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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] |
Bible Question:
I came across Paul C Jong he was talking about being born of water and spirit. I read about half of his e-book he kept refering to being born of water and spirit he also put a lot of emphases on John the Baptist I would love any feed back. Thanks, Daily Bread |
Bible Answer: Hello Daily... I am not familiar with that book but hear is something to ponder. I believe that Jesus is referring to the Word, when he is speaking of water. How Indeed can one be born again of the Spirit, without first hearing the Word? They must go together. And when we read carefully, we can see that they are indeed joined together, and, (although they are two different things, they are part of the same package, so to speak.) John 3, verse 5, Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth no one can enter the Kingdom of God Unless he is born of Water and the Spirit. Note that He does not say Born of Water and (of) the Spirit, But, He links them together, "Water and the Spirit," Now if I may we'll look at v 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, But the Spirit gives birth to spirit. I know that may look like Our Lord is explaining that the water he is referring to is natural birth, but frankly I think that is kind of a stretch. I have heard this explanation for the water referring to natural birth, and think it is a good one. However, consider this. To be saved, we must first hear the Word, faith comes by hearing. The water is the Word that washes us clean. Faith we know is a gift, but that gift cannot be received without first hearing the Word/Water. Then by the gift of faith after hearing the Word/Water, we can receive God's Spirit and be Born again. That is why our Lord said. Born of water and of Spirit. John 4:10 "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he and would have given you living water." The Word of God is often referred to as living water. V, 13-14 Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." These verses and the revelation of the meaning of the water in John 3, have given me a thirst. But not a thirst for drinking liquid water, but a thirst for reading God's Word/Water. I am in no way dogmatic about this. Just an opinion. God bless. John |