What Does "Born of Water" Mean?
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It means what it says but you seem to think it is written in the definitive, which it is clearly not. I know this is your reasoning because you are attempting to add an absolute (only, just or alone) into the scripture which is not there.
Would you allow someone to add a definitive into other verses in order to change its meaning???
Would it be acceptable to add "only" to James 1:27?
John 3:16 is clearly written in the general. If it was not for your theology you would have no problem seeing this.
Would you allow someone to add a definitive into other verses in order to change its meaning???
Would it be acceptable to add "only" to James 1:27?
John 3:16 is clearly written in the general. If it was not for your theology you would have no problem seeing this.
Here is what chatgpt says:
The question of whether Christians need to be baptized by water to be "born again" and saved has been debated across various Christian traditions, and the answer often depends on doctrinal beliefs. Here's a breakdown of key perspectives:
- Evangelical/Protestant Belief (Many Baptists, Pentecostals, etc.):
- Many evangelical Christians believe that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). They emphasize that being "born again" refers to a spiritual rebirth that happens when a person repents of their sins and places their trust in Jesus.
- Water baptism is viewed as an important public declaration of faith, but it is not considered necessary for salvation. Rather, it is an outward sign of an inward change.
- Key scripture: John 3:16 (salvation through faith), Romans 10:9-10 (confession and belief in Christ bring salvation).
- Catholic and Orthodox View:
- Both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions hold that baptism is necessary for salvation. They interpret being "born of water and the Spirit" in John 3:5 as a reference to water baptism as the means through which one is spiritually reborn and cleansed from original sin.
- Baptism is considered a sacrament, and in Catholic doctrine, it is the first step in the process of salvation, removing both original and personal sin.
- Key scripture: John 3:5 (Jesus’ teaching on being "born of water and the Spirit").
- Church of Christ and Some Other Denominations:
- Some Christian groups, like the Churches of Christ, teach that water baptism is essential for salvation. They interpret scriptures like Acts 2:38 ("Repent and be baptized... for the forgiveness of your sins") to mean that baptism is part of the salvation process.
- For these groups, faith, repentance, and baptism are all necessary for a person to be saved.
In regard to the word "water" in John 3:5, there are those who would argue that the natural sense of the passage parallels water with being born out of a mother’s womb and with flesh based on the answer of Nicodemus to Jesus. Simply stated in that case, two births are necessary. The first is a physical, literal, "flesh" birth (accompanied by amniotic "water") and the second is Spirit.
There are also those who would argue that Jesus mentions "living water" in John 4:10, 14; 7:37-39 and in John 7:38-39, we read - "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of living water and spiritual cleansing.
If "water" is defined as baptism, then we could just as justifiably say, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living baptism" in John 7:38. If this sounds ridiculous, it is no more so than the idea that water baptism is the source or the means of becoming born again. So to automatically read "baptism" into John 3:5 simply because it mentions "water" is unwarranted.
Yet there are still others who would argue that "water" is used in the Bible as an emblem of the word of God, and in such uses it is associated with cleansing or washing. (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26) When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begets new life and we are said to become "partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4) The new birth is brought to pass through "incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever" (I Peter 1:23) and the Holy Spirit accomplishes the washing of regeneration. (Titus 3:5)
There are also those who would argue that Jesus mentions "living water" in John 4:10, 14; 7:37-39 and in John 7:38-39, we read - "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of living water and spiritual cleansing.
If "water" is defined as baptism, then we could just as justifiably say, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living baptism" in John 7:38. If this sounds ridiculous, it is no more so than the idea that water baptism is the source or the means of becoming born again. So to automatically read "baptism" into John 3:5 simply because it mentions "water" is unwarranted.
Yet there are still others who would argue that "water" is used in the Bible as an emblem of the word of God, and in such uses it is associated with cleansing or washing. (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26) When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begets new life and we are said to become "partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4) The new birth is brought to pass through "incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever" (I Peter 1:23) and the Holy Spirit accomplishes the washing of regeneration. (Titus 3:5)
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Amen! The washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit says it all. Jesus baptizes with the Spirit (and there is only one baptism).
Titus 3:4-5
Ephesians 4:5-6
Titus 3:4-5
Ephesians 4:5-6
Ephesians 4:5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
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Amen! The washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit says it all. Jesus baptizes with the Spirit (and there is only one baptism).
Titus 3:4-5
Ephesians 4:5-6
Titus 3:4-5
Ephesians 4:5-6
The proselyte to Judaism was immersed in water, the baptism of John was a baptism of repentance, water baptism is a public proclamation to others of a person's true baptism. which is revealed in 1 Cor 12: 13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. This baptism's glory exceeds the glory of the other baptisms much like the glory of the law, had no glory when compared to the excellent glory of the New Testament. Which is expressed in 2 Cor 3: 7-11: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
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Song of Solomon 4 refers to a spouse as a well of living water.
“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices— a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.”
Song of Solomon 4:9-15 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/sng.4.9-15.ESV
“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices— a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.”
Song of Solomon 4:9-15 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/sng.4.9-15.ESV
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.”
1 John 5:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.5.1.ESV
When someone believes that Jesus is the Christ they have already been born again according to this verse.
1 John 5:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.5.1.ESV
When someone believes that Jesus is the Christ they have already been born again according to this verse.
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