Quote:
Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind
can anyone explain why john 3:5, "born of the water" would not refer to water baptism?
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Dedicated,
One explanation as to why is found in the next verse that more fully explains the preceding verse. Or a parallelism.
John 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.
John..3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The water simply refers to our natural birth. The Spirit birth is from above.
John..3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John..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.
Water baptism doctrine as a New Birth requirement is greatly misunderstood. It's up to you to come to your own conclusions, but jmo this prerequisite to salvation has hindered rather than helped revival, replacing the emphasis on cross and our burden bearer, Jesus Christ, and placing it upon "the ministry".
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