Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God." |
Subject: "Born-again Christian" redundant? |
Bible Note: Hank, Good to hear from you. I would rather say that grace is a condition of salvation. This is where we would differ: I believe that scripture does teach that baptism is the ordinary means by which we receive saving or sanctifying grace. And I believe that John 3 is where that is taught. Which is not to say that God is limited by baptism. Only that it is the ordinary and primary means by which we are instructed to enter into Christ, and his grace and salvation. God may save in other extraordinary ways through Jesus but this is the ordinary (I wonder if you see ordinance in this) way we are instructed to go. I realize we will disagree here. It is also a difference in our theology. You consider baptism an ordinance and I believe it to be a sacrament instituted by Christ through which God bestows his grace. The other extraordinary ways would fit into your earlier observations. I would call such situations baptism of desire or baptism of blood. The good thief would fall into such a category or one who died a martyr professing Christ but being deprived of the opportunity to be baptised. I am merely stating my beliefs here. I do not want to enter into a World War III debate or refight the reformation with anyone. This last comment was not for you Hank, with whom I have always had polite disagreements as well as found common ground. Emmaus Emmaus deprived of the oppourtunity for baptism. |