Born of Water & Spirit Jn. 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 taught this to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. He would have been aware of Jon the Baptist’s teaching that the “kingdom of heaven is at hand.”, Mt. 3:2. Now Jesus is teaching him that a man must be born again, or he cannot see the kingdom. Nicodemus asks Jesus:”How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”, Jn. 3:4

The New Birth Jesus repeats the teaching, adding some explanation: 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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.

Explanation: Jesus teaches that the rebirth is “of water and of the Spirit”. This is not two separate births, but two elements of the same birth. First one must be born of water, which would be baptism. Jesus would command the eleven in Mt. 28:19 saying: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” He would also command them saying: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.” Mk. 16:16.

Explanation: Jesus teaches that the rebirth is “of water and of the Spirit”. This is not two separate births, but two elements of the same birth. Peter commanded those who believed at Pentecost, when the gospel was preached, saying: “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Acts 2:38. He also wrote in 1 Pet. 3:20,21 that “eight souls were saved by water” in the days of Noah and the great flood, and added: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”. Born of water is one element of rebirth, and the believer is born again of water when he is baptized.

Explanation: Jesus teaches that the rebirth is “of water and of the Spirit”. This is not two separate births, but two elements of the same birth. The other element of the rebirth into the kingdom of God is the spiritual change that occurs when one believes, repents, is baptized for the remission of sin, Acts 2:38, and begins to “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine”, vs. 42. This commitment to “Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” as Jesus taught in Mt. 28:20, is the “newness of life” we are to walk in, Rom. 6:4.

Explanation: Jesus teaches that the rebirth is “of water and of the Spirit”. This is not two separate births, but two elements of the same birth. The rebirth consists of baptism and the transition that takes place when one believes, obeys, and subjects himself to the teachings of Jesus. Paul explains: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”, Rom. 6:3,4.

Explanation: Jesus teaches that the rebirth is “of water and of the Spirit”. This is not two separate births, but two elements of the same birth. Jesus promised to send the Comforter to the apostles. He told them: “the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”, Jn. 14:26. The Spirit inspired them to teach, and the Scripture we have was given by inspiration of the Spirit. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

The Process: Transition The process begins when the Spirit is allowed into a person’s heart, allowing us to understand the pain we cause God due to our sin. Believing in God’s Word, we have sorrow for our actions, repent, and seek his forgiveness of our sins through the death of His Son, who accepted the punishment of our sin. Like those who believed in Acts 2;37, the believer wants to know what Jesus would have him do. What would Jesus have the believer do? Peter answered in v. 38. The believer repents of his sins, and he is baptized for the remission of those sins, and he rises to walk in newness of life that comes with being born again. The old man of sin is “buried with Him (Christ) by baptism into death”, Rom 6:4, so the believer comes our of the water forgiven and begins to walk in the “newness of life”.

The Process: Transition The process begins when the Spirit is allowed into a person’s heart, allowing us to understand the pain we cause God due to our sin. Believing in God’s Word, we have sorrow for our actions, repent, and seek his forgiveness of our sins through the death of His Son, who accepted the punishment of our sin. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:27. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17. Born again of water and of the Spirit, the believer has now been forgiven of his sins; put on Christ, his old man has died with Christ and been buried with Him in baptism; and he is risen to walk in newness of life, a new creature in Christ. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom. 12:2.

The Process: Transition The process begins when the Spirit is allowed into a person’s heart, allowing us to understand the pain we cause God due to our sin. Believing in God’s Word, we have sorrow for our actions, repent, and seek his forgiveness of our sins through the death of His Son, who accepted the punishment of our sin. Believers are born again through the Word of God, 1 Pet. 1:23. The Word of God is the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul said the things the apostles spoke were not man’s wisdom, but rather what the Holy Spirit taught, 1 Cor. 2:13. Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel, because it held the power of salvation, Rom. 1:16. The power of the gospel is that it produces faith, Rom. 10:17. And those who believe in Jesus receive Him, and these are given the right to become God’s children, Jn. 1:12.

The Process: Transition The process begins when the Spirit is allowed into a person’s heart, allowing us to understand the pain we cause God due to our sin. Believing in God’s Word, we have sorrow for our actions, repent, and seek his forgiveness of our sins through the death of His Son, who accepted the punishment of our sin. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles, giving the what they should say, Mt. 10:19,20. Since hearing the gospel produces faith that gives one the right to become children of God, the rebirth has begun by the power of the Spirit in the believing hearer. It is this transformation combined with baptism that constitutes the rebirth into the kingdom of God, added to the congregation of the saved; with one’s sins washed away, Acts 22:16.

The Process: Transition The process begins when the Spirit is allowed into a person’s heart, allowing us to understand the pain we cause God due to our sin. Believing in God’s Word, we have sorrow for our actions, repent, and seek his forgiveness of our sins through the death of His Son, who accepted the punishment of our sin. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Tit. 3:4,5.

Conclusion What keeps you from salvation, from obeying God? No amount of time will ever change the Will of God, and the Spirit’s Word given and written. God is not to be changed, but expects us to change our will in obedience. Won’t you hear the good news that Jesus did for you; that He was buried, and God raised Him from the dead on the third day; that He did this so tha we might have forgiveness of our sins, in Him? Believe in Jesus, repent, confess your belief in word and in deed, Rom. 10:9. Rise to walk in newness of lfie guided by His Word. BE born again!