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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 7/7/02 Radio Program

Question:

In John 3:5, we read about being born of water and the spirit. We know that being born of water means immersion, what does being born of the spirit mean?

Answer:

John 3 records the meeting of Christ and Nicodemus. The verse referred to in the question says: "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." Yet, remember that John 3:5 has a context. John 3:5 is recorded because Nicodemus didn't understand Christ's words in John 3:3. After Nicodemus declared that "they" knew that Jesus was a teacher from God (v. 2), Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus misunderstood what Jesus was saying (v. 4), so Jesus explained it greater detail, discussing being "born of water and of the spirit" (v. 5). Therefore, the first thing we need to understand is that being "born of water and of the spirit" is not two separate things, but it is one thing. To be "born of water and of the spirit" is to be "born again," and to be "born again" is to be "born of water and of the spirit" (Jn. 3:3, 5).

Sometimes, we have people suggest that being "born of water" has reference to a child being born. They say that the amniotic fluid is equivalent to being born of water, and then one is born of the spirit at another time. Yet, please read John 3:3-5 carefully, and notice Jesus does not say "except a baby..." but says, "except a man...." (v. 5). Therefore, this is a man being born of water and of the spirit, (Nicodemus understood that Jesus spoke of a man, too, v. 4) and this occasion happens at once, not on two separate occasions.

The Bible is its own best commentary, and therein we see that there are other passages which help us in our study of John 3:3-5. One such passage is I Peter 1:22-23. There, Peter says, "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." In this passage, we see that one is "born again" by the word of God. (See also: Jas. 1:18) Another passage to note is in Titus 3:5. It talks about man's salvation saying, "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". Some versions say, "...renewing power of the Holy Spirit."

Therefore, in order to be born again, it requires that one be born of water, and of the spirit (Jn. 3:3, 5). The emphasis is upon the spiritual, and not the physical. This is what messed Nicodemus up (Jn. 3:4). Jesus wasn't speaking of a physical birth, nor a physical "rebirth," but only a spiritual birth. How does this occur? It occurs when one hears the word of God (inspired by the Holy Spirit, II Pet. 1:20-21), which produces faith (Rom. 10:17). This one will then follow the Lord's command and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). At this time, he/she is forgiven of his/her sins, is the recipient of spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3), and added to the Lord's body, being born into a new family -- God's family! This is what it means to be born of water and of the spirit.

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