"washing of water by the word" Ephesians 5;25 - 27

[RonMurray]

Ephesians 5;25 - 27.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Key Phrase: "washing of water by the word".

Key Word: "word".

"word" = rhema.


The Word of God: Logos and Rhema

"There are two primary Greek words that describe Scripture which are translated word in the New Testament. The first, logos, refers principally to the total inspired Word of God and to Jesus, Who is the living Logos."

"The second primary Greek word that describes Scripture is rhema, which refers to a word that is spoken and means “an utterance.” A rhema is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction."

--- "Advanced Training Institute International"


In Ephesians 5;25 & 26, it says that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. And where it says, "washing of water by the word", some people will say that this isn't referring to baptism, and explain that water here is referring to the word, because it says " by the word". But how are we baptized by the word? By applying that word of baptism, like in Acts 2;38, where it says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The term "word" here in the Greek is "rhema", which means a specific word that's applied to a specifc need or situatuation. So it's talking about being washed by water by the word of baptism, or by the message, or instruction, or command, of baptism. 
.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by RonMurray

Ephesians 5;25 - 27.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Key Phrase: "washing of water by the word".

Key Word: "word".

"word" = rhema.


The Word of God: Logos and Rhema

"There are two primary Greek words that describe Scripture which are translated word in the New Testament. The first, logos, refers principally to the total inspired Word of God and to Jesus, Who is the living Logos."

"The second primary Greek word that describes Scripture is rhema, which refers to a word that is spoken and means “an utterance.” A rhema is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction."

--- "Advanced Training Institute International"


In Ephesians 5;25 & 26, it says that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. And where it says, "washing of water by the word", some people will say that this isn't referring to baptism, and explain that water here is referring to the word, because it says " by the word". But how are we baptized by the word? By applying that word of baptism, like in Acts 2;38, where it says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The term "word" here in the Greek is "rhema", which means a specific word that's applied to a specifc need or situatuation. So it's talking about being washed by water by the word of baptism, or by the message, or instruction, or command, of baptism. 
.

I believe it is referring to the regenerating cleansing of the Holy Ghost, the living water.

[RonMurray]

In John 3:5, water is already used together with the Holy Ghost. And "word" in this verse is "rhema", which means a word or portion of scripture that's applied. This means water that's applied, which means literal water in baptism.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by RonMurray

In John 3:5, water is already used together with the Holy Ghost. And "word" in this verse is "rhema", which means a word or portion of scripture that's applied. This means water that's applied, which means literal water in baptism.

It is not a slam dunk that John 3:5 is referring to water baptism. Understand, I do believe baptism is linked to the forgiveness of sin, but I'm not convinced that John 3:5 is referring to baptism. In fact, the "water" in John 3:5 is also most likely referring to the washing of the Spirit. in the very next chapter (John 4), Jesus clearly likens the Spirit to water.

[RonMurray]

Are you Apostolic? Because an Apostolic site is a strange place for someone to disagree and debate against Apostolic teaching.

Water is mentioned together with the Spirit, meaning two different things, "Water and of the Spirit".
As a whole, the New Testament plan of salvation is all summed up in Acts 2:38, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".

The message of Acts 2:38 is the new covenant that God spoke of in the Old Testament that would come (Jeremiah 31:31 – 33). In Matthew 26:28, Jesus said, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins". That's the connection between the blood and death of Jesus and the message of Acts 2:38. The old covenant was by the blood and sacrifice of animals, and was to the Jew. But the new covenant was by the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and is to all mankind. That if we, by faith in Jesus, turn to God in repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, then God will forgive us and will wash away oir sins, and we'll receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, as He has promised, "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39). And He will be our God, and we will be His people.

That alone is a big revelation and a lot to take in and think about if you didn't already know that.

But as for washing away of sins, Acts 2:38 plainly says that baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is for the remission of sins. In Luke 24:47, that's what Jesus meant by remission of sins being preached in His name (following repentance). In Acts 22:16, Ananias told Paul, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord". Sins are remitted in baptism, they are washed away in baptism.

And in John 20:23, Jesus says, " Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained". This means whoever is baptized will have their sins remitted, washed or taken away. But whoever is not baptized will not have their sins remitted, their sins will be retained, or remain.

That's why Jesus says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). He meant that literally. And in John 3:5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". He meant that literally, too. And He even stressed the importance of it by saying, "Verily, verily", or, "Truly, truly".

According to Jesus Himself, no one will enter into the kingdom of God unless they are born again by being baptized in water and receiving the Holy Ghost. But we must believe and repent before we can be baptized, or before we can receive the Holy Ghost. So even if we believe and repent, we're still not born again yet until we've been baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. So it takes all three together to be born again, repentance, and baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. And that's why all three of those steps are given all together in that one single verse in Acts 2:38. That is how we are born again.

The Truth About Salvation
http://salvationaccordingtogodsword.blogspot.com

Jesus Is God Who Was Manifest In The Flesh
http://jesusgodintheflesh.blogspot.com
.

[shazeep]

4“But how can anyone be born when he is old? ” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? ”

5Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is bornk of water and the Spirit,l,m he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6Whatever is born of the fleshn is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirito is spirit.

"born of water" seems to be pretty obviously natural birth here.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by shazeep

4“But how can anyone be born when he is old? ” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? ”

5Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is bornk of water and the Spirit,l,m he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6Whatever is born of the fleshn is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirito is spirit.

"born of water" seems to be pretty obviously natural birth here.

So, according to you, anyone born by C-Section cannot enter God's kingdom.

Classy.

[shazeep]

does water not break in a C-section? but pardon my shorthand, then; i assumed "natural" would be enough to impart the meaning. Physical, then.

[RonMurray]

You missed something here. Jesus was talking about being born again (verse 3). That's why Nic asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb" (verse 4).

So Jesus wasn't talking about a natural or physical rebirth, He was talking about a spritual rebirth, being born again spiritually. If He was talking about a natural birth, and saying we had to be born again physically to enter into the kingdom of God, that would mean that the requirement to enter into the kingdom of God would be that we had to be reincarnated, and then receive the Holy Spirit. But according to the Bible, there is no reincarnation, for "the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

So when Jesus was talking about being born of water and of the Spirit, He was talking about being born again, spiritually. And when He said of water, He was talking about the water of baptism, because He said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). If you put scripture together, you will see that when water is used in reference to salvation, it always means baptism. So in 1 John 5:8, where it says, "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one", this is refering to the blood of Christ that's applied in repentance, the water that's applied in baptism, and the Spirit that's applied by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

So when we follow the message of Acts 2:38, then we will have all three witnesses aplied to our life, the blood, the water, and the Spirit, and they will bear witness together in us that we have believed and are saved.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by RonMurray

Are you Apostolic? Because an Apostolic site is a strange place for someone to disagree and debate against Apostolic teaching.

Water is mentioned together with the Spirit, meaning two different things, "Water and of the Spirit".
As a whole, the New Testament plan of salvation is all summed up in Acts 2:38, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".

The message of Acts 2:38 is the new covenant that God spoke of in the Old Testament that would come (Jeremiah 31:31 – 33). In Matthew 26:28, Jesus said, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins". That's the connection between the blood and death of Jesus and the message of Acts 2:38. The old covenant was by the blood and sacrifice of animals, and was to the Jew. But the new covenant was by the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and is to all mankind. That if we, by faith in Jesus, turn to God in repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, then God will forgive us and will wash away oir sins, and we'll receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, as He has promised, "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39). And He will be our God, and we will be His people.

That alone is a big revelation and a lot to take in and think about if you didn't already know that.

But as for washing away of sins, Acts 2:38 plainly says that baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is for the remission of sins. In Luke 24:47, that's what Jesus meant by remission of sins being preached in His name (following repentance). In Acts 22:16, Ananias told Paul, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord". Sins are remitted in baptism, they are washed away in baptism.

And in John 20:23, Jesus says, " Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained". This means whoever is baptized will have their sins remitted, washed or taken away. But whoever is not baptized will not have their sins remitted, their sins will be retained, or remain.

That's why Jesus says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). He meant that literally. And in John 3:5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". He meant that literally, too. And He even stressed the importance of it by saying, "Verily, verily", or, "Truly, truly".

According to Jesus Himself, no one will enter into the kingdom of God unless they are born again by being baptized in water and receiving the Holy Ghost. But we must believe and repent before we can be baptized, or before we can receive the Holy Ghost. So even if we believe and repent, we're still not born again yet until we've been baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. So it takes all three together to be born again, repentance, and baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. And that's why all three of those steps are given all together in that one single verse in Acts 2:38. That is how we are born again.

The Truth About Salvation
http://salvationaccordingtogodsword.blogspot.com

Jesus Is God Who Was Manifest In The Flesh
http://jesusgodintheflesh.blogspot.com
.

I'm just as Apostolic as you. I'm just as Acts 2:38 as you. I believe baptism is unto the forgiveness of sins. I do not believe, however, that John 3:5 is talking about baptism. One does not have to hang his hat on John 3:5 to believe baptism is a step towards being born again.