Believing in Jesus is essential

Believing in Jesus is essential but Jesus says there's a kind of belief that's not enough. Let me explain. John 2 says many believed in Jesus because of the miracles, but Jesus didn't entrust himself to them. Why? He knew what was in their hearts. Then in the very next scene, a religious leader comes to Jesus under the cover of night and says, "We know you're from God. No one can do these signs unless God is with him." And Jesus he doesn't debate those facts. He goes straight to the heart of the Gospel. He tells the man, "Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. See you can believe and not be born again, but you can't be born again and not believe. The crowds believed, even demons believe. See, new birth is not just agreeing with facts about Jesus. New birth requires a death. The death of the old life that we inherited from Adam. The death of self-rule, shame, sin, the need to stay in control. To be born again is to be born from above. Remade by the Spirit of God. Not improved reborn. Not reformed made new. Indwelt by the Spirit of God. His death becomes my death. His resurrection becomes my resurrection. And his life becomes my life. Don't stop at simply being impressed by Jesus. Don't settle for proximity. . . Be born again. Because Jesus didn't come to make you a better version of yourself. He came to make you brand new.