Christian Living

---

Welcome to segment No 2 of this vital subject. As I had stated in the first segment, there are groups of sincere Christians who are proclaiming, in order for a person to be truly saved in Christ, they must be baptized in water first. This is not the view of the Bible. If it was, MCC would be preaching it without compromise, believe me, but it isn't, and once again we can prove so with scripture. Hope you enjoy this second segment on this fantastic subject!
Joh 3:5 Jesus 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.
Many of those who believe a person must be 'water baptized to be saved' claim, 'born of water' means 'baptized in water'. So let's examine this view from the passage it is taken from. The first thing we must notice here is 'except a man' (v3). This word 'man' is used as a gender non-specific word meaning, 'male AND female'. Nothing else in creation can have this born again experience, except man.

The 'creature' (Rom 8:21) will be delivered from the corruption of sin, but not born again, and that's another teaching. So then, the context of Jesus comments refers exclusively to 'human beings' or 'mankind', and specifically 'how to enter the Kingdom of God'. Some would think 'I really don't want to misinterpret this passage, as it could mean the difference between me being saved and unsaved', but thanks be to God, who has also given us many more verses and passages that relate to our salvation (the doctrine of Soteriology), thus helping us to clearly define and guarantee the correct meaning of John 3:5. Remember folks, one cannot form a doctrine from one, or a few Scriptures, when the majority of Scripture contradicts the interpretation of such. A Bible student must consult the entire Word of God before establishing any doctrine. Before we look at other Scripture let's examine John 3:5 in its context, starting at John 3:1:
Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

The context of Jesus comments is towards a Jewish Pharisee named 'Nicodemus', a ruler of the Jewish people. Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night because he is afraid of his colleagues, who do not receive Jesus as sent from God. Nicodemus tells Jesus that he accepts Him as a 'teacher come from God', not because of His teaching, but because of the miracles that Jesus was performing.

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

Jesus cuts right through all the flatteries telling Nicodemus that there is something he needs in order to see the Kingdom of God, he must be 'born again'. To Nicodemus this would have to be one of the most shocking remarks Jesus could have made. For a man to trust in the Law of Moses and his ability to keep it in action, performing all the sacrifices and duties necessary to be saved, held great personal pride, but now a man must be 'born again'? Nicodemus must have been thinking 'what is this strange doctrine?', and that's exactly what he was thinking, let's look at his next comments:
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus 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?

Nicodemus immediately thinks 'carnally' (naturally, physically), attributing Jesus comments to something natural rather than spiritual. This was typical of one who followed the Law of Moses but never understood it the way God intended them to. They think 'what must I do' in the sense of 'works'. And herein lay the Bible's rebuttal towards those who claim a person must also do some outward work such as 'water baptism' in order to be saved. Nicodemus refers Jesus comments to a natural human birth, and asks how he can be 'born again PHYSICALLY'.

Jesus does not go on to tell a man that already thinks he has to do some physical work to enter the Kingdom of God, to be water baptized. He addresses where Nicodemus is misunderstanding His words. Jesus tells Nicodemus 'born again' refers to his 'spirit man' (heart, inner man), not his physical man, and thus we have our context. In verse 5 Jesus separates the 'physical man (born of water)', and the 'spirit of man (born of the Spirit)', to help Nicodemus understand. Still not convinced? Well you have to be, and why? Simply because to do otherwise is to break context and wrongly interpret this passage, here read on and be convinced: Joh 3:5 Jesus 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.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

For those who proclaim the 'born of water' in verse 5 is 'water baptism' I ask you this question. "If Jesus is not distinguishing between the flesh and the spirit of man, what on earth is verse 6 speaking about?" The fact is, Jesus here clarifies what 'born of water' and 'born of the Spirit' are. The only person who can birth you 'physically' is your mother. That is what it means to be 'born of water', born 'PHYSICALLY', in the flesh. The only Person who can birth you 'spiritually' is the Holy Spirit. That is what it means to be 'born of Spirit', born 'SPIRITUALLY' in your heart, your inner man. Jesus Himself directly interprets 'water' as 'flesh' here, not 'water baptism', and shows us another reason to read the whole passage, before running off with a verse out of context. Jesus is telling Nicodemus, you've already had a physical birth, but now you need a spiritual birth, one from the Spirit of God, one the Law of Moses cannot give you. Jesus, then further continues to clarify these things to Nicodemus:

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

By this time Nicodemus is wondering in amazement, and to that, Jesus again clarifies 'you must be born again' (SPIRITUALLY), you must have this new birth within your heart through the Holy Spirit. Then in verse 8 Jesus helps Nicodemus comprehend this 'spirit birth' with an earthly example. He uses the 'wind' to describe this new birth as 'invisible' to the natural eye and the carnal realm, yet real and true and living. As you can hear the wind, as you can feel the wind, as you know of its reality and existence, but you cannot explain where it comes from or where it goes to, so is this new birth by the Holy Ghost in the spirit of man.

So folks that's that, a contextually sound interpretation of John 3:5 that unites with the rest of Scripture correctly, leaving no contradictions. This is not in any way referring to 'water baptism' being the born again experience, but rather a distinguishing between the 'flesh birth' and the 'spirit birth' of man. Now for another scripture to show us why water baptism is NOT! A prerequisite for Salvation:

1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1Co 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross

Here we find the Apostle Paul claiming that he has at this time only baptized a few Saints. For the 'water baptism saves you' crowd, I pose this question, "Was Paul sent to seek and save the lost?" Any other answer apart from 'Yes' is wrong. Then why does Paul claim here that God sent him not to save people? Let me explain. If water baptism saves you, we must now interpret this Scripture in the light of that knowledge, and the only proper conclusion we can come up with from this passage is, 'Paul was not sent to save people'.

Why? Because have a look at how Paul seems to lightly esteem water baptism, even stating 'Christ sent me not to baptize'. If water baptism saves you, Paul the Apostle has just confessed 'Christ sent me not to save people'. The Bible teaches us 'a little leaven (false doctrine) leavens the whole lump' (Gal 5:9). When you have your doctrine wrong in an area, you then have to interpret all the other areas of the Bible in. the light of it. As one can see, it would be best for a person who claims 'water baptism will save you' to repent of false doctrine now, before I continue this segment of studies, and continue I will.
Well, I hope you have learnt something, and once again enjoyed these studies being further equipped to know and answer the Christian faith. As always be sure to study them through with your Bible, asking the great Holy Ghost to illuminate His Word to you, while also staying humble and open to challenges towards your views. My wholehearted prayer is for those who believe water baptism saves you, to be awakened to the truth of Scripture. I pray they realize just how important it is for them to receive proper Biblical discipleship in a no compromise Word and Spirit filled Church. Remember Eph 4:11-16 God has given you ascension anointing's to equip you, so that you are not tossed about by 'every wind of doctrine'. Failing to realize such leaders are given to help you mature in Christ, usually means your Christianity will walk with a limp, so get into a Bible believing and doing church today and remember, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8).

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE