For many years, well-intentioned and devoted followers of God's Word have flocked to this one verse (lifting it out of the context of the chapter) to teach that "just believing in Jesus" is all that is necessary to save one from eternal punishment and eternal separation from God. The facts of the verse in light of the entire chapter (and the rest of the New Testament) shed a different light on that assumption. If one will honestly review the entire conversation in chapter three, they will understand my points being made here.

Point #1, Jesus plainly taught that one must be born AGAIN (in verse 3) to enter the kingdom of God. And, that must have been a very important point coming from Jesus for it to be the VERY FIRST THING that He says to Nicodemus ... a pharisee. (That statement is further clarified when you study the event in Luke 7:28-30 ... a must read to understand WHY Jesus specifically said what He did to Nicodemus) Nicodemus obviously did NOT BELIEVE (or understand) what Jesus was telling him in verse 3 because of what Nicodemus says in verse 4 of the same chapter.

Point #2, Jesus further clarifies what being born AGAIN meant in verse 5 (and it was backed up in Acts chapter 2:37-38 through Peter's preaching of the first gospel sermon) and yet Nicodemus still didn't get OR BELIEVE what was being said to him with his reply in verse 9. Jesus then questions Nicodemus on WHAT he was believing in verse 12.

Point #3, Jesus plainly states in verse 5 that a man must be born AGAIN of water and the Spirit to ENTER the kingdom of God ... and that new birth is through baptism (or a burial/immersion in water). The jews obviously understood this concept because they had many ceremonial washings to purify items. It was NOT a new concept to them. The problem was that the pharisees DID NOT BELIEVE WHAT John the baptizer, or even Jesus for that matter, was telling them ... and Jesus comments on that fact in Luke 7:35. (All of these points lead up to why Jesus said WHAT he did to Nicodemus in John 3:16.)

Point #4, Paul (an inspired apostle) in Romans 6:3-7, compared baptism to a watery death, burial, and resurrection (or being born AGAIN). Also worthy of mention is the fact that Ananias (who returned Paul's sight to him) specifically equated a watery baptism with "calling on the name of the Lord" and a "washing away" of Paul's sins in Acts 22:16. Ananias obviously understood that baptism was an essential command to obey from the Lord or he would not have told Paul WHAT to do. (Did Paul believe WHAT was said to him? Did he ACT on that belief?)

Point #5, in Colossians 2:11-12, Paul also compared our (New Testament) watery baptism to an (Old Testament) circumcision (or cutting away) of our sins. (Paul obviously understood jewish law being taught at the footsteps of Gamaliel ... see Acts verses 5:34 and 22:3) And the jews under the Law of Moses were "cut off" from God and their people if they were not circumcised ... and even the son of Moses was in deadly peril until his own mother had to circumcise him (Exodus 4:22-25).

Point #6, Becoming "born again" as a child of God is not just "partially" fulfilling the will and way of the "author of our salvation" just by believing in Jesus, it is doing ALL that He commanded. And you cannot be IN the kingdom by simply praying for forgiveness or just believing who Jesus is. The Bible does not teach that to us (the devils in James 2:19 BELIEVE also ... and tremble!). You must be BORN AGAIN on God's terms and in God's way for entrance INTO the kingdom of God. We have to obey ALL that was commanded by Jesus to his followers and the last few verses of the gospel of Matthew confirm that fact. They were to teach ALL that Jesus commanded them to others ... and the book of Acts confirms that fact with every conversion involving a new birth through water. (Of particular note is Acts 19:1-5)

Point #7, Don't fall prey to the commandments and "doctrines" of men (Matthew 15:8-9) OR have itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4) to hear only what you want to hear or BELIEVE IN. Remember what Jesus said in John 14:15 "if you love me, keep MY COMMANDMENTS" and you will never fall.

John 3:16