1 John 5:5-8
[SUP]
5 [/SUP]Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [SUP]
6 [/SUP]This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.
It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [SUP]7 [/SUP]For there are three that testify: [SUP]8 [/SUP]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
Ephesians 4:1-7
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, [SUP]
2 [/SUP]with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, [SUP]
3 [/SUP]
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [SUP]
4 [/SUP]
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;[SUP]5 [/SUP]one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [SUP]6 [/SUP]one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.[SUP]
7 [/SUP]
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [SUP]
8 [/SUP]Therefore it says,
“
When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “
Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
Jesus does not say "you" here. He says "No one" can enter unless they are born of water and the Spirit. I definitely would not discourage anyone from being baptized in water, but it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that saves. The New Testament records people receiving the Holy Spirit before, after, and during water baptism. But we did receive the example of being baptized in water and therefore should follow that example.
I will also mention the fact that Jesus told Pilate that He was the King before He was crucified. He did not say that He was going to be King, but that He already was. So if the King was there, what was He King of? Did He not preach that the Kingdom was "at hand"? Notice that when He said, " ... “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. [SUP]46 [/SUP]Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” the following verse said, [SUP] "[/SUP]While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs,
who came from the chief priests and elders of the people."
John 18:37
Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered,
“You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”