Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
How do you reconcile this with Christ's words to Nicodemus?
(John 3:5 KJV)
(5) Jesus answered, 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. |
I see no reference to baptism in this passage. I do see John's consistent metaphorical use of the word 'water' as reference to the 'Spirit.'
He repeats the metaphor in the very next chapter (4) and again in chapter 7. I see no reason to discard its metaphorical use in chapter 3. This position holds that Christ is simply adding emphasis to the idea of spiritual rebirth which becomes the continued focus of the chapter.