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NASB | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek 36:25-27] |
Subject: Verses where water alone means baptism? |
Bible Note: Tertullian became a Montanist later. It was after the year 206 that he joined the Montanist sect, and he seems to have definitively separated from the Church about 211 (Harnack) or 213 (Monceaux). After writing more virulently against the Church than even against heathen and persecutors, he separated from the Montanists and founded a sect of his own. The remnant of the Tertullianists was reconciled to the Church by St. Augustine. His orthodox writings are held in great esteem although I guess that because he left the Catholic Church that is why he never was honoured as a a saint. No Church father is considered authortive by the Church of Rome, only the bishops in ecumenical council. Nevertheless early patristic consensus is inportant in showing how the early Chistian writers understood scripture; there were no evangelicals! The events of Acts 10:47ff are entirely unique in that they divinely justified the acceptance of the Gentiles into the Church to Jewish Christians. As unique as the tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost. The thief on the cross is another unique circumstance. It is more important to establish the pattern for the 'normal Christian birth.' The Catholic Church only teaches that baptism is the normative pattern of regeneration, and that God is not limited in this respect. They have always taught the efficacy of the baptism of desire, and the baptism of blood as exceptional cases of regeneration. The events of Acts 10 were to prove to the Jewish Christians God accepted the Gentiles in a one off way. It is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit 'fell' on the listeners of Peter's sermon; there is no mention of any altar call or born-again prayer. Dalcent |