Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey
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Regarding John 3:5 - the gravest error of 3-steppers is to proof-text the verse through Acts 2:38, instead of letting the context of John interpret John. Read the full Chapter and then tell me what you get from this "rebirth." I will tell you, when I saw grace for the first time, I could only describe it as being "born again." It fit so perfectly. It was an action of the Spirit in a regenerated heart to see and proclaim the Messiah. |
Three thoughts on
John 3:5.
1. Those who think "born of water" here means water baptism are teaching the Roman Catholic doctrine that water baptism is necessary to be saved, to wash away sin and that it births one into the family of God. Here is a note at
John 3:5 in my Douay (Roman Catholic) Bible. The Bible is official. It has the imprimatur of Bernardus Cardinalis Griffin dated 14 September 1955. The notes in it were compiled by Bishop Challoner (1691-1781). The note says, "By these words the Saviour hath declared the necessity of baptism...."
2. Jesus did NOT say, "unless a person is born AGAIN of water and Spirit...." He was not saying that water was part of a new or second birth. He was answering the question of Nicodemus about entering into a mother's womb and being born a second time. He was making it clear that the first first birth (the birth of water, or the birth from the womb, or the birth into the human family, or the birth of our human flesh) is different from the second birth (the birth of the Spirit, or the birth from above, or the birth into the heavenly family, or the birth of our human spirit."
3. Here is how one version of the Bible translates
John 3:5-6:
Jesus replied, "What I am telling you so earnestly is this: Physical birth is not enough. You must be born spiritually. Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from Heaven."
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