Expert: Scott Talbot - 12/29/2010

Question
Hi Scott, and wishing you a Happy New Year soon! I know that this is probably a dumb question but what did Jesus actually mean when he answered the second time explaining to Nicodemus that one must be 'born' of water and of the Spirit? What is the water and in what context does it apply to birth, (or new birth in this case) and does 'of the Spirit' only apply to indelling of the Holy Spirit?
I 'discovered' a Deeper Truths book recently and in the chapter on New Birth, the author indicates that because Jesus specifically says 'enter the kingdom of heaven' that this means that He is teaching that believers need to be water baptized (born of water) and baptized in the Holy Spirit (born of the Spirit). Ummmm this is bothering me. So doesn't 'born' of water and of the Spirit mean one and the same as being born again? Sorry, but this is a serious matter. If someone is teaching this from this book (water baptism and Baptism in the Holy Spirit) then they are teaching a false teaching, right? Thanks for your time.
Nicole

Answer
Hi Nicole,

Happy New Year to you, too!

You are right to be concerned that someone is teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 clearly tell us that salvation is not of works, but is rather a free gift. We cannot do anything to earn or merit our salvation. The teaching that baptism is a necessary work to salvation means that we play a part in our own salvation. The Scriptures clearly teach us that we cannot save ourselves ... not by any act or effort ... and that we must rely (trust, believe) solely on the work of Jesus Christ to save us.

Granted, the passage in John 3 is a bit difficult, but the context gives us some help. Jesus is talking to Nicodemus about the new birth. He is contrasting the second birth (birth into God's family) with the first birth (natural birth into the world to our natural family). "Born of water" is a phrase Jesus used to refer to the first birth, whereas "born of the Spirit" is a phrase He used to refer to the second birth.

Why did Jesus use the phrase, "born of water," to describe the first birth? Some believe that this has to do with the mother's water breaking prior to giving birth. This seems to me to make sense.

It is clear that Jesus is not referring to baptism. If this were the case, I think He would have explained this alleged requirement in a much clearer manner.

Scott