and bury it in the sepulchre of Joseph.

Sinner, like Nicodemus, you must be born again. Do you despair in realizing that it is impossible to birth yourself into the family of God? Do you have, nevertheless, an overwhelming heart-desire to get to the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you been made willing to bow your knee to His authority and rule? Can you hear His Word: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”?