Born of Water and the Spirit

The words "Born of water and the Spirit" are rather cryptic and ambiguous and need further explanation. Let us go right to the source. In John chapter 3, Jesus taught Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews the necessity of regeneration.

Nicodemus spoke to Jesus saying, that Jesus must be a teacher from God to perform such miracles as He did. Jesus' reply was, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (v.3). Nicodemus asked Jesus how a man could be born again when he was already old. Could he re-enter his mother's womb? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (v.5) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (v.6). Jesus did not speak always in plain language to the disciples but His words had a deeper meaning. He was misunderstood many times in His speech to His apostles and the public.

The phrase "Born of water and the Spirit" seems quite far fetched to a non believer. However, Jesus was speaking in spiritutal language, unknown to the listener.

Baptism is for the cleansing or redemption of sins whereby they are forgiven by the Lord God and are accepted as children of God. Jesus is God's manifestation of Himself as His Son on earth. Jesus was born of the Spirit of God and therefore He was sinless and He did not need to be baptized in the water. Coming to the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist, who at first refused to baptize Him, He replied, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for this it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:15).

Jesus set an example to the world that baptism by water is necessary to fulfil all righteousness, and not a mere acknowledgment of the faith. In other words, the person must be completely free from sin before God can allow him to enter the Kingdom of God. In the baptism of a believer, the person must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of his sins and accept baptism in water and blood of Jesus to forgive his sins.

When Jesus died on the cross, a soldier pierced his body and water and blood came out. This is a phenomenon! If you prick any part of your body, only blood appears, not water and blood (John 19:34-35).

When Jesus mentioned that a man must be born of water and of the spirit before he could enter into the kingdom of God, He meant that a man must undergo baptism of water and of the Spirit (be filled with the Holy Spirit). Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the world and died as a result to save us from everlasting death.

Without shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22).

How do we acknowledge His blood can cleanse our sins? By fairth when we are baptized in the water that we believe His blood in the water can cleanse our sins.

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Born of water is the first step to the kingdom of God. To be born of water, one must have faith to undergo baptism. Without faith in Christ, no one would wish to be baptized in water. Baptism is a regeneration in biblical terms. Most babies born are of natural birth, but some are induced through Cesarean operation of the womb. There are others whose mothers are submerged in water while giving birth. It is called water birth. Baptism in water must be accompanied by the blood of Jesus which cleanses us of sins. Evidence is supported in the Bible.

1 John 5:6

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1 John 5:8

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three are one.

And finally,

Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are by law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission .

By baptism of water and invoking the blood of Jesus at the time of baptism, the sinner is freed from his own original sin and the sin of his forefather, Adam. Being born again of water makes one a new Babe in Christ. The baby knows next to nothing but craves for milk from the mother who has to teach the new born. The new born in Christ must be fed on milk and not meat. Likewise, the new Christian must be fed with the words of Jesus Christ regularly. It is through baptism that the former self (sinner) dies in the likeness of Jesus death and is resurrected a new born. As a new born child, he grows to mature in Christ.

See: BIBLICAL BAPTISM http://hubpages.com/hub/biblicalbaptism

The Holy Spirit is the ONE TRUE GOD. Ezekiel 36:27 states: "And I (GOD ) will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

From the foregoing two verses of scripture, it is imperative that all worshippers must have the seal of the Holy Spirit in order to worship Him. It is a sign that God has accepted us as His children.

Galatians 4:6

And because ye are sons, God hath send forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15,16

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Born of the Spirit is to be born of the Holy Spirit of God. A new born babe does not know much about anything. As he matures, he begins to grow in stature and to think for himself and makes judgment as he matures in the world. Likewise, a child born of water becomes a sinless being. He has to have the Spirit of God to teach and guide him into a godly soul.

The second hurdle or step to the kingdom of God, which is heaven is to be born of the Spirit. To be born of the Spirit is to have the Spirit of God in your heart which was promised in the Old Testament.

PROPHECY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Jeremiah 31:33,

After these days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 8:10

I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Spirit of God has several gifts, and they are truth, wisdom, holiness, fear of the Lord, judgment, grace and knowledge. The Holy Spirit teaches us how Christians can live a godly life. All the gifts are essential for the growth of the Christian. With the knowledge, wisdom and judgment of God, men would be able to avoid the pitfalls of life and lead a godly and victorious life. The Spirit of judgment imparts good judgment without bias weighing the balances before making a judgment. Holiness is what keeps a Christian from doing things according to their whims, whether right or wrong. You are set apart for God and God alone, ignoring all temptations to do wrong. You have the wisdom to be free of earthly lures and traps that entice you to destruction. Any wrong doing is sin and sin keeps us apart from God. Unless we have the Holy Spirit within us, we would be unable to keep ourselves holy and pure.

1 John 5:17

All unrighteousness is sin:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus ascended into heaven, 120 disciples were praying together in one place when suddenly, the Holy Spirit was poured down on them. "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them (Acts 2:3). And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (v.4).

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will produce fruits of the Spirit and they are listed below in the Bible. The fruits will help you to have love for one another. When you love, you will not want to fight with others of contrasting views, but find ways of reconciliation. You find peace and joy in the world around you. A character of meekness and temperance will not start a fight for his meekness serves him with humility.

Paul said to the Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. (v.23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Throughout 4,000 years of history, man continually sinned against God. The sins of Adam and Eve had passed on to their offspring and continued down the line. Rebellion was in their blood. Was God frustrated? Of course, He was! But God had hoped that things would change when He introduced something new to mankind, and that is, He would write the laws of God in their hearts so mankind would not forget. Before writing, He would give man a chance to repent so man can start afresh as though he is newly born.

God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament and gave mankind of His impending love and longsuffering to forgive sins. Thus He manifested Himself as Jesus, His Son, born of the Spirit on earth to teach mankind how to be born of the water and the Spirit. Praise and thank God for His love and endurance of our sinful nature. Man has the right to redeem himself in th eyes of the Lord. Bless and praise God for His love!

Born of Water and Spirit are two - Let Us Reason Ministries

www.letusreason.org/Biblexp258.htmDVD Video ... Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and ...

BIBLICAL BAPTISM http://hubpages.com/hub/biblicalbaptism

GOD'S MANIFESTATIONS: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND JESUS CHRIST http://hubpages.com/hub/godsmanifestationsholyspiritjesuschrist

GOD'S MANIFESTATION: HOLY SPIRIT (SYMBOLISM)(1) WATER http://hubpages.com/hub/holyspiritsymbolismwater

GOD'S MANIFESTATION: HOLY SPIRIT (SYMBOLISM)(2) FIRE http://hubpages.com/hub/godsmanifestationholyspiritsymbolismfire