John 3: 5 Commentary

THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD CAN ONLY BE ACCESS BY THOSE BEGOTTEN OF GOD THROUGH HIS WORD. The Word of God are Spirits and life….w/o it as a seed planted into one heart and mind- a man remains carnal-

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor … You know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God, don’t you? … The man who is fit to enter the kingdom of God on earth, shall also enter into that in heaven. …

So if you want to enter-humble yourself before God and His Word! And then shall you be born of God and desire the sincere milk of the Word….

By TIUCHE (wrote 2759 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/28/2011 15:50 pm

Oh for a blessed living hope for all the depraved sinners like me! Hallelujah, Amen!

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/28/2010 06:01 am

Jayant,

Your point about the human spirit is well made and I receive it (dead but not non-existant). In one sense, it may be accurate to say that our spirit is still-born at birth. I like this because when Peter says that we have been “born-again” (ana-gennao) in the metaphoric sense, it takes on a near literal meaning.

You’ll have no argument from me that our spiritual birth is the starting point in our redemption; and in this present time our HOPE is in the fullness of redemption– the resurrection of our bodies. The Holy Spirit is the earnest deposit in our heart until we finally witness that mighty day of glory which is coming with increasing velocity! It is the time to keep our lamps lit and full of oil!

“I continue to learn.”

Scott

By Scott Dale (wrote 496 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/28/2010 01:54 am

You are a wonderul brother, Scott,

I believe redemption includes and fully realised in resurrection of body.
But when a person believes his spirit is made alive. Man’s spirit dead towards God is made alive. What is birth after all? It is bring forth the life. When the spirit is thus redeemed it is spiritual birth, just as when the body will be redeemed in resurrection will also be bringing forth of life from death. The spirit of an unsaved man is dead towards God, but it doesn’t mean that it is nonexistant. When a person believes in Christ,he is born anew or again. This is the kingdom in you, the experience of life being under the ruling of God. The entering of the kingdom (sphere)and being rulers with Jesus is after resurrection.

Resurrection of Jesus finally realised our redemption. Our reurrection is in the final link, but the Cross precedes.

For me born again and born from above is the spiritual birth, a starting point in redemption culminating in fianl( first)resurrection.

I don’t want to be very dogmatic, but I cann’t accept what I don’t follow. I continue to learn.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2010 22:16 pm

Jayant,

One more point I neglected from my last post:

You said; “Jesus links this with his sacrificial death on cross, (John 3:14-15), and not to the final redemption of body at the time of resurrection.”

I agree that Jesus “links this with his sacrificial death on cross” but how do you not see the link with the resurrection? Whenever Jesus says; “will not perish” (because he dies in our place), he also goes on to say; “but have everlasting LIFE” (because he rises from the dead).

OUR salvation is linked directly to Christ’s death just as OUR resurrection (eternal life) is linked directly to His resurrection. IMHO, the link Jesus makes is to BOTH or there is no link at all.

By Scott Dale (wrote 496 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2010 14:02 pm

Brother Jayant,

My use of the words “Spirit of Christ” and “Spirit of God” can be used interchangeably. I had no particular reason for stating it that way.

Concerning the possibility that Jesus is talking about the Resurrection of believers and not merely a spiritual rebirth; I don’t think it is “somehow a meaning too far stretched” at all.

Doctrinally, I agree with everything else that you say in your last post. I just differ on what Jesus was actually teaching Nicodemus during this encounter. It’s evident that you think the language construct supports your interpretation. I think it supports mine (see post #11; also my comments on John 3:8).

I don’t know your position regarding the “depravity of man”, but for the sake of this discussion, consider one simple point: If it is true that when a person is born into the world, he arrives as a living body and soul, but spiritually dead; then why would Jesus say that person must be spiritually born AGAIN when his spirit has never even been born ONCE?

By Scott Dale (wrote 496 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2010 13:37 pm

My understanding of John 3: 1-16 is that Jesus talks about two births: Physical, “that which is of the flesh is flesh,” and spiritual birth, “that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” The Spirit gives life. It is the Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of God; the one and the same Spirit. To say that one is born again is through the Spirit of Christ and is born from above by the Spirit of God at the time of resurrection is somehow a meaning too far stretched.

Yes with the resurrection our redemption of our body will be realized through the power of the Holy Spirit, but it starts at the time when a person puts his faith on the Lord Jesus as the Son of God. We mortify our fleshly nature through the Holy Spirit. So from start to finish the life giving Spirit from above is at work in us. When a person believes on the Son of God, he is born from above as the Spirit is from above. He is born again, for after his physical birth, that would be his spiritual birth. The usage of Greek gives both the meanings.

Jesus links this with his sacrificial death on cross, (John 3:14-15), and not to the final redemption of body at the time of resurrection.

Yes, salvation is of the Jews; for the Messiah was to come from the Jews. Jesus was telling Nicodemus about the need for a living and saving faith in Him, which is there in the OT.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ starts with the proclamation, “Repent and believe on the gospel.” Peter while addressing the Jews gathered in Jerusalem told them to repent as well. (Acts 2) So both faith and repentance are required. You cannot do way with repentance. It would mean to work against the foundational truth.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2010 09:00 am

“If we teach that we are giving an impression to the people that they are not to bother to be born from above just now. Wait till you are resurrected!”

Jayant,

In no way am I saying that we do not have to be “born again” in our spirit by the Spirit of Christ before we ever hope to be “born from above” in our body by the Spirit of God at the time of the resurrection. This truth is foundational and fundamental to any hope of salvation and is clearly taught throughout the NT. But Jesus is not teaching this truth to Nicodemus.

“Salvation” was OF the Jews. When and where was it ever taught in the OT that the Jews “must be born again” to be saved? Or, how is it that anyone could’ve been “born again” before Jesus died; rose and poured out the Spirit at Pentecost? But even during the conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus had not been rejected by the Jews. Are we to think that Jesus was looking ahead to Calvary and beyond at this early stage in his ministry and expecting Nicodemus to see the same thing?

Keep in mind that the time of the resurrection of our bodies is the time of the FULLNESS of our redemption. Jews were redeemed (saved), not through the keeping of the Law but by embracing the same faith as their father Abraham. If they needed to repent in order to get back to God, the means were already there for them to do so. Their history well affirms this. Jesus was not talking to Nicodemus as if he needed redemption (salvation), if he were, he would only need to talk to him about repentance. Jesus was speaking to him of his future hope; the resurrection, the fullness of redemption which all of Israel longed for.

By Scott Dale (wrote 496 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/26/2010 12:58 pm

Yes, In John 3:5 it is only “genno” (be born) in Greek, but the Lord Jesus starts addressing the topic in John 3:3, where we have “genno anothen” ( born from above or born again). “Anothen” is from from the root which means from above as to the place, but anew or over again as to he time.

Well, who are going to inherit the imperishable kigdom of God?(1 cor. 15) Those who belong to Christ. Who belong to Christ? They who are in Christ, a new creation. How are they in Christ? By being born again or from above. In John 3 therefore Jesus is not telling that the new birth from above takes place at the time of resurrection of the sleeping saints. It is when they are born anew that they who are dead in sin are raised alive! (Ephes.2.This is the starting point. One has not wait to be born from above till the time of the first resurrection of bodies. If we teach that we are giving an impression to the people that they are not to bother to be born from above just now. Wait till you are resurrected!

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/26/2010 08:20 am

Jayant,

You know that Nicodemus does not say “born again”. He says “can a man enter a SECOND TIME into his mother’s womb?” Please note that the choice of Nicodemus’ words prove the case that Jesus’ intent was “born from above” not “born again”.

If Jesus had meant to say, “born again”, he would’ve used metaphoric language to describe a spiritual reality. But Nicidemus’ response reveals that he took Jesus’ words literally; not metaphorically.

Furthermore, if Jesus had intended to speak metaphorically, he very likely would’ve used the word “anagennao” (again born); but he uses the word “gennao” (literal birth). See 1 Peter 1:3

Though Jesus doesn’t say so to Nicodemus, He might’ve answered his question from verse 4 in this manner:

“No, Nicodemus, you cannot enter the womb of your mother a second time and be born once again; but many will enter the womb of the earth and one day be literally born from above! This will be a work of the Spirit of God when the glorious sons of God are made manifest.” See 1 Cor 15:42-44

Jesus was speaking of the future resurrection of the saints.

By Scott Dale (wrote 496 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/25/2010 23:39 pm

When Jesus told Nicodemus to be born from above,Nicodemus was still thinking about the way a man is physically born. “How can a man enter again into the womb of her mother and be born again?” (Verse 5)( Please remember Nicodemus understood Jesus as telling him to be ‘Born again.’So both the meanings namely, born from above and born again are there.)Thus, Jesus has altogether ruled out physical birth. Again, Jesus pointed out that this was something that can happen here on earth, and that he had not told him something heavenly. But a baby is in the watery womb of its mother when born. A physical birth has to do with the water.So also the spiritual birth has to do with the Spirit, the water of life.

The phrase here is ” born of the water and born of the Spirit”. The conjuction ‘and’ is the translation of the Greek word ‘kai’and ‘Kai’ has different meanings. It may also mean,’that is”.

The idea here is of citizenship acquired by birth. Your heavenly citizenship is obtained by being born from above. Once you get it,you are entiled to it, but it does not mean to enter heavenly kingdom immediately. We will inherit the kingdom of God after resurrection(1 Cor. 15), but the citizenship for it has to be obtained by being born from above in this life on earth.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/25/2010 22:39 pm

This verse is not that mystical.

“born of water”- the physical birth of a natural human body.

“born.., of the Spirit”- the physical birth of a super-natural human body. (ie: the Resurrection 1 Cor 15).

Which one of us on any of these threads can claim that we have actually “seen God” or “entered into his Kingdom”?? The truth is; it is God who sees US now; and it is His Kingdom that has entered US now.

It will not be until the time of the Resurrection (born of the Spirit) that we will ever be properly equipped to literally see God or enter His Kingdom.

Remember, Jesus does NOT say “born AGAIN”; he says “born FROM ABOVE”.

By Scott Dale (wrote 496 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/25/2010 13:33 pm

Post #6: We cannot give preference to context of events over context of meaning for interpretating the text.

Yes, John does uses symbolical language, the account is historical one with Jewish setting. Jesus is mininstry is concentrated in Galilee, but he does attend Jerusalem for religious puprpose and all that John does is to describe Jesus back and forth journeys from Galilee to Jerusalem and back.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/13/2010 03:38 am

Post #6 basically says you have to be baptized to be born again

(Its not true, but I thought I’d save everybody some time).

By Jason W. Elder (wrote 314 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/11/2010 11:32 am

Being “born again” is probably the most quoted passage in the New Testament in certain circles.

In John 3:1-6 Jesus was speaking to a Pharisee – a teacher of Israel, named Nicodemus and says to him he can’t see the kingdom of God unless he is born ‘anothen’ - a Greek word which can mean ‘again’ but can also mean ‘from above’.

It seems there is a deliberate ambiguity on Jesus part when He says you must be born anothen because Nicodemus goes on to ask the question How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born. Nicodemus takes it literally to mean being born a second time in the natural sense, but Jesus goes on to describe what He really meant and that was to be born from above – from the Holy Spirit who comes down from Heaven.

And so it is really important to catch that subtle ambiguity there and to understand how Jesus is using it.

Johns gospel is perhaps the most symbolic gospel. That doesn’t mean we discount the historical reliability of the fourth gospel because the gospel gives us reliable history. But the way John relates this history is very symbolic. In events and in discourses you are going to see things and hear things that are charged with more than a literal meaning, there is going to be a spiritual quality as well. This discourse with Nicodemus is a clear case in point.

If someone asks me ‘Have you been born again?’ I know what they mean and so I say to them ‘Have I asked Jesus Christ to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Have I invited Jesus into my heart?’ By all means I have and it is something everybody must do continuously.
But that is not why I have been born again. I am born again because I am baptised.

I think that is what Jesus really means when He says this.
I didn’t used to believe that but it was only through much more careful analysis of the text in its larger context that draw me to that conclusion.

In John 1:12 we read “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God”
So we have to receive Christ into our hearts. We have to believe in His name. But it isn’t enough to receive him. It isn’t enough to believe Him because He has to give us power ‘authority from on high’ in order for us to become children of God

Then we move on to Chapter 2:23-24 which sets the stage for Jesus conversation with Nicodemus. Here we read “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; but Jesus did not trust himself to them”
You might this is somewhat stingy on our Lords behalf. You might ask why when they believe you why won’t you believe them.
The same Greek word is used in both cases. Well the next verse V25, explains why.
because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.

In Johns original gospel the were no chapter divisions or verse divisions and so it is sometimes misleading for us to have the next verse to Chapter 3 verse 1 because in our mind we might make a break which John may not necessarily intended.

And so Jesus says because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.
What the gospel writer is saying is clear – Jesus is being believed by certain people but He knows He can’t simply entrust Himself to them because He knows the limitations of human nature. If a human being believes Jesus because of the signs which they see there is a natural faith that Jesus knows is not enough to get a supernatural life.

The next verse is John 3:1-2 which illustrates the point made in the preceding verses where a man will express his natural belief in Jesus and reads Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode’mus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
Now in Nicodemus mind, Nicodemus is putting his faith in Jesus but Jesus can already see what kind of faith that is.
It is a natural human faith.
Like in John 1:12 Nicodemus is receiving and believing but is not a supernatural belief yet. Something else has to be added to this human faith, some divine power has to be imparted and that is why Jesus can say in John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born ‘anothen’ (anew/again/from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This would be practically an insult to a Pharisee or teacher of the Jews.

Nicode’mus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered in a slightly different way. Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Now Jesus has just said the same thing in two different ways.
You have got to be born from above and you have to be born of water and spirit.
Now what does Jesus mean that you have to be born of water and spirit?
It is clear that whatever that means it is another way of saying you have got to be born again or born from above.

I used to take a common position that is He says water and spirit he is talking about two different verbs: water and spirit.
The water referring to a sort of natural birth where your mother was in labor and the waters broke and your mother gave birth.
There is nothing about the amniotic fluid here in John 3. I don’t think you can really say the text gives rise to such an interpretation.

Then I took a second view where there are two baptisms being referred to here.
You have a water baptism: born of water and a spirit baptism: born of spirit.
But again if you look at the context of Johns gospel there is no way the context will sustain or support that view.

If you go back in John 1, John the Baptist baptising Jesus and he says in verse 32-33.
And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

In John 1, the water and the spirit are inseparably united in the one act of Baptism.
And so the context does not suggest two baptisms but one baptism.

Furthermore, if you continue on reading this discourse you discover that the very next verse following the end of the conversation with Nicodemus in Verse 22 reads
After this (that is after the conversation with Nicodemus) Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized.

The only verse in the entire four Gospels that speaks of Jesus baptising.
It goes on in verse 23 “John also was baptizing at Ae’non near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized.

It is so significant that prior to Jesus statement ‘you must be born again/born from above’ and immediately His conversation with Nicodemus there is baptism.

So how does this fit in?
Quite simply.
We have to receive Him.
We have to believe in His name.
But He has to give us power to become children of God.

Now how do we get the power?
How do these people in John 2 who believed Jesus but He did not entrust Himself to them?
How will they get Him to entrust themselves to Jesus?
Well the fact is that is the significance of baptism.

Baptism is a sacrament.
The Latin word ‘sacramentum’ means covenant oath.
An oath is essential for a covenant to be made.
Jesus is making a new covenant with us.
He is given us new power, divine power and He is the one who is instituting a sacrament here to make up for what human nature lacks.
We can do a little bit but we have got to receive Him. We have got to believe Him.

But when we are all done receiving and believing we still need to be regenerated, we still need to be re-born.
We need to be recreated and we can’t do it ourselves so Jesus institutes baptism precisely for the purpose of supplying a supernatural faith infused into our souls that we need to become children of God.

We are reborn in baptism.
The first time we were born was a natural birth into a natural human family.
When we are reborn through baptism we are born into a supernatural divine family.

The context is what led me to that conclusion.

I began to preach this in a decidedly non catholic setting giving them the reasons why I changed my position and I believe with unanimity every body there saying ‘you know that interpretation of baptismal rebirth really is the only interpretation that makes the most sense contextually of what Johns gospels is saying.

You must read the bible in its context.
So John Chapter 3 has to be interpreted in light of John chapter 1, 2, 4, throughout the whole gospel of John and throughout the whole Bible.

Source: Scott Hahn – Our Fathers Plan Bible Study – audio files from EWTN.com

By Gary (wrote 2 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/11/2010 01:23 am

i luv the bible

By Cathy Depestre (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/4/2009 19:52 pm

We are saved by grace through faith.(Eph.2:8) Faith comes by the hearing of the word of God.(Romans 10:17)We are born again by the incorrutible seed, the ever abiding word of God (1 Peter 1:23).The Lord Jesus said, “The words I speak to you, they are spirit, they are life.”(John 6:63). The word of God is thus life giving spirit. Peter therefore said,”Lord, whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” Thus the word of God is the seed that gives life. The word of God is also liken to water ( Ephesians 5:26). In the Sripture where the reference is to flowing water as symbol the Holy Spirit is intended, while in other cases the word of God is meant. The seed germinates in and by the water. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-14)It is the very work of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus and glorify Him. He therefore reveals Jesus as savior to the sinners.

My understaning of the new birth is that when the word of God, or say the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit applies. The sinner sees his hopeless position as sinner. He repents which means he not only regrets for his sins, but starts abhoring the sin altogether.He believes the Gospel and puts faith on the Lord Jesus as savior.He demonstrates the obediance of faith by acceting the lordship of Jesus christ, becoming His disciple. As he repents and believes His sins are forgiven by the shed blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Now that his sins are forgiven, the holy spirit gives him divine life. The sinner is born anew, born from above. I am agrreable to the proposition that John 3:5 can be rightly understood as” by water even ( or, that is) the Spirit- The holy Spirit using the word of God. Baptism is not the new birth, but it is the outward testimony of what has taken place within. A person is baptised because he has become the disciple of the Lord Jesus (Mt.28;18-20)

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/12/2009 16:36 pm

John 3:5 has often been misused as if being born again is somehow related to the act of water baptism. It is assumed, without any proof whatsoever, that “water” signifies baptism. If “water” is arbitrarily defined as baptism, then we could just as justifiably say, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living baptism” in John 7:38. If this sounds foolish, it is no more so than the idea that baptism is the source or the means of being born again.

Here is how I understand John 3:5:

(1) The Greek reads: “born of water and [kai] Spirit.” It is not born of water and of the Spirit, as if there are two sources. But the fact is, there is only one source of the new birth in this passage: the Spirit: “born ek water kai Spirit,” which can read, “born out of water even the Spirit.”

(2) The Greek word kai is often rendered even, and “born of water even the Spirit” is what W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testement Words calls “the epexagetic or explanatory use” (Vol. IV, page 252). Similar in use to “God even (kai) the Father” and “Jesus even (kai) our Saviour.”

(3) The same writer, John, in a near context, makes “water” synonymous with the Spirit: “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit . . . ” (John 7:38, 39). This shows that water is emblematical of the Spirit.

In every place where men are said to be “born” spiritually, the word EK [out of] is used, which indicates SOURCE. When “means” are in view, the word DIA [by or through] is used. And in no place in the Bible is any one said to born ek baptism or dia baptism. Baptism is neither the source nor the means of the new birth.
(from Bob Ross)

By gm (wrote 3 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 4/1/2009 09:05 am

1)Dear Pastor,Jason W.Elder,You have expressed the importance of the “BLOOD”
of Jesus Christ in your own style of language.I wish to add some comments for the benefit of some visitors.
Heb.9:22″Without shedding of blood there is no remission.”Read Lev.17:11;
Rom.3:25;Eph.1:7;2:13;Col.1:14;1 Pet.1:18,19;1 John 1:7;Rev.1:5.
“..if righteous come by the law,then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal.2:21.Read Matt.26:28;Mark 14:24;Luke 22:20;1 Cor.11:25;Heb.9:11-22.
2)”Repent”-It is the key word in Acts 2:38.It was the first sermon of Peter.
Read Acts 3:20 also.John the Baptist preached,”Repent,ye,for the kingdom of God is at hand.”Matt.3:2. Jesus preached,”The time is fulfilled,and the kingdom of God is at hand;Repent ye,and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15.
3)Repentance involves the change of mind and heart which leads to the change
of action.It contains two elements (i)to turn from & (ii)to turn to(Read 1 Thes.1:9;acts 14:15).Repentance is making an about turn.One has to regret for the sins of omissions & commissions & turn to God.
4)Paul has stated that the Corinthians were saved by the gospel.1 Cor.15:1,2
Rom.1:16.Read 2 Thes 2:13,14 “…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth;
wherefore he called you by our gospel.”One has to hear & know the gospel so that he can believe& be saved..John 5:24;Rom.10:13,14.
5)”..the wages of sin is death.”Rom.6:23.Jesus Christ has died on the cross in our stead and paid the penalty of death for our sins .The perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ has obtained the forgiveness of sins.One has to believe on the finished work of Christ to be saved.Rom.3:24;10:9.
6)”But as many as received him(Jesus)to them he gave power to become the sons of God,even to them that believe on his name.”John1:12;Read Gal.3:26.
They were not born of blood,nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man,but of God.John 1:13.Here the spiritual birth (being born again) is implied.Being born in a Christian family to godly parents does not mean that there is no need to be born again.But there is good chance of getting saved for those persons who are born to godly parents.Acts16:31.Mere Church attendance or membership does not save a person.Compare Acts 2:47″..And the Lord added to the church such as should be saved.”
“Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature;old thing are passed away;behold all things become new.”2 cor.5:17.Read Gal.6:15;Titus 2:14;3:15.
“We are born in this world to make a difference.In order to make that change internal changes must take place.Just as a worm feels the discomfort of its cocoon and begins making changes to transform into a beautiful butterfly,and be set free, we also can be transformed into beautiful creatures.”-The caterpillar is called the “Enemy of the farmers”.But the butterfly(coming from a caterpillar by the change)is called the “Friend of the farmers”as it helps the growth of the vegetation through pollination.
Read Gal.1:23;Phile.1:11.
7)Baptism identifies us with the burial of Jesus Christ.Read Rom.6:4;1 Pet.
3;21.The baptism signifies as “being dead to our sinful life & resurrected
to a new life in Christ.”Read Mark 16:16;1 cor.12:13;Gal.3:27-29

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/10/2009 03:40 am

RE: jk’s cmt on John 3:8 & Baptismal Regeneration

I don’t know what version of the Bible you’re using for Acts 2:38 but its the wrong one. You need to go to Wal-Mart and get a King James Bible.

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins…”(Ac 2:38)

“For” means “because” or “because of,” as in John 3:16 “For (because) God so loved the world…” In other words, Acts 2:38 says you ought to get baptized because your sins have been remitted.

I’m a baptist, I baptize believers, but baptism has absolutely nothing to do with salvation. “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…” (1Co 1:17)The Gospel is separate from baptism. As for being “born of water” when you were born, your mother’s water broke. Its as simple as that.

The new birth is NOT about being baptized! If water washed away sins, you’d have to soak all night! The power’s not in the water, the power’s in the BLOOD!

http://jasoneldersblog.wordpress.com

By Jason W. Elder (wrote 314 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/9/2009 16:26 pm