What Does "Born of Water" Mean?

Improper reading/understanding of Scripture by you and many. Proper reading necessary:

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Born again AFTER his FIRST birth

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Earthly understanding of being born AGAIN as the FIRST birth, but not what Jesus was saying.

5Jesus 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.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Born of the flesh is the FIRST birth. Born of the SPIRIT is the "spiritual" birth. THIS is why Jesus said "BORN AGAIN,"

7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

This passage of Scripture can be compared to what Paul wrote concerning the Rapture:

1 Corinthians, Chapter 15:

39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

The terrestrial bodies are our earthly bodies. The bodies we received upon our FIRST birth. The celestial bodies will be the bodies we are resurrected with because of our BORN AGAIN birth. Spiritual rebirth.


Water baptism has ZERO to do with salvation. ZERO!

Water baptism is done in obedience to Jesus. It acts as a "sign" to the Church and the world that a man has become a believer in and follower of Jesus. The "one baptism" which is unto salvation is the "spiritual baptism" where the Holy Spirit applies the cleansing blood of Jesus to our "spiritual" beings. THIS IS BOTH OUR SALVATION AND OUR BEING BORN AGAIN.

Hello, my first reaction at the forum-


Baptism of water is a spiritual Significance of Ritual Washing**

The baptism described in the Old Testament holds not only a practical significance (See Ex 30,;Lev 14 and Deut 23)but also a spiritual meaning, namely, inner cleansing as indicated by the texts below. Even the pagan governor washed his hands as a symbol of his innocence regarding Jesus' death (Matt. 27:4).

- **Psalm 51:2**: Wash me clean from my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.
- **Psalm 73:12**: Yes, I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence (Ps. 26:6, Matt. 27:24).
- **Isaiah 1:16**: Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean! Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil.
- **Jeremiah 4:14**: O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart so that you may be saved.
- **Zechariah 13:1**: On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

And I agree with David K. Bernard: The Jews knew the Proselyte Baptism In the Targum Jonathan, we read that pagan men and women who converted to the Jewish faith were circumcised (men) and also baptized. They renounced their pagan identity and entered into the covenant of Abraham and Moses. A circumcised and baptized Gentile was seen as a newborn child. This baptism is called proselyte baptism. (The term "proselyte" means "stranger.") Therefore, it is not surprising that Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?” in response to his question about how one can be born again.

The spiritual meaning of water baptism is that you receive a new identity and your sins are washed away.

Greetings from the Netherlands

It means physical birth. It's sandwiched between ... can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? - and - That which is born of the flesh is flesh
Jesus is respecting Nicodemus' question and clarifying the "again" of born again. No more could a man reenter his mother's womb than could the water. There needs to be a completely new birth.

Where in the Bible is physical human vaginal emergence referred to as "born of water"???

Jesus is not referring to amniotic fluid.

When a woman "breaks her water" that fluid is not water... I promise you it is not water.

Jesus did not say "born of woman" (childbirth). Matthew 11:11, Job 14:1-2, Galatians 4:4-5 etc.

Jesus said water..... not amniotic fluid!!!

Let the Word of God mean what it states and ignore your theological sensibilities.

The Spirit, the water and blood agree. Getting water baptized into Christ doesn't nullify faith in His blood, it confirms it. Nor does the belief that the Spirit washes us exempt us from the necessity of baptism. People are too hung up on what "saves" us. They seem to only be interested in how to acquire fire insurance. Instead of trying to find a foolproof plan, just simply obey the Word.

"This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree." 1 John 5:6-8

So do I NEED to get baptized by water? if I have already accepted Christ into my heart?

For what it is worthy: water doesn't save a person. Only Jesus.. this said: Just a question: what do you mean with: "accept Christ in my heart" what do you mean with accept?

Jesus is my Lord and savior, but I have never been water baptized.

Believing that Jesus is your Lord and savior alone does not give us the remission of sins.

New Revised Standard Version
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

God's Word
What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.’ (Acts 22:16)

English Standard Version
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

Believing that Jesus is your Lord and savior alone does not give us the remission of sins.

New Revised Standard Version
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

God's Word
What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.’ (Acts 22:16)

English Standard Version
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

what about the thief on the cross?

There is no record either way regarding whether the thief on the cross beside Jesus
was or was not baptized. People assume he was not, but that is just an assumption.


Acts 10:43~ All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

how did he get baptized he was physically being crucified on the cross by the Romans. That doesn't make any sense.. He got baptized by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is my Lord and savior, but I have never been water baptized.

Eh? He could very well have been baptized long before he was crucified. Is that possibility not in your wheelhouse? Scripture does say that everyone went to be baptized: Mark 1:5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Whether the thief was among them is anyone's guess.

John 3:16?

what about the thief on the cross?

yes maybe before that could be true... but not after.

Thank you for answering. Let me first say this: everything we do is, how do we understanding Scripture. Water baptism doesn't save, but like how the BSB translation Peter translate:
1 Petrus 3

21 And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

I can tell why I was baptised, and why I am convinced it is Biblical. But like I wrote, it doesn't save a person. This question you need to study by your self and ask the Lord. And He will give you the answer.