2007-01-31 17:12:14 · 9 answers · asked by X 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Baptism.
2007-01-31 17:14:49 · answer #1 · answered by The Notorious Doctor Zoom Zoom 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus Christ spoke with a very religious man and told him the way to get to heaven. Jesus used an illustration to explain it. He calls it being born again (John 3:3) Jesus specifically uses the word "again" in his statement which leads to the answer to this question.
. Jesus answeres this question when he said "that which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit" (John 3:6)
We are all aware that anyone who is in the world today was born at some point, whether by natural process or what we call C-section. This is what Jesus refers to as being born of water. It is a physical birth. Some statistics- man is made up of mostly water (I'm not sure the exact percentage, but as I recall it is in the 90's). Also, just before a baby is born (I do hope I'm not being too crude here) there is a natural phenomenon commonly called a water break. Again a natural physical condition of natural human birth. So in essence Jesus first says that in order to go to heaven you must first be a person who was born (that includes us all).
The second part one is very similar, but it deals with something that is unseen by human eyes. Just as you cannot have physical life without birth, you cannot have spiritual life without birth. Hence if you have no spiritual life then you cannot go to heaven, just as someone who is not born does not live on the earth. So the question then is how does one get spiritually born?
The simple answer to this spiritual birth can be found in John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Lets look at a couple key words here.
1. whosoever- break it into 3 words "Who" "So" "ever" the simple definition is "anyone"
2. Everlasting- How long is everlasting? It has no end. It has a beginning, but it never has an end ("Ever" and "lasting"= lasting forever)
3. Life- the existence of man. We know, however, that man does not live forever here on earth. People die every day. So Jesus must not be talking about a physical life that lasts forever. He speaks of a spiritual life that lasts forever.
How then do we get born in the spirit? We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that he is equal with God and the he died on a cross to pay a debt (sin) that we could not pay.
Romans 3:23- For all have sinned (done bad things) and come short of the glory of God
Romans 6:23- For the wages (earnings) of sin (bad things we do- that includes lies) is death, but the gift of God is eternal (same as everlasting) life through Jesus Christ (the same Jesus who spoke with the religious man) our Lord.
Romans 10:9-10- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (forgiveness/good things); and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Does that help clear it up? I'd be more than happy to help you understand it more if I have not been clear.
2007-02-01 01:51:42 · answer #2 · answered by joellozon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Born in water... You've heard a woman's water breaking right before birth... That's what it is refering to... Natural human birth..
Born in the Spirit means you have made a commitment to Jesus Christ and your soul have new life breathed into it by the Holy Spirit.
2007-02-01 01:17:38 · answer #3 · answered by James B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi X. Before Christ came, John the Baptist baptized with water. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 3:11we read:
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
When Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit, He gives us a new Soul, we are Born Again, we are no longer slaves of Satan, we become slaves of God. In Romans 6:22 God tells us:
"But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life."
Jesus was baptized in water, and so was I, but the truth is water baptism will only wash the filth from your flesh and nothing more.
2007-02-01 01:29:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We in modern times insulate ourselves from nature, so this is not so easy for us to see.
When baby's are born, they're born in water (the woman's water breaking is the first sign of labor). Baptism is not just a symbol of cleansing but of rebirth, being born of water.
Being born again is the second part.
(You'd be surprised how many statements like this become clear if you read other ancient manuscripts.)
2007-02-01 01:18:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peace!
Once you are baptised you become a new creation according to St. Paul. So anyone who is baptised in the Catholic Church has been born again even if that person is a infant.
2007-02-01 01:36:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Luke 20:34-36 as angel and do not die.
2007-02-01 01:22:39 · answer #7 · answered by jeni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's means you've gone around bend and your return to the world of reality will be that more difficult
2007-02-01 01:21:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You've been baptized.
2007-02-01 01:16:41 · answer #9 · answered by Chetaraparker 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋