Our Motto: The Bible, the Whole Bible, and Nothing but the Bible
Sunday Service Times: Sunday School 9:30 AM; Morning Worship 10:45 AM; Evening Worship 6:00 PM
Wednesday Service: 7:00 PM "Son Shine Kids" (youth group) at the same time with Adult Bible Study and Prayer.
The Albany GBC is also the home of the Northwest School of Theology offering courses in Greek, Hebrew, Theology Course (in series) and Apologetics.
Location: 801 Ermine S.E., Albany, OR 97322
Contact us: 541.967.9357
Sunday Service Times: Sunday School 9:30 AM; Morning Worship 10:45 AM; Evening Worship 6:00 PM
Wednesday Service: 7:00 PM "Son Shine Kids" (youth group) at the same time with Adult Bible Study and Prayer.
The Albany GBC is also the home of the Northwest School of Theology offering courses in Greek, Hebrew, Theology Course (in series) and Apologetics.
Location: 801 Ermine S.E., Albany, OR 97322
Contact us: 541.967.9357
You Must Be Born Again to Enter Heaven
Jesus told a man named Nicodemus it was absolutely essential that he be born again if he would enter heaven (John 3:3, 5). Nicodemus recognized something special about Jesus since He could do miracles: “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a Teacher, for no one can do these sign-miracles that You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus was right! Jesus was from God and did attesting miracles to prove it. Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher himself, assumed that he would enter the heavenly realms some day. However, Jesus knew that Nicodemus would not enter the kingdom of God (heaven) until he had experienced the new birth. So Jesus told him, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus did not comprehend what “born again” meant. He thought it was a second birth in the flesh from one’s mother. Jesus patiently explained, “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” Birth in the flesh brings humans into this world, but only the spiritual birth can bring one into the heavenly realm. Jesus said, “Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.”
The spiritual birth cannot be seen except by its results. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit,” Jesus testified to Nicodemus. The spiritual birth becomes evident in a life that is cleansed from sin. This is what Jesus meant by, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The “water” is a cleansing of the heart for the one born again by the Holy Spirit of God which is then manifested by righteous deeds.
The important thing that Nicodemus needed to learn about Jesus was His vicarious death on the cross. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21), even so must the Son of Man be lifted up (that is, lifted up on the cross where He was crucified), that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life,” Jesus explained to him.
Faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose to life again, is the central point in being born again. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” –John 3:16. Once a person receives Jesus as Lord and Savior by asking Him into his life, he is born again. The Spirit then takes up permanent residence in the heart of the “believer” and begins doing a holy, cleansing work that proves a birth has truly taken place. The sure hope for every born again person is eternal life with God in heaven.
Did Nicodemus become born again? John chapter seven implies that Nicodemus stood up for Jesus when the Pharisees were judging Him. Nicodemus along with Joseph of Arimathea cared for the body of Jesus after taking Him down from the cross in John chapter 19. Jesus’ message to Nicodemus in John three about the new birth was not in vain. Nicodemus no doubt became born again.
What about you? Have you been born again? Jesus said no one can go to heaven unless he or she experiences the new birth described in John chapter three. Let this day be your “birthday” spiritually by asking Jesus Christ to be your own Savior from your sins and Lord of your life.
If you have questions about this message I would be glad to talk with you more about it. I was born again several years ago when I prayed with a friend who led me to receive Jesus as my Savior. Christ has been working in my life since that time to make me conform to His image. When I die I know for sure that I will be with my Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus in heaven forever.
Pastor DeLane F. Miller
Jesus told a man named Nicodemus it was absolutely essential that he be born again if he would enter heaven (John 3:3, 5). Nicodemus recognized something special about Jesus since He could do miracles: “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a Teacher, for no one can do these sign-miracles that You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus was right! Jesus was from God and did attesting miracles to prove it. Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher himself, assumed that he would enter the heavenly realms some day. However, Jesus knew that Nicodemus would not enter the kingdom of God (heaven) until he had experienced the new birth. So Jesus told him, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus did not comprehend what “born again” meant. He thought it was a second birth in the flesh from one’s mother. Jesus patiently explained, “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” Birth in the flesh brings humans into this world, but only the spiritual birth can bring one into the heavenly realm. Jesus said, “Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.”
The spiritual birth cannot be seen except by its results. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit,” Jesus testified to Nicodemus. The spiritual birth becomes evident in a life that is cleansed from sin. This is what Jesus meant by, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The “water” is a cleansing of the heart for the one born again by the Holy Spirit of God which is then manifested by righteous deeds.
The important thing that Nicodemus needed to learn about Jesus was His vicarious death on the cross. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21), even so must the Son of Man be lifted up (that is, lifted up on the cross where He was crucified), that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life,” Jesus explained to him.
Faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose to life again, is the central point in being born again. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” –John 3:16. Once a person receives Jesus as Lord and Savior by asking Him into his life, he is born again. The Spirit then takes up permanent residence in the heart of the “believer” and begins doing a holy, cleansing work that proves a birth has truly taken place. The sure hope for every born again person is eternal life with God in heaven.
Did Nicodemus become born again? John chapter seven implies that Nicodemus stood up for Jesus when the Pharisees were judging Him. Nicodemus along with Joseph of Arimathea cared for the body of Jesus after taking Him down from the cross in John chapter 19. Jesus’ message to Nicodemus in John three about the new birth was not in vain. Nicodemus no doubt became born again.
What about you? Have you been born again? Jesus said no one can go to heaven unless he or she experiences the new birth described in John chapter three. Let this day be your “birthday” spiritually by asking Jesus Christ to be your own Savior from your sins and Lord of your life.
If you have questions about this message I would be glad to talk with you more about it. I was born again several years ago when I prayed with a friend who led me to receive Jesus as my Savior. Christ has been working in my life since that time to make me conform to His image. When I die I know for sure that I will be with my Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus in heaven forever.
Pastor DeLane F. Miller