What does it mean to be born of water?In John chapter 3, Jesus uses the phrase “born of water” in answer to Nicodemus’ question about how to enter the kingdom of heaven.
He told Nicodemus that
he “must be born again” (John
3:3).
Nicodemus questioned
how such a thing could happen when he was a grown man.
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John
3:5).
Being “born of the Spirit” is easily
interpreted—salvation involves a new life that only the Holy Spirit can
produce.
“who
has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the
letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)
But there are a couple
different schools of thought on what Jesus meant when He said, “born of water.”
One perspective is
that “born of water” refers to
physical birth.
Unborn babies float in
a sack of amniotic fluid for nine months. When the time for birth arrives, that
sack of water bursts, and the baby is born in a rush of water, entering the
world as a new creature.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
A person once-born has
physical life.
A person twice-born
has eternal life
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal
life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him”
John 3:36
(ESV).
“that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
John 3:15
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life.
17 For God did not send
his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in
him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed
in the name of the only Son of God.
“And this is eternal life, that they
know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
John 17:3 (ESV)
“since you have been born again, not of
perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word
of God” 1 Peter 1:23 (ESV)
Just as a baby
contributes no effort to the birth process—the work is done by the mother—so it
is with spiritual birth. We are merely the recipients of God’s grace as He
gives us new birth through His Spirit.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
According to this
view, Jesus was using a teaching technique He often employed by comparing a
spiritual truth with a physical reality.
Nicodemus did not
understand spiritual birth, but he could understand physical birth so that was
where Jesus took him.
The other perspective
is that “born of water” refers to
spiritual cleansing and that Nicodemus would have naturally understood it that
way.
According to this
view, “born of water” and “born of the Spirit” are different ways
of saying the same thing, once metaphorically and once literally.
Jesus’ words “born of water and the Spirit” describe
different aspects of the same spiritual birth, or of what it means to be “born again.”
So, when Jesus told
Nicodemus that he must “be born of
water,” He was referring to his need for spiritual cleansing.
Throughout the Old
Testament, water is used figuratively of spiritual cleansing.
For example, Ezekiel 36:25 says, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and
you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities”
(see also Numbers 19:17-19; and Psalm 51:2, 7).
Nicodemus, a teacher
of the law, would surely have been familiar with the concept of physical water
representing spiritual purification.
The New Testament,
too, uses water as a figure of the new birth.
Regeneration is called
a “washing” brought about by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God at the
moment of salvation (Titus 3:5; cf. Ephesians
5:26; John 13:10).
Christians are “washed . . . sanctified . . . justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)
The “washing” Paul
speaks of here is a spiritual one.
Whichever perspective
is correct, one thing is certain: “born
of water” is not a reference to water
baptism.
Baptism is nowhere mentioned in the context, nor did
Jesus ever imply that we must do anything to inherit eternal life but trust in
Him in faith
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (ESV)
Water baptism is an outward sign that we have given
our lives to Jesus, but not a requirement for salvation
”40But the other rebuked him,
saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of
condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly,
for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing
wrong.
42 And he said, “Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.
43 And he said to
him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:40 (ESV)
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how
your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work
in your behalf?
He says, “I will
instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my
eye upon you" (Psalm
32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following
prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son,
Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that
Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has
provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is
the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come
into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me
eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of
the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I promise to
study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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“At the Cross”
Isaac Watts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN_vB0QtBQ0 Haven of Rest sean2012cj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeBNnupt3P8 Gaither Vocal Band GaitherVEVO
lyrics
1.
Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
o Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
2.
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood.
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood.
3.
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
4.
Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.
5.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
6. But
drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
gotquestions.org
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