Bible Question:

I accept heard explanations about 'existence born of water and the Spirit' using Ezekiel 36, but they seem to be as well much of a stretch. In light of Genesis 1:two-three and 2 Corinthians four:6, could beingness 'built-in of water and the Spirit' simply hateful being made 'a new creation'? Is information technology wrong to teach others like that?

Bible Answer:

In that location are various opinions most the significant of the phrase "born of water and the Spirit" in John 3:5.

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to y'all, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5 (NASB)

In that location are three chief opinions as to the meaning of this phrase. The context of whatever passage of Scripture helps us decide the significant. Therefore, nosotros must call up that in John 3:three-4 Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born once more in order to see the kingdom of heaven. Then Nicodemus asked how he could be born a second time.

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to y'all, unless ane is born again he cannot encounter the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How tin a human being be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second fourth dimension into his mother's womb and be born, tin can he?" John 3:3-4 (NASB)

Can a man enter his mother'due south womb a second time in order to be born once more? These two verses assist u.s.a. sympathise the meaning of the phrase "born of water and the Spirit."

Born of water and the Spirit - John 3:5

First View – Amniotic Fluid and The Holy Spirit

The commencement view believes the phrase "born of water and the Spirit" refers to being born again in John 3:3. That is, the amniotic water corresponds to "born of water" and "the Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit. Advocates of this view reason that "born of water" refers to the physical birth and "the Spirit" refers to a Christian's spiritual birth. Thus, believers are built-in twice or "born once more."

There are two major issues with this view. First, there is no scriptural support for this view. Since neither the Former or New Testaments accept a similar statement, there is no supporting bear witness for this theory. 2d, when John 3:iii refers to existence "born again," it does not refer to being born twice. The Greek word for "born once again" is anothen which literally ways "born from above." John 3:seven, 31; 19:11; James 1:17; 3:15, 17 containanothen. Almost every Bible translation, including the KJV, translates the word as "from above" in each passage. That is, Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born from higher up. Nicodemus' reply reveals that he was confused and did non understand. He did not think nigh a spiritual nativity; but instead he idea about concrete nascency. This view has serious problems.

Second View – Water Baptism and The Holy Spirit

Others merits that "born of h2o and the Spirit" refers to Christian water baptism and the Holy Spirit. They country that Jesus was instituting water baptism equally a requirement for conservancy and the Holy Spirit every bit then imparting new life through regeneration (Titus 3:5-6).

However, there are four reasons why this view is wrong. Kickoff, baptism for eternal life was never taught by John the Baptist or Jesus Christ. It is not possible to observe any verse that connects eternal life with baptism. Information technology is of import to notice that John four:1-2 tells us that Jesus "was non baptizing."  If baptism was then essential for eternal life, why didn't Jesus cognominate? Second, Romans 6:1-7 teaches united states that baptism is a symbol of identification of a Christian dying to his or her old self and rising to new life in Christ. It was not instituted for the church until after the death of Christ. Third, Nicodemus would non accept understood Christian baptism since it was not taught in the Former Testament and was non taught until after Christ's death and resurrection. The 4th reason to reject this view is that if baptism is so essential to proceeds eternal life, why is baptism never mentioned again in John 3 or a following chapter in the volume of John?  Why did Jesus not include baptism in John 3:16 or in verse 36? 5th, the major passage that is normally quoted as proving Christian baptism is necessary for salvation is Acts ii:38. Merely what is usually missed in the interpretation of Acts 2:38 is that repentance is interchangeable with saving organized religion (Luke 5:32; 13:five). Repentance is not identical with saving faith, but repentance and saving religion occur together. Therefore, to presume that baptism is what saves a person, makes baptism the real requirement for salvation and ignores John iii:sixteen; Romans 5:1-2 and Ephesians 2:8-10 which teach that faith is required for eternal life. Since Ephesians ii:8-nine teaches that nosotros are not saved by works, this excludes baptism as being necessary for salvation.

Tertiary View – Cleansing From Sin and New Life By the Spirit

The tertiary view recognizes that Nicodemus would accept been familiar with Ezekiel 36:25-27 since he was a teacher of State of israel (John three:10).  Yet, he still did not understand the verse in its fullest sense. Ezekiel 36:25-27 reads equally follows,

And so I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be make clean; I will cleanse yous from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new middle and put a new spirit within you; and I volition remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of mankind. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you volition be conscientious to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NASB)

The most important betoken about this passage is the repeated argument of "I will." Observe that we are told God will "sprinkle clean water on you," "cleanse you from all," "give yous a new eye," "put a new spirit within in you," "remove the heart of stone," "put My Spirit within you" and "cause you to walk in My statues." Now we will observe the meaning of these actions that God performs for Christians. Sprinkling clean water symbolizes forgiveness of sins. Washing with h2o was normally associated with purification among the Jews (John 3:25-26). Hebrews one:3 and 2 Peter ane:9 illustrates that purification also symbolized the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 5:26 illustrates this truth. Titus 3:5 connects the washing of water with the ministry of regeneration and renewing past the Holy Spirit. In fact the bulletin of John 7:37-39 is that living water is likewise symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should understand Ezekiel 36:25-27 equally the work of God. God the Father forgives and the Holy Spirit regenerates and renews every true Christian. The Holy Spirit dwells within each believer. Who will cause this to happen? The answer is our God to a higher place!

At present remember that Jesus told Nicodemus that he must exist born "from higher up." John 1:13 repeats the same truth that salvation is the work of God and not something that we perform.

But every bit many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, fifty-fifty to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of claret nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of homo, but of God. John one:12-xiii (NASB)

Notice the passage says we are born by the volition of God. We are non in command. Our human wills are non the deciding factor.

Conclusion:

Jesus' message to Nicodemus was that conservancy is the work of God and not the piece of work of man. Conservancy comes from higher up and involves human choice — human will. It is likewise important to notice that in John 3:6, Jesus teaches that spiritual life or eternal life is the event of the Spirit and not the work of human being. At this point some individuals worry that they might not be able to become a Christian. But the message of the passage is that if you believe in Christ and want to get a Christian, and then you demonstrate that God has already caused yous to exist born from to a higher place. He has chosen y'all and John three:sixteen is true for you!

If yous are not a Christian, we encourage you to read "Searching for God" and/or contact united states.

Suggested Links:

Searching for God
How can I be born again? What does it hateful to exist born once more?
Is John 3:5 about cloning, human being nascence, or the Holy Spirit?
The Bible never says that we don't have to be baptized to be saved.
Is Baptism Required For Conservancy?
Exercise you believe that baptism is a part of salvation?