Pastor Ralph Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis63 Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? Born of water could be our first birth (some interpret as birth through the matrix). There are many beliefs concerning born of the water, I believe that it is baptism, this is what John and Jesus spoke of prior to this declaration. For the people of that day (this one as well) there was a needed change to enter the Kingdom. Baptism is much more than a lifeless ritual, repentance is a part of it as well. It is a deeply spiritual symbol of complete, total commitment to Jesus the Christ. Whereby public declaration is being made that the person is uniting with Christ, just as does a marriage. If this commitment is authentic here begins the burial of the old life and the resurrection of the new life in Christ Jesus. and the Spirit There is a Blessed Assurance regarding our past that Jesus gives us at baptism (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-4). Baptism is a symbol of spiritual cleansing. The water itself does not save, but it does signify we accept the blood of Christ, which does save us. (Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.") The belief is more than simply an intellectual assent to a particular creed (our spirits units with His Spirit). The heart must be changed the old way of thinking must be abandoned. It is a heart commitment to Jesus and His Word. It is a turning to Him with all the heart, a belief that He is the Savor and Lord, who alone can forgive sin and give victory in and of life. Matthew 3:11 foretold of one who would baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost, fire does so much (Jesus' ministry would be refining, powerful, purifying, as fire is sometimes an emblem of purity: Fire reveals 1st Corinthians 3:13; Fire refines, or purifies Malachi 3:2-3; Fire consumes Ezekiel 13:13-15; 15:1-8;19:12-14; 21:28-32, 24:10:11; Fire illuminates; Fire warm - {Acts 9:19-22, this text alone could not describe the Apostle Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard C Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 Isaiah 12:3 states, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kes Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charisbarak Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 I believe that our cleansing & purification comes from the Holy Spirit's work in us at the time of salvation. What is interesting here is that I could see the water also referring to Jesus' show of baptism with John & the Holy Spirit actually coming down on him. I can see the water as that cleansing agent, but it could also be a witness to mankind. It is a spiritual happening--yet there is other proof that changes have been made in a person because of his acceptance of Christ's gift. Unless you are renewed and cleansed by spiritual rebirth and it's resulting actions in your life, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masika Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? What do you think "water" refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase "born of water and the Spirit" to best bring out the meaning? The water may represent the cleansing action of God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beliver Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foofee's Nana Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 I think that the meaning of to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Jim Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiKosum Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion of Grace Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 I think the water refers to being washed clean of our sins as in repentance. We are also washed in the Word which to me means we read the word, and as we do, we are washed of all those misconceptions we hold, and as we see truth, we repent of worldly ways and turn to new life. This also calls for repentance. Repentance is confessing and turning. By this we are born into the Kingdom of the Spirit and start to live by Kingdom concepts. We walk in the truth. The Holy Spirit is who we have with us and in us. He is there to illuminate truth to us. To walk with us, remind us as we live day to day and to help us understand. He is our strength and power to live our new lives. He is our comforter in bad times or sad times....He sees us through or defends us in circumstances. That's why we need to abide every day. He was sent to be with us and to help us. He refines us and convicts us and we know we can trust Him above all others because He is truth and the truth is in His Word. We could get into the Trinity here, but the point is, the Holy Spirit is the helper Jesus promised to send and did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? To be born again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking His Face Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be “born of water and the Spirit”? What do you think “water” refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase “born of water and the Spirit” to best bring out the meaning? When you accept Christ as your Savior and Lord. You must recognize your need for a Savior and repent of your sin and then the Holy Spirit comes and abide within you. Regenerating you into a new man(born anew). Also water means the Word. Because the Word says so. These things are a mystery to the natural man, and unless the Lord reveals that truth we have no way of understand. Light and darkness do not mix. I would call it "Acceptance and the Indwelling". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delivered Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? To me repentance and purification is associated with baptism, born of water, and it makes me think of Exo.19- After the people agreed to obey the voice of God and keep His covenant, to be a peculiar treasure, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests unto the LORD, that the LORD said to Moses - have the people sanctify themselves and have them wash their clothes, wash meaning to literally trample their clothes, a sign of repentance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highohfaith Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marloes Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Windy Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be born of water and the Spirit? What do you think water refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase born of water and the Spirit to best bring out the meaning? I think that water, refers to the fact that we must be washed clean, then and only then can be be fill with the Holy Spirit. We must repent, asking God to forgive our sins, then be baptized, washed clean, then be fill with the Holy Spirit. Then we are acceptable to God, so we can enter the Kingdom of God. To paraphrase: To be Cleaned and Sanctified! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csreeves Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammie7 Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moses 4 Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? What do you think "water" refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase "born of water and the Spirit" to best bring out the meaning? Here we should point out that since vision is an act of life, then according to the diverse kinds of life there would be diversity of vision. For there is a sentient life which some living things share in common, and this life has a sentient vision or knowledge. And there is also a spiritual life, by which man is made like God and other holy spirits; and this life enjoys a spiritual vision. Now spiritual things cannot be seen by the sentient: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrD Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janel Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Q3 "Born of water and the Spirit" , means Spiritual birth. 'Water' refers to cleansing and purification. Through baptism, water is used to wash away all our past sins and also to regenerate and prepare us to being a new person belonging to God. 'Water' is a necessity in life. In God's tern water is always refer to cleanliness. If we say we belong to God someone pure and holy, we need to cleanse ourselves and be presentable properly in His sight. Thus water in baptism is getting rid of all our sins and be made anew. To start afresh with God. When a child is born he has to go through all the process of growing up and be educated properly. He has to equip himself with all the knowledge taught to him so that he can excel well in his academic skills. All these need the guidance of the parents, teachers and tutors in order to achieve good results and have good status in life. Armed with all these knowledge he is confident of himself and has advantages over others when he goes out into the world to face challenges. Likewise in the Spiritual sense, when we are cleansed and purified, prepared by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we too can be made a new creation and be ableto walk in the way of God and be pleasing to Him so that we can enjoy the privileges of the Kingdom which God wants His people to inherit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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