Unless One Is Born of Water and the Spirit

Are we “born again” Christians or “born from above” Christians (or maybe both)? What can we learn from the Greek? How does the Spirit’s long-established connection to water-from Genesis onward-inform our understanding of John 3? In this week’s video on Reading the Gospels through Hebrew Eyes, Chad Bird connects Jesus’ teaching about the Spirit and the water to its Hebrew background to explore what it means to be born of God.
Reference: • The Bronze Serpent and...

[@jabohabo3821]

Ezekiel 36:25-28 Ezekiel 36:25-28 Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth, the filth from those nasty idols, and I will make you pure. I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart. I will put my Spirit inside you and change you so that you will obey my laws. You will carefully obey my commands. Then you will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. Baptism is required to enter into the kingdom.of heaven. Elijah in 1 kings and Elisha in 2 kings.. as well as leviticus and numbers and many of the Psalms mention it. Then every single book of the new testament after Christ said it in John 3:5 Many more examples if you need. Baptism is not just a public display of anything. Nor is it primarily only to be done in public. This is a stumbling block for many many many people. Baptism is a requirement to even see the kingdom. It is not specific to any one doctrine. It is a requirement from our lord amd savior. Rejected by thise who assume an appearance of godliness amd choose to follow Denominations instead of the word. We were not called to follow denominations but rather the word. The word is clear amd god breathed. Rejecting any of it is to reject christ

[@TheApostelicPrincess]

This verse is a nightmare for BHI and WHI who consider themselves lost tribes but are actually schismatics

[@Lashay7]

Look up the Greek word Kai which is a conjunction. So the translation could read as “water which is the Holy Spirit”

[@kac0404]

The need for PHYSICAL BIRTH to enter his SPIRITUAL Kingdom has nothing to do with Jesus’ message in John 3 or elsewhere. Jesus spoke of one “new birth” with two elements (water and the Spirit) that was needed in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. The one who suggests that Jesus is speaking of two births (physical and spiritual) as necessary to enter the Kingdom has the burden of proof of showing where, in the context, He speaks of such.

[@kac0404]

@djhalls5695 No he's not! In verse 3 of John 3, Jesus says one must be born again to see the kingdom of God. In verse 5 He says one must be born of water and Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Seeing the kingdom of God and entering the kingdom of God are the same thing. So, there is only one birth here under consideration, and it involves both water and Spirit (cf Eph 5:26). Another stumbling block for most to properly grasp the text is the general disbelief in the necessity of water baptism in order to be saved, even though there are a multitude of Scriptures that so teach (e.g., Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). In rejecting of the clear teaching of Scripture, many have invented fanciful explanations of what “water” means in today’s text. Many have opined that the water of John 3:5 is amniotic fluid, what we speak of when a pregnant woman’s “water” breaks. Though such is called water, it is not water. The Bible never uses the word water to describe amniotic fluid. Jesus said “water” and that is exactly what He meant, else what did John mean later in this same chapter when he wrote that John baptized at Aenon because “there was much water there (v 23)? Let the text teach what it teaches.

[@yveltal1284]

​@@kac0404the thief on the cross who rebuked the other thief on the cross and was assured by Jesus of his salvation... was he baptised

[@yveltal1284]

​​@@kac0404maybe i misread what you said but this goes for anyone who thinks water baptism is necessary ... its not

[@kac0404]

@yveltal1284 Baptism in the name of the Lord was not required for salvation before the death of Jesus. Baptism in the name of the Lord is a part of the New Testament, not the Old Testament. The New Testament, the will of the Lord, did not become effective until after the death of Jesus. The scriptures teach, "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth" (Hebrews 9:16,17). The request made by "the thief on the cross" and Jesus answer came before the death of Jesus and before Jesus' New Testament took effect. Hence, the thief was not required to be baptized in the name of the Lord to be saved. How could one be "buried with Him (Jesus, hh ) by baptism into death" before Jesus died? (Romans 6:4). Baptism in the name of the Lord for the remission of sins would be preached beginning on Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:38).

[@kac0404]

@yveltal1284 No, you didn't misread. Baptism in water is essential to salvation, and here is scripture to prove it. "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mark 16:16) All spiritual blessings are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). We are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27). Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Through baptism, we wash away our sins (Acts 22:16). Without remission of sins, we could not be saved. "Baptism doth now save us..."(1 Peter 3:21)

[@SteveFirefly777]

In the Jewish context, being born of water is equivalent to the crossing of the Red Sea (baptism), and born of Spirit is equivalent to the encounter at Mount Sinai, which occurred on Shavuot, the day of Pentecost. Jesus is telling everyone that it’s not enough to rely on the experiences of one’s ancestors. Everyone needs to experience salvation and renewal of the covenant themselves.

[@TrueJubalee]

That's powerful!

[@cazdoodle7737]

Spiritual drink amen mana from heaven

[@dlomartinez9957]

I always understood the water as a woman's water breaking. Contrasting that you must be born of the flesh (water) then the spirit (salvation)

[@fernandoperez8587]

In the baptism of Jesus we see water and Holy Spirit present. Christ set the precedent. And throughout the book of Acts we see water baptism and folks receiving the Holy Spirit usually by the laying on of hands immediately following. There now you know what Christ meant by being born of water and of Spirit.

[@nikeinjesus1]

Nicodemus was already born of a woman when Jesus warned him he needed to be born >again.< The question raised by Nicodemus that Jesus replied to was, "How can a man when he is OLD be born again?" Jesus knew that Nicodemus and the other Pharisees "rejected the counsel of God against themselves not being baptized of John" (Lk.7.30). Bur for those who submitted to John's baptism, Jesus promised would "go" into the kingdom (Mt.21:31-32). So, Jesus warned Nicodemus, if he was not born again, of water (baptism), and of the Spirit, he could not enter into the kingdom. Think about it. To refuse John's baptism was a rejection of salvation. To submit to John's baptism granted entrance into the kingdom. John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mk.1:4-5; Lk.3:3). Keeping in context with water referring to baptism. Jesus continued to explain, but was not making it easy on Nicodemus, for he was humbling Nicodemus. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." "That which is born of the flesh," is the physical and visible part of our process in being born again. When our bodies/flesh is immersed. Where born of the Spirit is invisible, as the blowing of the wind (vs.8), the forgiveness of sins, and the reception of the Holy Spirit. Peter does a wonderful job in explaining how one is born of water and Spirit. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever" (1Pt 1:22-23). First notice our souls are purified when we >obey< the truth, not when we believe the truth, but when we obey the truth. (A problematic verse for those of the faith only and Christ only persuasion.) "Through the Spirit... being born again by the Word of God." The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in our initial conversion, as He works on our hearts through the Word of God. When we obey the truth, our souls are purified. "Unless a man is born of water (baptism/obedience), and of the Spirit (through the Word of God), he cannot enter into the kingdom." On the day of Pentecost when the crowd asked what they could do to be saved. Peter answered in vs.38. Then Peter continued preaching with many other words testifying and exhorting said "save yourselves" from this wicked generation. If they were saved at the point of faith, Peter would have never insisted they still needed saving. Remember, our souls are purified when we obey the truth. So what did they do to save themselves? "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:40-41). To save themselves they were baptized. Now notice after they were baptized was when Jesus added them to the kingdom. Just as Jesus warned Nicodemus, "Unless a man is born again of water (baptism) he cannot enter into the kingdom." If Nicodemus heeded Jesus warning and was baptized that night or the following day, he was born again. On Pentecost day is when he would go into the kingdom, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The mistake many make is not understanding to be born of the Spirit (Jn.3:5), is not speaking of the Baptism of the Spirit, or receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. But the HS working through the Word of God. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of the Holy Spirit was not offered to anyone before Pentecost. (The exception of the apostles, when Jesus gave them the HS here and then.) Therefore, everyone baptized under John's baptism was born again, having their sins forgiven, ultimately at the cross, and entered the kingdom on Pentecost day.

[@dougsammons2228]

The spirit did not,, hover,, that would make it not doing the work Father had given it to do,,, what you get by using a wrong Bible,,,okj,,In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was void and without form and the spirit of God,,, MOVED upon the FACES of the Waters. There you see the spirit was at work, not just standing around,, hovering, but getting the command to move upon the FACES of the waters done.

[@terrytaerum7087]

Greatly appreciated your linkage with the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in creation of life. One could also include Luke "the Holy Spirit will come upon you" in reference to the birth of Jesus. I think Jesus is also establishing his authority by taking Nicodemus literally when he says, "a teacher come from God". If Jesus is come from God, He must also have seen the "kingdom of God" like Moses. With reference to water in "water and the Spirit", our natural birth is "in water". We even speak of a mother's water breaking. And yes, it also refers to baptism since we are "born again" in baptism by water and the Spirit. As Jesus points out, we may barely understand "born of water" but no one can capture "the wind/Spirit" - it is beyond our human comprehension - it must be "from above". Again, your insights are wonderful - thank you.

[@HalLeath]

I so enjoy your teaching. ❤

[@Onesouthsecurity]

I have heard very good studies on this topic. All of the word parsing was interesting. I do not, however, agree with the conclusion. How do we explain the gentile Cornelius receiving the Holy Spirit (Salvation ) in speaking in tongues, which was a manifestation of the spirit, proving that he had been born again before he was ever baptized in water or Apostle Paul saying “Christ did not send me to “Baptize “ but to preach the Gospel. In Following the flow of conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus one could say Jesus is directly answering the question that was posed in verse 4 By showing contrast 2 separate things “born of the water “ , “born of the Spirit “ he is not using the water as a prerequisite, but rather taking Nicodemus’ quandary and guiding him through it.

[@robertberry1033]

And if I may add to this, that Jesus was teaching the Law because the Law was not yet fulfilled at the Cross, and in Acts 15 the debate was over the Law and Grace, then Peter remembered Cornelius in Acts 15:7 and how him and his family were saved before water Baptism, but by his mouth, them hearing the Word of the Gospel, and they believed. Verse 9b. purifying their hearts by Faith, so now us Gentiles can be gathered unto God without the Law that was finished at the Cross, Welcome to the age of Grace, that is now for the Gentiles and the Jews. This is Paul's Gospel and this Gospel comes for 1 Cor.15:3,4. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, Who did He receive it from, The ascended Jesus Christ by revelation in Arabia. Galatians 1:11-17. Remember the Law was fulfilled at the Cross, we are still under God's moral code but the wages of the Law is death and that was already paid for at the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. We have life through His blood.

[@thecrisisfortruth]

hi Chad, I thought to be born from above is Gods choice, not ours by just choosing baptism. Not everyone is rightly disposed for accepting the good news of Christ or Christianity, and therefore are not, or will not be born from above. For Nicodemus to become a follower of Christ he has to be, first chosen by God, or born from above, otherwise he cannot see (understand/ value) the Kingdom of God and abandon the old ways of the law. To those who are perishing spiritual things are foolishness to them as they are Earthly minded, therefore they cannot be born from above and remain blind to the kingdom of God.

[@Soxittome]

God and Jesus doesn't care if your baptised or not. John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”. God and Jesus says if you believe in him, Ye will be saved. You don't need baptized. It's just more of taking a oath of God or Jesus's Name into your heart and life. God is forgiving and if you ask him into your heart. Ye will be saved and have everlasting life. God,Jesus won't turn you away for not being baptized. Not everything is about being baptized. God,Jesus.. they love you none the less. If you force someone to belive by telling them they're going to hell. I feel its more of a sin.. God,Jesus didnt force. Jesus wept. but you can't force people to believe Some say that God does not force people to love him or follow Christ, and that Christians should not force their religion on others. According to the Hillsdale Daily News, people are given the choice to follow Christ, but that doesn't mean they will. The East Carolinian says that forcing Christianity on others is not an accurate representation of what Christianity is meant to be.

[@benjaminvillarreal9066]

Awesome! Thank you sir. I’m surprised you didn’t touch on, Jesus using plural when saying, “you didn’t believe our testimony.” Jesus didn’t say HIS testimony, but OUR referring to what was written about him prior to Him coming to earth; but also would like to suggest the OUR testimony speaking as a triune God right in front of old good nick. Good stuff! Thank you again sir

[@CreatingGoodHabits]

What I don’t understand is if you are already a believer and follower of Christ why not just get baptized physically as well? Jesus came to teach us and of course to die for our sins! So if Jesus and his disciples did it why not do it as well?

[@Koladejesugbemi]

Here from Tiktok, thank you sir❤️❤️

[@rudyferrell]

Tic Toc will literally mess your brain up. Research it. It's designed to be like that.

[@jasonrol5208]

Born of the spirt and of the spirit? This guy is telling us that there are two Gods. The water that Jesus Talks about is the water of the world and that is water Baptism and just as the waters of the River of Jordan.. That kind of water.

[@DonaldBuckley7202]

Thank you again, brother Chad. Another excellent revelation of the thoughts and the intents of God's heart and meaning in scripture. "Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." - Mat 16:17 NKJV I believe that pursuing the scriptures with our carnal minds, with logic and proper hermaneutics is always, if not fruitless, at least incomplete. But since all scripture is θεόπνευστος, that is God breathed and Jesus said His words are "spirit and truth" they are indiscernable to logical, indiscernable to our carnal brains, and only discernable and perceivable through the enlightenment that the Holy Spirit alone can provide. It is impossible to view a holograph in natural light. A holograph can only be observed when illuminated by the exact frequency of light that created it. So it is with God's Spirit-Words. They can only be seen by the agency of the light (Holy Spirit) that created them. Human intellect is entirely excluded.

[@tedvinessr7187]

The ex hudatos of Jn.3:5 (coming up out of the water) is the same with the baptism of Jesus, mk.1:10). It is also the same ex hudatos with the baptism of the eunuch (Acts 8:39.

[@HalLeath]

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

[@tadaskrivickas8409]

Chad I want to be born from above. How to know that I have God spirit living in me? I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and I’m legally clean through His shed blood. But I’m not so confident about it. Is it my lack of trust or low self esteem?

[@chadbird1517]

I hope this article that I wrote will help you: www.1517.org/articles//how-do-i-know-im-a-christian-1

[@tadaskrivickas8409]

@@chadbird1517 thank you 🙏

[@robertnieten7259]

According to the scriptural Law of Repetition the Word will repeat something said,and/ or an event three times in order to direct our attention to an important spiritual truth. Three times only the Word tells us of believers recieving the Holy Spirit and what occured the moment that they recieved. In each instance the first thing that happened when they recieved the Holy Spirit is that they spoke in " tongues"( Acts ch.2,10,and ch.19). The Word " tongues" ,in the Word, isn't speaking about multiple native languages but one spiritual language that's source is our spirit not our mind.

[@babecarla]

*tadaskrivickas8409 - Do NOT stop searching. God gave you His spirit at your conception. Brought into Christ, we have a new birth (as Chad points to). When you receive this, you are filled with the Holy Spirit & you can Never, Ever again be the same. You have now been lifted up & God will help you every next step of your climb. I will pray for you in your quest. Follow Chad for brilliant teaching & You pray for God to inspire you further be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. It will carry you through Any tough time‼️ Your soul is a forever being. You were created by the Love of God. No matter what happens while you walk earth, God will carry you throug. By the blood & resurrection of Jesus, we are always OK. We are with you in Love. Once you see, you cannot ever be the same. Jesus talked about chasing lost lambs. You are Found. Are you baptized? Read & search for it. You are a child of God forever. ✝️♥️✝️

[@rudyferrell]

There's nothing you can do. It's a work of God. It doesn't always happen in a profound experience like the one I had, but you will actually be aware of God's presence living in you, teaching you ,changing you.

[@ILOVEYESHUA1ST]

Why do Christians or denominations down play the essential role of baptism in pledging allegiance to Christ and new birth. This act other than the thief on the cross are always combined, as the day of Pentecost etc.

[@steven3775]

Agree. And if the thief on the cross has not died, then the Lord would have expected him to be baptized.

[@mabelchiu2205]

When Nicodimus came to see Jesus, he didn’t raise any questions. What makes Jesus raise such a born again question to Nicodimus ? Thx for your reply

[@chadbird1517]

Like God always has done with his people, beginning already with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3) and Cain (Gen. 4), Jesus uses questions and conversations as teaching opportunities.

[@WalkerDean994]

To be born of the Spirit and water means to be born of the Holy Spirit and to be baptized. The Bible (St Mark 16 : 16) says he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. These days people are trying to exclude water baptism from salvation. But baptism is very much a part if salvation.

[@beesinthegardens]

Immersion happened in Old Testament. Jesus was immersed many times. John the Baptist immersed people way before Jesus came.

[@hjkjbrown4118]

So, according to you the thief on the cross isn't in heaven. Riiiiggghhhht.🧐

[@crazdaisy40]

Born of Water and the Spirit is to mean the Spirit comes on us like a rain. He is poured out onto us from Heaven. No water immersion. John baptized with water for repentance. Jesus baptized with the rain of the Spirit through believing in his works for our righteousness. This is our Salvation!! Jesus did it all. The Holy Spirit is our baptism because he is the river of living water that flows in every believer. On us. In us. Through us. Out of us. Praise Jesus!! All glory to our Father!!

[@eddysumlin7735]

Truth

[@rev3182]

Blessings all, may we all feel His peace. It has been brought to mind to encourage all to ask Father, in Jesus's name for His living water. When we receive this it is a powerful supernatural experience that actually feels like two mighty rivers of waters gushing into our bellies. With this water comes the spirit of the Lion of Judah and we become known to Jesus as He watches through our eyes and hears through our ears. His spirit comes within us, separate from us and is awesomely powerful. He is also there in a heartbeat should we need Him. Please please ask Him as it's real. Hallelujah! This is what it is to be born of water. To be born of spirit involves receiving a heart of flesh and name from God. It too is a powerful physical and spiritual experience. Hallelujah! Ask in His name and receive. Hallelujah!

[@JoelGarcia-on1hk]

Confusing indeed

[@donhaddix3770]

born first in a woman's water, in the spirit a new self. water is symbolic of rising from the grave with Christ,

[@robertnieten7259]

Great study !

[@shawnc.madden2181]

Water is natural birth, spirit is birth from above.

[@hankdelaney7965]

I love it!

[@Koladejesugbemi]

Never knew water symbolizes the HOLY SPIRIT

[@rudyferrell]

No, the SPIRIT represents the Holy Spirit in "born of water and spirit ". I don't know what the water means.

[@jadonbrown7727]

So do you need to be baptized to be saved?

[@chadbird1517]

I address that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maq8qJipoJWVpLsfeature=shared

[@rudyferrell]

Yes, baptized by the Holy Spirit.

[@rajiantony6306]

Thank you very much Chad for the beautiful explanation 🙏🙏🙏

[@NLM_TUBE]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmnSY2aqfbZ_fKM

[@aureliafox2924]

🙏

[@joeannharrod8791]

Are you saying that salvation comes from God through the Holy Spirit using literal watee?

[@chadbird1517]

Jesus accomplished our salvation historically, two millennia ago. We cannot go back in time to when that happened. We cannot go to the cross. It’s a historical and temporal impossibility. So what does God do? He brings that historically-accomplished salvation to us, he brings the cross and empty tomb to us. How? Through various means or channels. He uses the preaching of the Word as a channel. Through the Word, preached now, God delivers to us what Jesus accomplished then. He also puts that Word in the water of baptism, so that it is no longer simple H2O, but simple water wed to the strong Word of God. Through the Word-saturated-water, our Father baptizes us into Jesus, joins us to his life, death, and resurrection. As Paul says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). We don’t baptize ourselves; God is always the baptizer. Sure, he uses human hands, but those human hands are just divine tools that our Lord uses. So baptism is not something we do for God, but something that God does for us. Through the means or channel of that Word-Water, the Lord joins us to Jesus, thereby saving us, giving us now the salvation that Jesus accomplished long ago. As Peter wrote, “Baptism…now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21). It is not merely a symbolic act that we do to show God how committed we are to him; it is a divine action where God shows us how committed he is to us.

[@joeannharrod8791]

Water is an outward symbol of the inner work of the Holy Spirit. One is not saved through Baptism, such as the thief on the cross was saved without water Baptism. . We are saved through faith. It is a gift of God. May God continue to teach us all. Shalom.

[@robertnieten7259]

The thief on the cross was under the old covenant to where water baptism wasn't required to be saved because it is through water baptism that we are " born of the water".

[@candyclews4047]

@@joeannharrod8791 Baptism does save us. Scripture makes this very clear in 1 Peter 3:21 and Baptism was also foreshadowed by the prophecy in the OT in Ezekiel 36:25-27. God does grant exceptions of course, like the thief on the cross, who had lived his life under the old covenant and who would have had no opportunity of being baptised after Pentecost, by one of the apostles.

[@del4316]

@@candyclews4047 do you believe baptism in water is the point of new birth? Because if so you misquote 1 Peter 3 v21. Why does Peter say, but not the filth of the flesh but an answer of a good conscience? My point being that water baptism is a outward sign of an inward reality. If we baptise folk with no assurance within that they are born from above then all we get is wet believers.

[@remruatdika7921]

Born of water: The Bible said in Genesis 2:7 that, " And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground." In Job 33:7 "I also am formed out of the clay." What is clay? Clay is dust mix with water. Water is essential(an indispensable) material to form man, so, we can say man is born of water. Likewise, if flesh or man receives Spirit, he will born again. Flesh mix with Spirit will became born of Spirit. To be born again, Spirit is indispensable.

[@qtanium]

I believe this Spirit-water birth that you have described is a combination of the work of the Spirit and the Word of God. Eph 5:26-27 talk about being washed by water of the word, 1 Pet 1:23 talks about being born of the incorruptible word of God. I believe the water here is not merely alluding to water baptism. The idea of baptism is simply identifying with Jesus death and ressurection, which would translate to a new live (new creation) Col 2:12, Rom 6:4. Water baptism is an outward show of repentance in consonance to what one has believed Act 19:4. When Paul was describing baptism in Rom 6:3-7, he was definitely not talking about immersion in water. He was describing the substance, identifying with Christ's finished work.

[@yvonnecrozier4536]

Hmm. So just to clarify... no believer who has not been baptized has the Holy Spirit, or will enter the kingdom of God? And verse 6 does not tie back in any way to verse 5, but verse 5 ties back to Genesis 1? And we do not know where the wind comes from, but we do know that everyone who is born of the Spirit has come from, or passed through the waters of baptism? And Jesus is telling Nicodemus all this?

[@rudyferrell]

No. I was filled with the Holy Spirit during a suicide attempt, and I was an atheist at the time and had never been baptized

[@darrengraff3646]

⁠@@rudyferrellI’m so Glad you decided against harming yourself Rudy. I’m not here to judge anyone. So glad you believe Jesus is Lord and King. In the book of acts chapter two they all did something to be added to the Saved. I invite you to read that again with a fresh perspective of this. All the Apostle Peter was doing at Pentecost is what the Lord told him to do in Matt 28:18-20. I’m just doing the same as Peter and giving you the message no judgment. ❤

[@rudyferrell]

@darrengraff3646 I had absolutely NOTHING to do with being born again, saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit, or whatever you want to call it. I was 100% atheist and tore down people who believed in God, especially Christians. We contribute NOTHING in being born again. Read the gospel of John, he's says it too and it's true. How much did you contribute when you were born in the flesh?....... God gets all of the glory.

[@stevecimini5733]

Dear God, somebody just look at the salvation examples in the book of acts. It will remove all your confusion.😮

[@textandtelescope8199]

Completely disagree. Water birth is paralleled to flesh. Natural birth and Spiritual birth. The parallelism is clear. Goes back to John 1.

[@frankbushuyumutaremwa2470]

Unless "born again" does not mean "born from above" as explained. I mean how do you get born from above by being naturally born? I've heard this explanation before but doesn't cut it for me.

[@textandtelescope8199]

@@frankbushuyumutaremwa2470 You have to exist, be naturally born, before you can be born from above. That is the point he is making to Nicodemus who thought that Jesus was talking only about natural birth. It goes back to John 1.12-13.

[@jabohabo3821]

1 Peter 3:21 - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,​@@frankbushuyumutaremwa2470

[@jabohabo3821]

​@frankbushuyumutaremwa2470 There is also ezekial... Ezekiel 36:25-28 Ezekiel 36:25-28 ERV Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth, the filth from those nasty idols, and I will make you pure. I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart. I will put my Spirit inside you and change you so that you will obey my laws. You will carefully obey my commands. Then you will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I pray yiu come to see the truth. It is not a purely catholic idea. It was throughout the old testament and all through the new. Being wrong doesn't mean jesus doesn't love or forgive you anymore. It means you can forgive yourself

[@textandtelescope8199]

@@jabohabo3821 What "truth" am I missing?

[@aaronharun1394H]

Jesus was born. The one God was not born.

[@rudyferrell]

Jesus existed before he come here

[@aaronharun1394H]

@@rudyferrell Jesus was a baby. The one God is/was not a baby.

[@bo1jon227]

​@@aaronharun1394H the one God was born as a man. You need a Bible and you need to read it and pray for the Holy Spirit in Jesus name

[@aaronharun1394H]

The earlier idols (false deities) were statues erected of pious people of previous generations. These people were later wrongly prayed to and taken as deities. These type of misguided beliefs of taking humans as deities or gods exist in pagan and polytheist religions, past and present. A human taking another human as a deity or God is falsehood. It makes absolutely no sense for a human to pray to (worship) another human. Deity Incarnation where a human is believed to be a deity or God coming down in this world as a human is among the misguided claims in pagan and polytheist religions, past and present. Claiming a human is God manifest as a human is among the misguided claims in pagan and polytheist religions. Claiming a spirit in a human is a deity or God is among the misguided claims in pagan and polytheist religions. Claiming God having sons or daughters is among the misguides claims in pagan and polytheists religions. All that I mentioned about idolatry, pagan and polytheist religions you can look it up online including from their own sources. The misguided belief of taking Jesus as a deity or God is against what Jesus himself believe and taught. It is against what all the guided prophets that include Noah, Abraham and Moses believed and taught. It is against the foremost of the religion which is the first and foremost commandment. Abraham did not pray to Jesus which is a man's name. Abraham did not pray to three persons. God is not a human God created humans As great a human Jesus is, he still is human.

[@aaronharun1394H]

Chosen messengers of God were sent by God throughout history to warn their communities of their errors. Noah and Abraham were messengers of God who were sent to warn their communities of their errors of idolatry and the consequences of Hellfire. Idolatry is a grave error and an unforgivable sin. The only way is to repent and leave that believe and practise. Muhammad was also sent to warn the arab pagans at the time of their errors of idolatry. As an ensuing messenger who is also the final messenger chosen after Jesus, Muhammad was also sent to warn the Christians of their error of believing Jesus is God and the consequences of Hellfire. In the gospels, it is mentioned that Jesus was sent. Jesus was a human messenger of God among many human messengers of God that were sent throughout history. The human messengers of God were chosen from humans and were sent to convey message to other humans. The one God who sent Jesus is the same one God who sent Noah is the same one God who sent Abraham is the same one God who sent Moses. Jesus did not send Jesus. The one God sent Jesus. The one God is not Jesus. The one God is the most High and the one who sends, not someone who is sent.