The first step in a person’s salvation is knowledge of their sin. -Lucius Annaneus Seneca
There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, there is nothing we can do to make God love us less. - Philip Yancey1
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. - John 1: 10-13
In the movie Avatar, one alien character notes, “Every person is born twice. The second time is when you are part of your people forever.” In caste-conscious India, there is a notion that only Brahmins are twice born. What does that mean to you? Is it possible that the Creator would blatantly discriminate? Apartheid has been dismantled, but the falsehood of Caste remains to be taken down.
I am not inclined to accept labels that divide people into various religions – throughout history it has served as a clever man-made strategy for control and power. No religion has been given the authority to guarantee man’s eternal salvation so why give religious middlemen the power to divide us? The carrot danglers cannot deliver so why regard the stick? Keeping aside the divisions we observe (having been raised in them) let’s do some basic introspection on the crucial matter of salvation. It is something all of us surely consider from time to time. I quote from scriptures I am familiar with, examine them to see if they ring true and speak to you or study your own sources to obtain clarity. Only don’t be casual about or write off any source because you think it applies only to one particular religion – scriptural truth applies universally. You may disagree or doubt what the scriptures say, but they are worth examining to figure out why we are here and where we are going.
Rather than focus on what awaits us after life, let’s dwell on a person’s physical birth as a starting point to discuss man’s universal longing for salvation. Consider, did you have any control over whether or not you would be born? Did you decide your geographic location? Did you choose your parents? Or for that matter your brothers or sisters? Did you decide your own time in history? Did you choose your unique physical looks or determine your sex? Was it your decision as to the ethnic group you would belong to? To all of these questions the obvious answer is NO. Each and every one of these matters and more is under God’s control.
We learn from the scriptures that God is spirit (John 4:24) and we are spiritual beings. So does it make any sense to think even for one moment that God is only in control of our physical birth and not our spiritual birth? Salvation involves a spiritual birth – a new birth or a rebirth, which is the sole work of God (just as our physical birth was).
So, what can anyone do to be born twice? What can man do for his salvation?
The scriptures are clear, in ourselves there is nothing we can do for our eternal salvation – in fact the scriptures declare man is spiritually dead. This is man’s predicament - pitiful and helpless because of the reality of sin and a rebellious inclination to go our own way.
Clueless or unwilling to deal with the concept of God being absolutely pure, some folks believe they do their best and lead a life that’s good enough. They are confident they qualify for eternal salvation. People forget that obtaining access to important individuals on earth is difficult but believe access into the Creator’s presence is simple - just act religious, do some good works and follow prescribed rituals! Who is good but God? Some folks actually believe they are gods. Spiritual pride can be subtle or overt, but it leads only to hypocrisy or arrogance. Our second birth is entirely in God’s hands, his mercy our only hope. For we have all sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. Hard to figure, worth investigating.