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Danville Enlightener VOL. VIII, No. 8
Born of Water“I always thought the water referred to our physical birth.” This is said about the Lord’s statement to Nicodemus in Jn 3:5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Interestingly this “understanding” of Jesus’ words is fairly common. That is, “water” means one’s initial birth of being delivered from the water sac within the mother’s womb. This position is taken, not because the context demands it, but because of water baptism. There are those who denigrate the necessity of being baptized in water, especially if it is contended that baptism is essential for salvation. If “water” in Jn 3:5 does refer to baptism, then no clearer text can be supplied that shows without water baptism one cannot enter the kingdom of God. Those who contend Jesus does not mean water baptism but instead means one’s physical birth have it wrong for several reasons that I will mention. But first, let’s consider the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn 3:1-6). Among the reasons we must reject the “physical birth theory”
would include these proofs.
(1) Jesus
is speaking to a
man who
had already been born (delivered from his mother’s womb - water sac). (2) Nicodemus mistakenly believed Jesus was discussing reentering the womb and reemerging from the water sac. (3) Jesus is not going to strengthen Nicodemus’ misunderstanding by continuing to emphasize the physical birth. (4) Instead, Jesus corrects Nicodemus’ misunderstanding of reentering the water sac. And (6) Jesus - in verse 5 - is explaining what he initially said in verse three because Nicodemus had thoroughly misconstrued Jesus’ meaning. Note the question being asked by Nicodemus in verse 4, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” The question was being asked because of the statement of Christ in verse 3. Therefore, the Lord’s answer, in verse 5, to Nicodemus’ question is an explanation of verse 3. So we must then compare the two statements of Jesus from verses 3 and 5 that are separated only by the question of Nicodemus.
Born again in verse three is identified as born of water and the Spirit in verse five. It is unrealistic to conclude that Jesus means two completely different things. Obviously Jesus identifies being born again with being born of water and the Spirit. Therefore, instead of discussing two births (natural/water) and (spiritual/Spirit) Jesus reveals that two separate and important essentials comprise the new birth, namely water and the Spirit. Consider also that in Jn 3:5 the phrase born of water and the Spirit, in the Greek, does not have the article “the” for either the words water or Spirit, thus indicating there is no separation of terms. That is, Jesus cannot be speaking about two completely different terms such as (1) THE water (physical birth) and (2) THE Spirit (spiritual birth), because “the” is not found with either water or Spirit. The Greek phrase is “gennao hudor pneuma” (born [of] water [and] Spirit). That is, Jesus, when speaking of this new birth is making it clear that it comes by water and Spirit. He is not, nor can he be, discussing two separate events such as natural birth and spiritual birth. The apostle Peter writes about this new birth in 1 Pet 1:22-23. And his writing is revealing and helpful in our efforts to understand better the Lord’s teaching in Jn 3.
The purification of the soul (vs. 22) is accomplished when one obeys the truth; this is called in verse 23 being born again. This identifies the medium through which the Holy Spirit works in accomplishing the new birth; the truth. In verse 25 Peter further identifies this “truth” as, “the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” It is through the preaching of the inspired word of God that the Holy Spirit convicts the heart of the sinner. James said, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures,” (Jas 1:18). And when the gospel demand to be baptized in water is obeyed one is born again. Those being saved in the Bible were being born again. And each one who was born again was born again in the exact same manner. That is, through the preaching of the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit, Eph 6:17) and obedience to the command to be baptized in water; thus, born of water and Spirit.
-- jrb
"As I See It" Ray and Ralph had a serious falling out and they no longer speak to each other. Both are brothers-in-Christ, Christians, although they do attend different local churches. They would often see each other at gospel meetings and even socialized when the opportunities allowed. In times past they studied their Bibles together and soon learned they agreed almost “right down the line.” “Why, my wife and I don’t agree on the Bible as much as we do” Ray told Ralph once. This accord eventually was broken, ruthlessly. It happened suddenly and soon it became ugly. What was remarkable was the fact it had nothing to do with one of them going into apostasy. They continued to believe what they always believed and they continued to worship God where they always worshiped. Now, however, when they saw each other at gospel meetings, they refused to speak. Instead of sitting together and going out for pie and coffee afterwards, they sat on opposite sides of the auditorium and exited through different doors. Each has deemed the other as unworthy of fellowship and this also extends to the respective congregations. Now anyone who attends where Ray attends is shunned by Ralph and anyone worshiping with Ralph is not spoken to by Ray. Their children used to get together with other young Christians for Bible studies and singing, not anymore. Both families forbid their young people to associate because of being in the presence of the “children of the accursed.” Ralph hears that the church where Ray attends has been successful in reaching the lost, but Ralph does not rejoice. He snarls and says the conversions didn’t do the lost any good. Ray hears that Ralph has been forced out at work and Ray can’t seem to keep his pleasure under wraps. Lines are drawn and sides are chosen; others are now deciding whom to pick. Ralph and Ray are more than happy to make their case so now this vitriol has spread to other local churches. Those churches siding with Ray won’t have anything to do with ones siding with Ralph. And, you got it, those who like Ralph won’t announce the meetings of churches having anything to do with Ray. AS I SEE IT, since these can’t love one another on earth, it is doubtful they will be together in heaven (Phil 4:1-3). Oh, what was the falling out over? Ralph and Ray could not agree on the advantages or disadvantages associated with home schooling. |