Being Born Again

[Brother_Don]

Liquid water is the most abundant molecule in the human body, additional water is found in hydrated compounds. About 30-40% of weight of the human body is skeleton, but when the bound water is removed, either by chemical desiccation or heat, half the weight is lost. The amount of water in the human body ranges from 50-75%. The average human body is 50-65% water, averaging around 57-60%.

 

[JaumeJ]

Reading through some of the post and replies it is clear some here are not reading what Yeshua, Jesus, is teaching. He is speaking to Nicodemus here, explaining how one must be born again, of the Holy Spirit, as opposed to simply being born.

He is talking about birth and rebirth, simple, and from the Master.

 

[SeaBass]

Please read within the context of what Jesus is saying, it is not long, the two sentences explain it. No one is born again by water immersion, however all who receive the Holy Spirit are born again into the Kingdom. It does sound as though the reference to water could be water baptism until you read what the Master goes on to say, equating the two thoughts as one..

Born of water IS water immersion/water baptism

 

[JaumeJ]

It is easy to understand if one has been told this all his life, he would find it difficult to believe, but Yeshua is telling Nicodemus he must be born again of the Holy Spirit, not only of flesh. Just as Nicodemus, many are fighting what Yeshua teaches here. First in line 5, He mentions water and Spirit, then in line 6 He expounds on this, and explains this. I have been baptized in water, but that was long after I received the Holy Spirit. I was born again by the Holy Spirit, Who convinced me of the Salvation that is Yeshua, Jesus. This is the case with many believers, even Paul.

Born of water IS water immersion/water baptism

 

[Vernon]

I agree with the OP, water in this text does not refer to baptism, but refers to being born on this earth. It would imply that Jesus came specifically to save those born on this earth, Jesus being the conduit by which humanity can be born from above. Only those who are born again through Jesus Christ can see God. The physical reality we find ourselves in is perishing, but the spiritual reality where Christ is shall never perish, and those who enter into the spiritual reality of Jesus Christ have everlasting life.

 

[crossnote]

Jesus, Yeshua, explains line 3:5 in line 3:6, so if you have a dispute take it up with the Lord. If you truly ask and in spirit, He will enlighten you on ths. As He already did in His discourse above.

I did, and it's definitely not your take on water=flesh.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

NIcodemus a teacher in Israel was supposed to know this.

 

[Cobus]

Seabass you are out of the water and out of your depth.... You have no idea, like i fish out of water.... between you and aligator we cover all the water we can handle.... hahahaha you two are out of the water...

 

[Hungry]

I don't see how this is a difficult teaching. It's not the act of a baptism that saves, it's the representation. When we come out of the womb, we are new. When we get in the water for baptism it is a choice we make, to be "washed", and be reborn. We are again new, not because of the water, because of our choice. For many people an event marks the beginning of a commitment, like marriage. The baptism was a solid event that marked the day they were reborn, spiritual, and died to their carnal nature.

 

[JaumeJ]

Once more, Yeshua is in conversation with Nicodemus explaining to him that he must be born again of the Spirit. Line 6, from the Master, is explaining line 5.

Again, I was baptized in water after having received the Holy Spirit, long after. This has happened in this order for many, including Paul. I was reborn from my natural birth into the Body of Yeshua.

Quotes about water in other contexts elsewhere in the Word may be valid, but here the explanation is from the Lord. It is not my take, it is from the Master.

This is not a personal interpretation, it is what the Lord, Yeshua, teaches us via His conversation with Nicodemus.

 

[JaumeJ]

I feel it is important I share this, another meaning of water in the Word. When Yeshua returned to the disciples in the boat, the seas were raging. When He entered the boat with the believing disciples, He spoke the Word and calmed the waters.

The waters here are the nations and mankind raging under His Feet. He calmed the waters with His command, and the believers with Him were saved, and came to the other shore. I need not go into the water and the living water in the teaching about the Samaritan woman at the well, the well of Jacob, which has all levels of meaning.
The water at the wedding was changed to wine. The ruler of the wedding party said usually the best wine is served first, yet you have saved the best wine for last. No one new how this occurred, but the servants knew, just as do we. Water is life here, and the wine is life after coming to Yeshua, Jesus. Now this is my understanding, not to be argued because it is my understanding. The Lord will tell me if it is a sinful or wrong understanding when it is His time, but until then it is not an argument, just a share with the family, that is, those who love the body of Yeshua.

All the above are different representations of water throughout the Word, but most times it is mankind, that is, flesh, or life.

 

[john832]

Born of water IS water immersion/water baptism

Sometimes we disagree but you nailed this one 100 over 100.

 

[svedbygrace]

Being Born Again

That comes from Christ's Resurrection 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The word begotten means as the greek word anagennaó:


I beget again, beget into a new life.

 

[Patnubay]

This is a very interesting and beautiful topic. Members contributing are so full of wisdom making the discussion very revealing and mind blowing. But I'm just wondering, how come there are so much sarcasm among senior members? I'm new.

 

[damombomb]

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples [SUP]2 [/SUP]and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[SUP][a][/SUP] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
[SUP]3 [/SUP]So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” [SUP]5 [/SUP]On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [SUP]6 [/SUP]When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[SUP][b][/SUP] and prophesied. [SUP]7 [/SUP]There were about twelve men in all.
Acts19 Paul


Acts 2:38-39 Peter

[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

 

[Larry_Stotle]

Joh 3:5 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.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.


In John 3:5 Jesus, Yeshua, tells us we must be born of water and of the Spirit or we cannot enter the Kingdom of God, Elohim.
Water represents the flesh, as many times we read of waters, walking on the water, the waters raging etc. All these references are to the flesh or nations. (There are times when water refers to life, eternal and of this age.) Yeshua even elaborates on this declaration in His next sentence, John 3:6. Flesh (water) is flesh, and Spirit is spirit.
If you know and believe Yeshua, Jesus, is the Only Begotten Son of Yahweh, this confidence can only be from having received the Holy Spirt, for only by the Holy Spirit do we know Jesus, Yeshua, is the Salvation of Yahweh, God. Praise Yahweh, He is worthy, not us, amen.

While I agree that water is often used figuratively of the nations as distinct from Israel I believe Jesus is not applying this figuratively.

All "men" are born of flesh otherwise they would not exist to be born of the spirit - so being born of water is not being born of the flesh.

Water in the above means baptism.

And it is more than likely that Christ is speaking in reference to this:

(Mat 3:11 KJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

 

[SeaBass]

It is easy to understand if one has been told this all his life, he would find it difficult to believe, but Yeshua is telling Nicodemus he must be born again of the Holy Spirit, not only of flesh. Just as Nicodemus, many are fighting what Yeshua teaches here. First in line 5, He mentions water and Spirit, then in line 6 He expounds on this, and explains this. I have been baptized in water, but that was long after I received the Holy Spirit. I was born again by the Holy Spirit, Who convinced me of the Salvation that is Yeshua, Jesus. This is the case with many believers, even Paul.

The bible has been telling me all the years I have been studying that born of water = water baptism.

Jn 3:5-------------spirit+++++++++born of water>>>>>>>>>in the kingdom
1Cor12:13---------spirit++++++++++baptized>>>>>>>>>>>>in the body
Tts 3:5-----------Holy Ghost+++++washing of reg>>>>>>>>saved

Since there is just one way to be saved, then all three verses must express the exact same thing:

born of water = baptized = washing of regeneration
Spirit = Spirit = Holy Ghost
in the kingdom = in the body = saved


Too simple to understand.

 

[SeaBass]

Seabass you are out of the water and out of your depth.... You have no idea, like i fish out of water.... between you and aligator we cover all the water we can handle.... hahahaha you two are out of the water...

I just accept Jn 3:5 for what it says. I am not part of those that try to change it to fit their man-made doctrines.


Jn 3:5-------------spirit+++++++++born of water>>>>>>>>>in the kingdom
1Cor12:13---------spirit++++++++++baptized>>>>>>>>>>>>in the body
Tts 3:5-----------Holy Ghost+++++washing of reg>>>>>>>>saved

Since there is just one way to be saved, then all three verses must express the exact same thing:

born of water = baptized = washing of regeneration
Spirit = Spirit = Holy Ghost
in the kingdom = in the body = saved


Too simple to understand.

A person would have to great effort to purposely misunderstand this simplicity.

 

[doseofreality]

More speculation about the meaning of English words written in Greek by a man who is quoting a man who lived 70 years earlier and spoke Aramaic....

 

[SeaBass]

I don't see how this is a difficult teaching. It's not the act of a baptism that saves, it's the representation. When we come out of the womb, we are new. When we get in the water for baptism it is a choice we make, to be "washed", and be reborn. We are again new, not because of the water, because of our choice. For many people an event marks the beginning of a commitment, like marriage. The baptism was a solid event that marked the day they were reborn, spiritual, and died to their carnal nature.

It's not the water that saves, it is the act of obeying God, doing God's righteousness in obeying His command to be water baptized that God saves.

It was not the water that cleansed Naaman's disease, but his act of obeying God in going and dipping 7 times that God cleansed him.

[But this will not stop the false straw-man claim that I am saying water saves.]

 

[john832]

That comes from Christ's Resurrection 1 Pet 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The word begotten means as the greek word anagennaó:


I beget again, beget into a new life.

Ask your wife if there is a difference between begettal and birth. I'll bet she can give you a clear answer.