Instead, Jesus tells us that we should pray in quiet to God. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5, NIV). We shouldn’t take this too literally though and say that we will shut out everyone else and never pray in front of other people. In fact, we as believers are encouraged to gather together frequently and pray. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV).

What Jesus is trying to say is that when we pray we should be able to examine our hearts at the same time and find out what is in them. Do we pray because we want recognition from other people? Or do we pray because of an honest desire to get closer to God?

I personally believe that everything that we do in God’s name is a prayer. So whether we are working on a Church project or leading worship, it is all a prayer to God. In the same way then, we should look deep into our hearts and decide that we do not desire earthly rewards in doing these things. Jesus, in Matthew 6:1 reminds us to “be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your father in heaven”.

A common thing that happens to people who claim to do God’s work is that they sometimes forget by whose power it is that they are able to do those things. A great outreach activity would be nothing if God did not give you the ability to organize them. Leading worship would just be plain entertainment if you are not doing it to glorify God. You can have the best singing voice and the most talented musicians and still fail to give praise. Sometimes even the things with the nicest intentions fail to give glory to God because we are doing it in search of our own credit. We look for the acknowledgment that we can get from people; we put value in the compliments they throw our way. The sad fact is that sometimes we want ourselves to shine instead of paving the way for people to know God better.

We are nothing apart from God. We are weak and inadequate. And no matter how hard we try to do something, it will not be possible unless He wills it. Let us remember then to give credit where credit is due. And that is to God, who makes all things possible for us.

- Romans 15:5

We cannot earn God’s grace. It is a gift He gives to all who come to Him. Lying at the Savior’s feet, the woman caught in adultery probably thought her fate was sealed. The punishment for adultery was stoning.

Yet, suddenly and unpredictably, Jesus offered her a second chance. Warren Wiersbe writes, “For Jesus to forgive this woman meant that He had to one day died for her sins.” Forgiveness is free but it is not cheap.

Jesus was not soft on sin. “Nor is Christ’s gracious forgiveness an excuse to sin,” continues Wiersbe. “Go and sin no more!” was our Lord’s counsel… Certainly the experience of gracious forgiveness would motivate the penitent sinner to live a holy and obedient life to the glory of God. Grace is given so that we may know and accept what Jesus Christ did at Calvary.

Each of us wants to know there is hope for a second chance when we fail to reach a goal, yield to sin, or fall short of what we’ve been instructed to do. Second chances are particularly important when sin is involved and feelings of guilt mount. How many of us have not longed for God’s cleansing touch when convicted of wrongful actions?

W. E. Vine defines sin as “a missing of the mark.” Sin always falls short of God’s best for your life.

Even before you knew Christ, He knew you and loved you so much that He came to earth to give you a second chance at life: Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were God’s supreme brush stroke of grace across the canvas of creation. He is the embodiment of all hope and grace. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord Savior, his life is alive within you, and His grace is sufficient to meet and remove every hint of sin’s stain.

Jesus said in John 8:11, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

After the Pharisees departed, Jesus looked at the woman lying at His feet. That was not the first time she had committed such an act, but it was the first time she had appeared before Jesus. There was no doubt in her mind that He was a man of God. Jesus did not condemn the woman but instead, challenged her accusers to throw the first stone if one of them was found without sin.

Perhaps, there is something in your life you wish you could erase. Just the thought of it brings feelings of condemnation and sorrow. Adultery was an act that the law declared punishable by stoning. Yet, Jesus set the woman free of any charge.

He gave her a second chance and that is what He gives you. If there is something you have done, know that when you bring it to God in prayer seeking His forgiveness, it is forgiven. God will never bring the matter up again. His Son’s death in Calvary was sufficient payment for all your sins. Only God Almighty can love you that much.

If you are curious to know what the heart of the Gospel of John is, then I encourage you to continue reading this article.

What is eternal life in Jesus? In the Gospel of John chapter 3 verses 1-2, Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Unlike other Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin Council, Nicodemus remain humble in spite of his being powerful, successful, and a scholar. He was willing to learn from Jesus and spoke highly of him, calling Him Rabbi. Nicodemus wanted to go to heaven, and so he asked Jesus how. Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Jesus is an all-knowing God. He knows the hearts of men, so He knew there was hunger in the heart of Nicodemus, who asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he” (John 3:4)? Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

What is born of water and Spirit? John 3:7 says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Jesus is saying after we are born physically, we must be born again, spiritually. John 3:7-8 says, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”

What is born again? Ephesians 5:26 says, “So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word.” “Her” refers to the church. “Water” refers to the Word of God. So, the Word of God will sanctify you. Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”

Now, Nicodemus seems lost by the way he threw in questions about salvation. Nicodemus thought he was saved. He knew he was a good person, godly person and respected by many. He trusted in his own efforts and good deeds. He failed to understand the meaning of faith in Jesus and did not experience the Spirit of God in his life He asked Jesus, “How can these things be” (John 3:9)?

Curious to know if Nicodemus understood it all after his conversation with the Lord?  Did he change? Yes; he understood. In John 7:50-51, the Scripture tells us that Nicodemus defended Jesus against those who wanted to kill him. When Jesus died, Nicodemus helped give a decent burial (John 19:39-40).

What must I do to become born again? Coming to Jesus is a personal decision to make. It is actually the best decision we could ever make in this life. It’s a decision with willingness to change. When you receive the Spirit of God, your life is transformed. You can be born of the Spirit if you will accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Jesus took your place and paid for your sin by dying on the cross. Admit that you are a sinner and accept God’s gift of eternal life. It was God who took the initiative to send Jesus to die for us. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world…” God knows your need. He knows that you cannot save yourself. He cares for you. He wants you to be born again. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John14:6). If you want to experience being born again, accept God’s solution.

There are many prerogatives which Jesus claims regarding His deity.  Here’s what you need to know.

First, His claim to forgive sins.  When the paralytic was lowered through the roof by His friends, Jesus did not respond with a comment about the man’s physical condition or his need of healing.  Rather, his initial comment was “My son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).

Second, Jesus speaks also of judging the world (Matthew 25:31-46). He will sit on His glorious throne and divide the sheep from the goats.  The power of judging the spiritual condition and assigning the eternal destiny of all people belongs to Him.  Certainly this is a power which only God can exercise.

Third, the authority which Jesus claimed and exercised is also clearly seen with respect to the Sabbath.  The sacredness of the Sabbath had been established by God (Exodus 20:8-11).  Only God could abrogate or modify this regulation.  Yet consider what happened when Jesus’ disciples picked heads of grain on the Sabbath and the Pharisees objected that the Sabbath regulations were being violated.  Jesus responded by pointing out that David had violated one of the laws by eating of the bread reserved for the priests.  Then, turning directly to the situation at hand, Jesus asserted: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).  He was clearly claiming the right to redefine the status of the Sabbath, a right which belongs only to someone virtually equal to God.

Fourth, Jesus is also claiming an unusual relationship with the Father.  Jesus claims to be one with the Father (John 10:30); and that to see and know him is to see and know the Father (John 14:7-9).  There is a claim to pre-existence in his statement in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”  Another allusion to pre-existence is found in John 3:13, where Jesus asserts, “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.”  There is also a claim to simultaneous and co-terminus working with the Father: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).

Fifth, the clearest indication of Jesus’ self understanding is found in connection with his trial and condemnation.   The charge according to John’s account was that “he has made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7).  Matthew reports the high priest to have said at the trial, “I adjure you by the living God; tell us, if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63).  Jesus replied, “You have said so.  But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64).

Sixth, Jesus also accepted the attribution of deity to him by his disciples.  The clearest case of this is his response to Thomas’ statement, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).  Here was an excellent opportunity to correct a misconception (if that is what it was), but Jesus did not do so.  Seventh, Jesus made his most emphatic statement in his words to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

Believing in the deity of Christ is an important requirement for our salvation.  Denying Christ is denying his death and resurrection and thereby denying the assurance of our salvation.  We have to believe in what Jesus says: “I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.  NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME” (John 14:6).