thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
**Scripture is from the King James Version Bible.
2007-04-25 05:23:00 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Those who say baptism ARE WRONG!!! IMO
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
When a person hears the Word (Water) and accepts it (Spirit) he is saved and will go to Heaven.
Water cannot wash away sins! Only the blood of Christ can.
2007-04-25 05:32:33 · answer #1 · answered by shambo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are several interpretations of what the water represents. 1) physical birth, the water from the womb. 2) baptist in water 3) water in other scripture is a symbol for the word of God 4) water may refer to the Holy Spirit 5) Or that born of water means to receive the water of cleansing prophesied in Ezekiel 36:25-28 as part of the New Covenant.
Given that Jesus says it is a requirement for entering the kingdom of God, it is certainly important enough to seek an answer from God himself as to what it means in your life.
2007-04-25 05:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by m m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is talking about baptism. This is another verse that confirms that baptism IS necessary for salvation.
It is NOT talking about the water of the womb, or the water of the word or anything else that some would lead you to believe. These "definitiions" are used by those religions that teach salvation without baptism is possible. It is an attempt to "stretch the truth" about the verse and manipulate it to their "version".
Other verses also state that Baptism is absolutely necessary.
Many religious people think, “He who believes is saved and should be baptized.” But Christ Jesus said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Some teach, “Baptism does not save us.” But the inspired apostle Peter wrote: “There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism” (1 Peter 3:21)! Which should we accept - the teaching of men, or the plain statements of the Word of God (John 12:48)?
What is necessary to save man from his sins? It takes God’s part which is grace (Ephesians 2:8), mercy (Titus 3:5), Christ Jesus (Matthew 1:21); His life (Romans 5:10); His blood (Romans 5:9); and the Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It also takes man’s part which is faith (Romans 5:1); works (James 2:24); calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13); hope (Romans 8:24); our effort (Acts 2:40); and being baptized (1 Peter 3:21). The Bible does not teach that man is saved by anything alone! God, through His Word, the Bible, says it takes ALL of these things to save us from our sins. To deny such is to deny the Word of God!
2007-04-25 05:41:01 · answer #3 · answered by TG 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Baptism.
Baptism is not necessary for salvation (Acts 2:38). Salvation is by grace through faith and not by works of righteousness ( Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-6 ). But baptism is a work of righteosness ( Matt 3:15 ).
There are 3 basic ways of understanding what Jesus meant by " to be "born out of water".
Some people believe Jesus was talking about water of the womb, since He had just mentioned one's "mother's wom" in the preceding verse. If so, then He was saying 'unles you are born once by water ( at your physical birth ) and then again by the Spirit at you spiritual birth, you cannot be saved.
Others take " born of water" to refer to the " washing of water by the word" ( Eph 5:26 ). They note that Peter refers to being " born again ..through the word of God", the very thing John is speaking about in these verse ( John 3:3,7 ).
Still, others thik that " born of water" refers to baptism of John mentioned ( John 1:26 ). John said that he baptized by water, but Jesus would baptize by the Spirit. ( Matt 3:2 ) , saying , " repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" ( Matt 3:2 ). If this what is meant, then when Jesus said they must be " born of water and the Spirit " ( John 3:5 ) He meant that the Jews of His day had to undergo the baptism of repentance by John and also later the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they could " enter to the kingdom of God" : )
2007-04-25 05:26:19 · answer #4 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus used the word "water" when he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. He uses the word "water" two ways and makes it clear that in the spiritual sense, "water" does not refer to the stuff we drink.
John 4:13-14. Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.'
So John 3:5 is not saying that baptism by water, by the hand of another person, is what is needed for salvation.
2007-04-25 05:45:43 · answer #5 · answered by cmw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is not speaking of baptism here. Water is a scriptural symbol of the Word of God when it is used for cleansing. The Word of God is the instrument used of the Spirit for purifying to perform the new birth.
David attributed the quickening of the Spirit to the Word of God in PSA 119:49-50, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me."
PSA 119:9 says, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
JOH 15:3 tells us, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."
Being born of water means being sanctified by the cleansing power of the Word.
Hope this didn't sound too preachy. All these verses are from the king james version. I would recommend you look at them also in New International Version as well.
2007-04-25 05:38:08 · answer #6 · answered by Moose 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a spiritual sense, Jesus said that one must be “born from water and spirit” in order to enter the Kingdom. This involves being baptized in water and begotten by God’s spirit, thus becoming a son of God with the prospect of sharing in the heavenly Kingdom.
2007-04-25 05:27:56 · answer #7 · answered by grem 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Being born of water is a reference to natural childbirth, being born of spirit refers to the spiritual rebirth. Think about it...if water baptism is a requirement for entering the kingdom of god, how could Jesus have saved the thief on the cross who asked forgiveness?
2007-04-25 05:35:31 · answer #8 · answered by Neica 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Watersor "sea" can sometimes refer to humankind, as in the book of Revelation. In that books it is symbolic. However, when Jesus said "water" in John 3, he is referring to baptism. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river (water) and then a dove (Gods holy spirit) came down and approved him as his anointed one or Messiah. When a person gets baptized, they are showing that they took the 1st step in entering the Kingdom of God. The other steps are practicing or exercising their faith.
Faith without works, is dead. Matthew 10:22 says: "He that has endured to the end will be saved.
2007-04-25 05:34:41 · answer #9 · answered by osubuckeye 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What ramjet said.
And many others said the same thing. But yes, the guy right above me is right too!
Baptism does not save us- it is obedience to God.
It is only the blood of Christ that saves us! So you must not confuse the two.
water baptism, being washed clean, symbolism of being born again in the spirit of God-- when we are born of the spirit, after we believe and repent of sin.
Being baptized is our outward expression of our faith to God.
Being cleansed.
Being born again, in the spirit of God- once we believe and repent of sin- we are saved. As John 3:3 says "Unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God"
2007-04-25 05:32:53 · answer #10 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋