Subject: IS BAPTISM NECESSARY |
Bible Note: Being 'born of water' refers to natural childbirth, in Jn 3:4, and baptism is not there, but mentioned earlier, in chapter 1. Being born of water, is meaning when the mother's 'water breaks' before birth. We can see in the surrounding text that this was not understood as baptism. Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Another view is that the water is in reference to the water baptism of repentance taught by John the Baptist. Contextually, the Gospel of John mentions John the Baptist in 1:6-8 and vss. 19-36. So, John's ministry has already been in view here. If the case was for baptism in Jn 3:5, then Jesus would have been speaking of the "baptism of repentance" preached by John the Baptist. Some additional proof should be offered, to those who might say that they are not convinced that John 3:5 does not teach the necessity of baptism. The proof is found in God's word. In Him who there is no shadow of turning. The following passages may be used to prove that baptism in not necessary for salvation. Rom 3:22, 26, 28; 4:5; 5:1 Gal 3:8, 24 Eph 2:8 Personally, I feel that salvation through baptism is salvation through 'works' and therefore denies the sufficiency of Christ's blood to save us from our sins. If we could be saved through baptism, then why, oh why, would Jesus have to have been crucified for us?? |