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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:
Hank, Have you ever heard of Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Tertullian, Origen, Clement, Cyprian, Read their writings, they all agreed saved by grace through faith at baptism. The Nicene Creed, written prior to the canonization of the Bible in 325 AD states "one baptism for the forgiviness of sins". The Nicene Creed also established the doctrine of the Trinity(I assume you believe in that)My gosh, the guys who decided what books go in the NT all beleived water baptism as essential to salvation. My challenge to you is this, quote me just one guy, a priest, church historian, Pastor, elder, deacon, a slave, a roman pagan, just anyone at all who lived in the 1st or 2nd century who believed in "faith alone" apart from baptism, just one. |
Bible Answer: Hello arrow1, Here is another verse that shows that water baptism is what John 3:5 is referred to. Ephes. 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, The word here must have meant baptism. We all know that this being the case we must all have baptism to bring about faith as the first thing before conversion. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Here the word really means baptism again? This next verse is talking about those that bring us to be baptized, I think, since that is the logical progression to being born of the Spirit? Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Here we have James mentioning baptism and how it is engrafted or implanted or impregnated to bring about berth from the Koine Greek word EMPHUTOS. James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Did that all seem logical, I hope not? It’s by the grace of God through faith in His word that brings about being born of the Spirit. The water is the Word of God that brings us to the place of trusting in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. We are not supposed to be baptized until AFTER we believe, so water baptism cannot and does not precede being born of the Spirit. One can’t believe in Christ apart from the Word, but they sure can believe with out the use of H2O. Believing in Christ is the result of the action of God by the revealing to the lost about His precious Son through His precious Word and the unbeliever responding in faith to what God has told him. There is no difference between what we believe about Christ and what Abraham believed about Christ. Did you ever read about Abraham being baptized? Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Maybe believed here meant baptism???????? Have a great day, CDBJ |