This post is based on a message from Pastor Todd Cosenza, given at Hope Church on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Click the link at the bottom of the page to watch the entire message.

Back to the Beginning: Fully Opening the Gift of Salvation

Some of us treat salvation like a beautiful gift basket that sits at the center of the table — admired, appreciated, but never fully opened.

Yes, a home in heaven is part of that basket, but there is so much more inside. Peace, identity, freedom, power, and purpose — all wrapped up in the gift of salvation.

But what keeps us from opening it completely? Often, it’s just one thing.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’”
— John 3:1–2 (NIV)

Even though Nicodemus was a Pharisee — a member of a group often opposed to Jesus — God still revealed truth to him. Just like He did with John the Baptist, who lived in the desert and ate bugs.

Never underestimate or dismiss someone because of their associations or background. God loves to reveal Himself through unexpected people.

Nicodemus recognized something powerful: the miracles of Jesus were flowing directly from His connection with the Father.

You Must Be Born Again

“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’”
— John 3:3 (NIV)

Being “born again” means starting over — completely. This is the key.

You can’t simply add Jesus to your existing plans and priorities. He doesn’t come to be part of your life — He invites you into His.

Jesus doesn’t offer us life; He is life.

Tear It Down to Build It New

The truth is, our lives — no matter how put-together they look — are a mess. We need to stop asking Jesus to repair the old structure.

Instead, give Him permission to tear it down completely.

He will rebuild something entirely new — with a stronger foundation, better rooms, and a new design that reflects His glory.

Salvation isn’t the Lord’s hospital where we go to be healed; it’s the Lord’s funeral home, where we die — and then come out in resurrection life.

The Two Births

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”
— John 3:4–5 (NIV)

Salvation is God’s offer — but it also requires our response.

• Baptism by water: We identify with Jesus’ death and resurrection. The old self is buried.
• Baptism by the Holy Spirit: We are empowered and transformed from the inside out.

There must be a death of self first.

We are saved by grace through faith.
Grace is God’s hand reaching to us;
Faith is our hand reaching back to Him.

Flesh vs. Spirit

“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
— John 3:6 (NIV)

Everything broken in our lives — sin, shame, sickness, regret — comes through our flesh birth.

Every blessing, every good thing — comes through the Spirit birth.

You can only identify with one.

You can keep identifying with the flesh — your past, your pain, your victimhood — or you can identify with the Spirit and receive everything God has for you.

• What you give birth to in the flesh, you must sustain.
• But what God births in the Spirit, He will sustain and grow.

The Wind of the Spirit

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
— John 3:7–8 (NIV)

You can’t see the wind, but you can see its effect.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit moves through your life in visible ways — bringing peace where there was chaos, hope where there was despair.

People may look at you and wonder, “What’s different about them?”

It’s the Spirit of God.

Daily Surrender

You can’t just invite God into your life and expect to experience His true life.

He is inviting you into His.

This is a daily invitation — not just a one-time decision when you received salvation. It is continual surrender.

“Lord, tear down whatever needs to be torn down. Build and rebuild whatever You want, whenever You want.”

God is not concerned with our comfort — He is concerned with our transformation.

Even the “good things” from a previous season may need to be torn down to make room for what’s next.

If you hold onto the old, you can’t receive the new.

A Prayer to Return to the Beginning

Lord, I’m willing for there to be a death in order to experience Your life.
Tear down whatever You need to. Build and rebuild as You please.
Take me back to the beginning. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Final Thoughts

Salvation is not just a future promise — it’s a present invitation.

Not to patch up your old life, but to live fully in His.

Let’s stop admiring the gift basket.
Let’s open it — all of it.
And step into the life Jesus died to give us.