born of water

[Hesetmefree238]

Originally Posted by Sean

It is more than just a symbolic ritual. It is an OPERATION of GOD, made without hands!!!

For the record, I never said that baptism is just a symbolic ritual. Read my prior comments. You were writing earlier that people who have been filled with the Spirit are still spiritually dead until they are water baptized. I disagree with your position that one is spiritually dead until water baptism. It's imperative that they be baptized in Jesus name, but they have received the life of Christ within them. It's the Spirit that quickeneth and giveth life. One can be baptized and still be spiritually dead. Baptism by itself doesn't give life, however, it is part of God's new covenant plan, and the sin issue isn't completely taken care of until one has been baptized. We have to bury the old man, and going through the waters of baptism in Jesus name cuts us off from our past life of sin, however it takes the Spirit to give us the life of Christ. The Spirit is the life of Christ. They are synonymous.

Romans 8:10 "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

2 Corinthians 3:6 "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."