Born Again?

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Jruiz

Senior Member
Dec 13, 2013
565
5
18
#1
I've always considered myself born again,however I'm not baptized...how does this work? A Catholic brought this to my attention when he was asked if he was born again by an evangelical Christian. He went on to say nowhere in scripture does it say to ask God into your heart,but that's it's through baptism. This is really confusing for me because I know I'm born-again yet I've never been baptized,although I am going to be baptized at the end of this month...Oh! Notice when jesus was baptized its says the spirit of God rested upon him like a dove...so it seems that you recieve the Holy spirit after baptism. So confusing!


3
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemuswho was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
 

Budman

Senior Member
Mar 9, 2014
4,153
1,998
113
#2
Baptism doesn't save you. Faith in Christ saves you. Baptism is an outward showing of inward conviction. There are many examples in Scripture of people being saved apart from baptism.

The "born of water" thing, is physical birth. Which is why Christ said, "flesh gives birth to flesh."
 
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shotgunner

Guest
#3
"No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they be born of water and of the spirit." Oh how this scripture has been taken out of context. The Greek word here for "and" is also translated as "even", which in this instance would have been a better translation. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water, using water as a representation of the holy Spirit just as he did speaking to the woman at the well. Nicodemus doesn't seem to understand and Jesus adds even of the Spirit. He clarifies and repeats in his next statement what he is speaking of, this time not using water since Nicodemus didn't understand the reference. Jesus then tells Nicodemus that he is not speaking of natural birth as going back into the womb because that which is born of flesh is flesh but that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.

Now having said that, you should be baptized as soon as possible and join yourself to a local group of believers.
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#4
What Budman said.
 

Jruiz

Senior Member
Dec 13, 2013
565
5
18
#5
"No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they be born of water and of the spirit." Oh how this scripture has been taken out of context. The Greek word here for "and" is also translated as "even", which in this instance would have been a better translation. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water, using water as a representation of the holy Spirit just as he did speaking to the woman at the well. Nicodemus doesn't seem to understand and Jesus adds even of the Spirit. He clarifies and repeats in his next statement what he is speaking of, this time not using water since Nicodemus didn't understand the reference. Jesus then tells Nicodemus that he is not speaking of natural birth as going back into the womb because that which is born of flesh is flesh but that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.

Now having said that, you should be baptized as soon as possible and join yourself to a local group of believers.
??????? Oh my gosh....
 

Jruiz

Senior Member
Dec 13, 2013
565
5
18
#7
I don't understand? It's seems to me that Jesus is speaking about water baptism...an example would be when Jesus was baptized. He was submerged in water than the spirit of God rested upon him like dove...right?
 

Jruiz

Senior Member
Dec 13, 2013
565
5
18
#8
I guess I don't understand being born of water is physical birth...
 
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#9
I don't understand? It's seems to me that Jesus is speaking about water baptism...an example would be when Jesus was baptized. He was submerged in water than the spirit of God rested upon him like dove...right?
Water baptism represents being washed by the word of God. In other words being immersed in water does nothing for us, but being immersed in the word of God is the way Jesus cleanses us so that we may be presented to him a glorious church.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
 

Jruiz

Senior Member
Dec 13, 2013
565
5
18
#10
Seems like being baptized is a requirement for salvation...
Matthew 28:19, 20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”Mark 1:4, 5John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.”Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”Acts 2:38 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.”


 

Yonah

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2014
1,074
103
48
#11
To put it simply if we are to follow our Savior (and we are) seems to me we should do as He did, as He was being baptized He said these words: "suffer to be so to fulfill all righteousness" He was our example how to walk in this earth in a way that is pleasing to Him, no, baptism in and of itself cannot "save" anyone, we all know that salvation comes through Him alone and no other way, however in the book of acts we see in more then one instance that when a believer was shown in the scriptures who Messiah was they were baptized, it doesn't seem worthy of debate IMHO if he did it so should we...
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,710
3,651
113
#12
We are born again through the Word (of the Gospel)...

For you have been born again, not by a seed that perishes but by one that cannot perish—by the living and everlasting word of God.
(1Pe 1:23)
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#13
I've always considered myself born again,however I'm not baptized...how does this work? A Catholic brought this to my attention when he was asked if he was born again by an evangelical Christian. He went on to say nowhere in scripture does it say to ask God into your heart,but that's it's through baptism. This is really confusing for me because I know I'm born-again yet I've never been baptized,although I am going to be baptized at the end of this month...Oh! Notice when jesus was baptized its says the spirit of God rested upon him like a dove...so it seems that you recieve the Holy spirit after baptism. So confusing!


3
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemuswho was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Kind of stopped short in that chapter. Keep going. It shows what born again looks like.
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#14
What's the first thing that happens when a woman goes into labor? Her water breaks. That is the "we are born of water" part. We are born/indwelt by the Holy Spirit upon confessing Christ... but it is the public confession of your redemption thru baptism that enables the Spirit to flow from us. That's why many come up bubbling, because that which was taken inside by confession has been released by obedience. And we are commanded to obediently be baptized. Not that we can't be saved without it, but the lack of obedience brings question to your salvation's genuineness .
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
445
15
18
#15
Born Again
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, 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? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3: 3-5)
We must be born again spiritually to enter the kingdom of God. This spiritual birth is a birth (coming forth) from water and the Spirit. Yes, “water” means “water” and “Spirit” means “Spirit.” Those who attempt to change the meaning of those words do so at their own peril and risk because they have a non-biblical agenda they are supporting. However, we cannot come forth from water unless you are first immersed in water and we cannot come forth from the Spirit unless we are first immersed in the Spirit. How then do these elements come together in our lives? When we repent and are baptized in the name of Christ, in water, (Acts 2: 38, 39) Jesus pours out the Holy Spirit upon us richly and abundantly (Titus 3: 5, 6) so that we are metaphorically (the Spirit is not a physical entity) immersed in the Spirit. This is the one baptism, immersion in both water and Spirit. (Eph. 4: 5) As we come forth, out of the water and Spirit, we are born again, new creatures in Christ. (2 Cor. 5: 17) The Holy Spirit remains, dwelling within us. (Rom. 8: 9-11) The Scriptures are fairly clear and simple if we accept what they say and do not listen to the theories and experiences of men.
God bless.
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
445
15
18
#16
IMO Jesus was speaking of the one spiritual birth, which is a birth from water and Spirit. We can't be born of water unless we have been immersed in water, and we can't be born of Spirit unless we have first been immersed in the Spirit. God bless.
 
Aug 21, 2015
196
1
0
#17
I don't understand? It's seems to me that Jesus is speaking about water baptism...an example would be when Jesus was baptized. He was submerged in water than the spirit of God rested upon him like dove...right?
Jesus was speaking of water baptism
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
445
15
18
#18
IMO for Jesus to say you must be born of water (meaning the Holy Spirit) and Spirit, would have been redundant and confusing. When Jesus used water to refer to the Holy Spirit in John chapter 4 and 7, He qualified the term, water, by calling it "living water", there is no qualification in John 3: 5. Water means water. God bless.
 
Apr 11, 2015
890
1
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#19
what goes unnoticed is that Nicodemus was not a Christian - so what Jesus was really saying to him was "you must be born again as a Christian of water and of the spirit" - wincam
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
445
15
18
#20
IMO the washing is of water. Please read the verse you quoted. This is all done under the authority of the word. As our bodies are washed with pure water, God sprinkles our hearts and conscience with the blood of Christ. (Heb. 10: 22) God bless.