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NASB | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
Bible Question:
Hello, I have a couple of questions about the above verse: What is "the washing of regeneration"? What is "renewing by the Holy Spirit"? Thanks! Charles |
Bible Answer: It should be especially be noted in the conversation between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch that he says, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" as he chooses to enter into the Christian fold. Why not does he not get ‘led in the sinner's prayer’ to salvation. (Maybe one could do some research on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s 2,000 year doctrine of baptismal regeneration before they suggest I’m preaching novelty). Consider also the following verses: Gal 3:27 For all of you who were BAPTIZED into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all BAPTIZED into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Col 2:12 having been buried with Him in BAPTISM, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. For anyone able to read the Bible in its plain sense, rather than through their preconceptions, it is obvious that Titus 3:5's 'bath of regeneration' is referring to the baptismal tank of regeneration. This is of course entirely consistent with the rest of the NT. Some will argue that aforementioned references to 'baptisms' are metaphors for regeneration through the born-again prayer. There is no excuse for this butchery of the plain sense of scripture. On the other hand, is the born-again prayer really truely biblical? Why is this prayer entirely absent from the Bible. There are loads of prayers in the Bible, such as the Lord’s Prayer; how can the prayer ostensibly needed to ‘save humanity’ be absent in a 1089 chapter book. Even the slimmest tract has a example prayer. Yet, God chose not to put one in His Bible because it isn’t how He intended the Christian to receive the New Birth. (Romans 10:8-10 IS NOT a prayer, and such a profession is entirely consistent with the faith verbalised and internalised accompanying Baptism). To Him Alone be the Glory |