Interprertation of John 3:5 born by water and born again by spirit.

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But being washed and cleansed by hearing and hearkening to the water of the word of God does save. That is inseparable from being born in the spirit. First the vessel must be cleansed, then filled. Water baptism simply symbolizes the cleansing

Yes, I would agree with this as symbolic.
 
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John 3:5 . . I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is
born of water and the Spirit.


FAQ: What is the water mentioned in John 3:5?

REPLY: From what I gather; the water that Jesus spoke of isn't the ordinary stuff
commonly used for bathing, laundering, cooking, irrigating, and/or religious rites,
rituals, and ceremonies. It's a supernatural kind of water and specifically intended
as a beverage, i.e. it's for drinking, so to speak.


John 4:10 . . If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.


John 4:14 . .Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I
shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.


As it turns out: the Spirit is the source of the water about which Jesus spoke; and
no doubt why the two are joined at the hip in John 3:5.


John 7:37-39 . . Jesus stood and cried out, saying: If any man is thirsty, let him
come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture said: "From his
innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." But this he spoke of the Spirit,
whom those who believed in him were to receive. (and they did)


1Cor 12:13 . .We were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now, as Jesus said, the water is a free-bee. All that folks have to do to obtain it is
speak up.


Rev 22:17 . .The Spirit and the bride say: Come! And let him who hears say:
Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free
gift of the water of life.


FAQ: Speak up?

REPLY: Yes! I suggest finding some privacy, any place will do. Cover your face with
your hands-- doing so will give you a sense of connection --and in your own words,
out loud or under your breath, tell God you would like to have the living water that
His son speaks of in the new testament.
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One day at work I asked an experienced Jehovah's Witness if he was born of the
Spirit in accord with John 3:3-8. He answered no; and added that he didn't expect
to undergo the Spirit birth in either this life or the next because his hope is a
kingdom on Earth rather than up in Heaven.

The JW was somehow unaware that Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus didn't pertain
to a kingdom above, rather, to a kingdom below.

John 3:12 . . . If I have told you earthly things and yet you do not believe, how
will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

It's both tragic and ironic that the Watchtower Society's rank and file missionaries
go worldwide advertising a kingdom that they themselves will never be allowed to
enter-- not because they didn't work hard enough to deserve it, but simply because
they were led to believe themselves exempt from the Spirit birth.

John 3:7 . . You should not be surprised at my saying you must be born again.

In other words: the Spirit birth isn't optional, rather, it's a requirement.
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I wasn't making a point about baptism, though. I was making a point about the low-effort troll video that Hawaka said was "good".


You'd be making a point if you actually used scripture to counter what was being said in the video.

But you're just insulting his appearance. Who the heck cares about that?


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I didn't insult his appearance. If you think large foreheads or receding hairlines are flaws that's you being shallow, not me.


You still didn't provide any Bible verses to counter what was being said in the video.

The guy made sense because he cited the pertinent Bible verses and pointed out that there's no special interpretation to the verses. Thus "water is water".

If you can't defend your beliefs from the Bible, then I don't know what you're doing in Bible Discussion Forum. You can't be taken seriously because of that. What a gnat among giants!


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What does being born by water mean when Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about being born of flesh and then of spirit?
Think of the scenario . John the Baptist had been preaching and baptizing the people for remission of sins in water . This was a major deal in the region because everyone was waiting for their scriptures to be fulfilled

“As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

John 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 Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:2-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

nicodemus was a Jewish ruler a Pharisee who secretly knew jesus was sent by God , and remember johns baptism in water had been going on a while . With John saying “ I baptize you with water but another greater will come and baptize you with the spirit

Then after John Jesus comes along and says “ you must be born of water and the spirit

now finally consider the imagery of a birth the water breaks and the new born baby emerges the new child is announced …. Like this

“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I would submit to you that just as John spoke of water and spirit regarding baptism Jesus spoke of water and spirit regarding birth and so we see the completed form of the one baptism that includes water and spirit

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,( water )

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”( spirit )
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

baptism involves water and spirit

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard ( spirit ) the word.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. ( water for remission of sins ) Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:44, 46-48‬ ‭
 
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I wasn't making a point about baptism, though. I was making a point about the low-effort troll video that Hawaka said was "good".
Showing context is a troll video? In the surrounding contexts throughout the book of John, water is water. You just dont like what it says cause it fits with what you want to believe, or what some church somewhere says
 
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What does being born by water mean when Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about being born of flesh and then of spirit?

A physical birth which was the state he was in but what was required was to be reborn in the Spirit. Putting His faith in Christ. Two births, one birth into death through sin, and the other birth into life in Christ.
 
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Showing context is a troll video? In the surrounding contexts throughout the book of John, water is water. You just dont like what it says cause it fits with what you want to believe, or what some church somewhere says

It takes a theologian to turn a simple thing into something complicated.


That video was so clear in it's explanation, no one could have misunderstood it. But because they don't have a love for the truth, they can't accept it. To be that blind.... I NEVER want to be in their clique.


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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)
 
I would say context is always important.
Is amniotic fluid not water, he dismisses with no reason given.

Yes it is mostly water, but earthly water doesn't fit with the spiritual realities Jesus was talking about. Physical birth has nothing to do with entering the kingdom of God, whereas a clean conscience and faith do.
 
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In God's temple, past and present, holy things couldn't/can't be put in earthen vessels until they were/are cleansed with water/"water".
 
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.


Well, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living amniotic fluid" sounds worse.

So water is water.

Also, the Bible never says that water baptism is the source or means of becoming born again. Baptism is something a Christian does because God said so and it means a lot to Him. I don't understand why you would try to discourage any new Christians from obey God on that.


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Well, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living amniotic fluid" sounds worse.

So water is water.

Also, the Bible never says that water baptism is the source or means of becoming born again. Baptism is something a Christian does because God said so and it means a lot to Him. I don't understand why you would try to discourage any new Christians from obey God on that.


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This is what happens when trying to understand scripture using a modern western lens as opposed to the context of an ancient culture it ends up as an >>>> epic fail.

Kinda like running to the hills for cover in modern day warfare. lol
 
Yes it is mostly water, but earthly water doesn't fit with the spiritual realities Jesus was talking about. Physical birth has nothing to do with entering the kingdom of God, whereas a clean conscience and faith do.

It is an analogy that Jesus is making >>> physical birth, spiritual birth.

It is very plainly stated by Jesus.
 
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This is what happens when trying to understand scripture using a modern western lens as opposed to the context of an ancient culture it ends up as an >>>> epic fail.

Kinda like running to the hills for cover in modern day warfare. lol


The only time you're feeling brave is when the other apostate joins the conversation. :unsure:

I'm curious. Did you get water baptized? If so, what did your church tell you about it? If not, why not?


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