Whereas in
John 3, we are given a passage on
how to be born again, which says simply to believe in Christ; in
Romans 10 we are given a passage saying, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." But we also find in the same chapter the words "How shall they call upon on him in whom they have not believed?"
This then is the question:
Are we saved by believing, or by calling upon the name of the Lord (the Lord Jesus)? And exactly what does it mean to "call upon the name of the Lord"?
No we are not.
My friend, God's word does not tell anyone, anywhere,
how to be born again.
Please read the book of John again, start to finish, carefully.
Here's what I see:
In chapter 3, the Lord Jesus is telling Nicodemus what must happen for a person to see the kingdom of God...
He is even telling him other things that must occur ( belief on Him ) and that those that do believe,
have ( John 3:36 ), not "will have", everlasting life;
But He also tells Nicodemus that the Spirit works where
He will ( John 3:8 )...
That is the key.
Back in chapter 1, we find that those that have received Him are those who
were born
of God...what's more, they were
not born of God by blood ( inheritance ), nor of their own will, and not of the will of others ( John 1:11-13 ). In other words, the reason they received Him, was that they
were born of God.
In chapter 3, the Lord Jesus is not contradicting this.
He is stating why God gave His Son, and what will happen for
those that believe.
Therefore, if
you've believed on Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, it's
because you already
have that life, which is to know God and His Son ( John 17:3 ).
The question to answer ( for anyone here ) is this:
"Have I been born again from above?"
The evidence of that is the unreserved belief of His every word ( John 8:47, all of them, see Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4 ) and the sincere desire to obey Him.
If this is true of you, then
thank God for His great kindness and mercy towards you through Jesus Christ!
Also, to call upon the name of the Lord is to pray to Him, from the heart, and to thank Him for the things that we have received from Him ( like that afore-mentioned grace and mercy ), and to ask Him for the things that we need in this life.
May God bless you in your studies.