In our study we have examined: That there is currently only one baptism, that of the Great Commission- baptism for the remission of sins The seven “baptisms” to which the New Testament refers

That the New Testament defines baptism as an immersion in water That it has purpose That, since God has stated a purpose for it, it must be done for that purpose

That proper baptism puts one “into Christ,” where all spiritual blessings and salvation are found That there are numerous New Testament examples of those who obeyed the gospel, being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins

We have studied the impact of the words eis and and on this subject We have looked in-depth at Acts 2:38 & Mark 16:16 and also studied Romans 6

Last week we allowed the Bible to define the Lost Person and the Saved Person We then looked at Baptism in the New Testament and asked “Who Needs Baptism—The Lost Person or the Saved Person?” The answer was very obviously, The Lost Person

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 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. 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. 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? 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? John 3:1-10

Let’s examine this text and look at the key elements involved in each verse

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. John 3:3 Here, the fact of the new birth is stated The details of the new birth will be given in verse 5

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. John 3:3 “Except”- thus, this is an exceptive sentence

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Matthew 19:9

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3

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. John 3:3 “Except”- thus, this is an exceptive sentence This means that whatever is included in the exceptive phrase is absolutely essential

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. John 3:3 “See”- means to go into

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. Acts 19:21

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. John 3:3 “See”- means to go into So, whatever being “born again” is, it must be done before one can go into the kingdom of God

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? John 3:4 Nicodemus asked about “a man” But not just any man… So, the individual under consideration is not a baby, not an infant, but a grown man

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? John 3:4 So, this question and Jesus’ answer that follows involve a full- grown, accountable individual

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. John 3:5 “Except” again makes whatever is said absolutely essential But, it also makes what is said here equivalent to what was said in verse 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. John 3:3 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. John 3:5

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. John 3:3 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. John 3:5 be born of water and of the Spirit born again

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. John 3:5 “A man” is that same man under consideration It is the man about which Nicodemus had asked, “a man… when he is old”

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. John 3:5 It is that man (“a man…when he is old”) that must be born of water and of the Spirit No mention of a baby and amniotic fluid (as some teach)

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. John 3:5 Being “born of water and of the Spirit” is equivalent to being “born again” from verse 3 Being “born again” involves both water and the Spirit

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. John 3:5 Thus, it is one birth involving two elements—water and the Spirit

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. John 3:5 A Pharisee, like Nicodemus, had been taught that his descent from Abraham insured him a place in Messiah’s kingdom Not so, according to Jesus

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. John 3:5 This thinking had to be rooted up by Jesus

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. John 3:5 Since active life begins at birth, it was necessary for Nicodemus to learn that he was not yet suited for the kingdom of God He had not been “born again”

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. John 3:5 Nicodemus knew of but one birth, fleshly birth

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. John 3:5 He failed to see that by means of a figure Jesus was drawing an analogy between the birth that brings one into active physical life and the new birth which introduces one into spiritual life

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. John 3:5 As noted, “enter” in this verse is the same as “see” in verse 3 Being “born again” is equivalent to being “born of water and the Spirit”

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. John 3:5 So, being “born again” or being “born of water and of the Spirit” is essential to seeing/entering the kingdom of heaven

With this in mind, note a matter involving the Corinthians

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. I Corinthians 3:1, 2

With this in mind, note a matter involving the Corinthians These Corinthians were referred to as “babes in Christ” How were they “babes?”

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. I Corinthians 4:15

With this in mind, note a matter involving the Corinthians These Corinthians were referred to as “babes in Christ” How were they “babes?” Like any “babes,” they had been begotten—begotten through the Gospel of Christ

What was the process?

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that

worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Acts 18:5-8 “I have begotten you through the gospel”

What was the process? What was the result?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

What was the process? What was the result? They were “in Christ” (baptism puts one into Christ)

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27

What was the process? What was the result? They were “in Christ” (baptism puts one into Christ) They were “new creatures,” “babes in Christ,” having been “born again” of “water (baptism) and of the Spirit” (the gospel, the Spirit’s teaching)

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. John 3:5 To “enter the kingdom” is to be saved

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:13, 14

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. John 3:5 In order to be saved one must believe, repent, confess and be baptized for the remission of sins (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:3; Acts 2:38)

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. John 3:5 Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other

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. John 3:5 So, being “born again,” being “born of water and of the Spirit,” and obedience to the gospel (faith, repentance, confession, baptism) are all the same

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. John 3:5 Compare this thought with the words of Peter:

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. I Peter 1:22, 23

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. John 3:5 Compare this thought with the words of Peter: This also explains I Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. I Corinthians 12:13 Not “with” or “in”Through the instrumentality ofThrough the Spirit’s teachings

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. John 3:5 John 3:5 figuratively states what is literally affirmed in Acts 2:38 To be “born again” is simply to obey the gospel

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. John 3:5 It is not surprising that those who deny baptism its proper place would interpret “water” in this passage as something other than baptism

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. John 3:5 In so doing they are in conflict with both the Scriptures and the scholarship of the world Henry Alford, one of the translators of the ASV wrote:

“…all attempts to get rid of baptism in this passage have sprung from doctrinal prejudices by which the views of expositors have been warped.”

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. John 3:5 One is begotten of the Spirit by believing the Word that the Spirit gave, and is born of water by coming forth from the waters of baptism

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 This was stated in response to Nicodemus’ question of verse 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? John 3:4

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 This was stated in response to Nicodemus’ question of verse 4 Jesus was not speaking of a physical birth

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 Nicodemus was asking a “physical” question about a “spiritual” matter Jesus’ emphasis is that things be kept in their proper arena

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 Jesus was speaking about spiritual matters (being “born again”), not physical matters (entering into a mother’s womb again)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:7 There was no need to be alarmed or perplexed by what Jesus had said It was and is a simple matter once understood

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. John 3:8 A great deal of misunderstanding about this passage

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. John 3:8 Many equate the wind’s actions with the operation of the Holy Spirit

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. John 3:8 Nothing could be further from the truth or further from what this passage teaches

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. John 3:8 Notice that the comparison is between “the wind” and “every one that is born of the Spirit,” not the Spirit Himself

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. John 3:8 So, whatever is said concerning “the wind” is said in conjunction with the individual and not the Holy Spirit

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. John 3:8 What is being said? Jesus explains that He is talking about invisibility, not mystery

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. John 3:8 Just because the new birth occurs to the invisible part of man does not mean that it is so mysterious it can’t be understood

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. John 3:8 We understand about the wind, even though we cannot see it You don’t see a physical change in one born anew spiritually

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. John 3:8 Just because you can’t see the wind does not mean that it is not there

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. John 3:8 Just because you can’t see the rebirth of the spirit of a man does not mean that it doesn’t occur

Because of the physical aspect of circumcision, it was easy to tell if a man was a Jew Unlike circumcision of the flesh, the new birth (the circumcision of the heart) could not be known simply by looking at an individual physically

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. 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? 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. That which is born of the

flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 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.

Unless you are born again you cannot enter into the kingdom of God Being born again means to obey the Gospel of Christ—to believe, repent, confess and be baptized for the remission of sins

Have you been born again, of water and of the Spirit?