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BORN OF WATER

By George W. Sinquefield

John 3:1 through John 3:5 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

        The Bible is very clear that one is saved by faith and by faith alone. In the Gospels one is told to believe. In the Epistles the emphasis is on having faith. To believe and to have faith is the same thing. One is a noun and the other is a verb. Man as, in the past and in the present, felt he must add something to faith in order to be saved. He felt he must do something other than just believe. He must treat his neighbor right, be honest in his business dealings, join the church and live by the golden rule. Some tell me that if you live right (and that means one thing to one and something else to another) you'll have better chance of getting into heave. The devil is the father of lies, of false teaching and he wants you to believe this "faith plus" doctrine, but God's Word declares that a lost person must have faith (believe) in Jesus in order to be saved and that nothing is to be added. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved? is the message of the entire Word of God.

I.   There Are Different Views Of "Born Of Water."

  1. Some say it refers to the fluid in which the child develops in the mother's womb until the time of its birth. In that case, "born of water," means the natural birth.

  2. Then there are those who say it refers to the waters of baptism. They assert that a person is saved not only by believing but he must also be baptized in literal water. The story told of an old mountain preacher who was baptizing converts a revival meeting. Up stepped a wiry, sharp-eyed old man who said he wanted to be baptized too. The preacher led the man into the water. He asked the usual question. Was there any reason why the ordinance of baptism should not be administered.

    After a pause a tall, powerful-looking man, who was watching quietly, remarked: "Preacher, I don't want to interfere in your business, but I want to say that this is an old sinner you have got hold of, and that one dip won't do him any good; you'll have to anchor him out in deep water overnight."

    The objector was right. If the hope for cleansing was based on the efforts of the water, there was going to have to be a whole lot more water used! There is not enough water in all the oceans, lakes, rivers and streams in the world to cleanse the lost of one sin. That is done by the precious blood of Jesus.

    1 John 1:7 (KJV)
    7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

    Rev. 5:9 (KJV)
    9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

  3. Still others claim that this "baptismal regeneration" is the sprinkling of an infant by the minister of some church.

  4. Some reject this doctrine for infants but teach the same thing for adults (they may differ as to the mode) that water baptism is absolutely necessary in order to be saved. Now baptism is a human work and the new birth depends solely on God's Spirit. Jesus said that one must be born from above -- born of the Spirit.

  5. Others believe Jesus used the word "water" to symbolize the Holy Spirit.

    John 7:38 through John 7:39 (KJV) 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

    If this thinking is correct, Jesus' words would mean, except a man be born of water (that is the Spirit) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

        Regardless of what man thinks, one thing is certain, Jesus' words did not point to baptism as a requirement for salvation.

II.   Baptism Is Very Important.

        Jesus commissioned His church to preach the gospel to everyone and to baptize those who accepted Him as Savior.

        Baptism is the first step of obedience for a new Christian. It is important because it symbolizes the new believers union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

Rom. 6:1 through Rom. 6:4 (KJV)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

        The word "baptizo" was a term used in the first century for dipping a light colored garment into a dye. Once the fabric was dipped into the dye it would be changed in its identity from its original color to the new color. This dipping was called "baptizo." Now baptism doesn't change a person but it does symbolize the fact that the one being baptized has come to Jesus and Jesus has changed him.

John 5:24 (KJV)
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.

2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

III.   Water Is A Symbol Of The Word Of God.

        It is by the use of the Word of God that a lost person becomes a child of God.

James 1:18 (KJV)
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

1 Pet. 1:22 through 1 Pet. 1:23 (KJV)
22 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: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

        The Holy Spirit applies the Word to the heat of a lost sinner with these results:

John 16:7 through John 16:11 (KJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

  1. He convinces the sinner of sin -- the sin of unbelief.

  2. He convinces the sinner of righteousness -- the righteousness of Jesus.

  3. He convinces him of judgment -- that God has already judged the devil and sin and forever they are condemned and so are they who chose to follow the way of sin. The result is that a lost person believes the Word, repents of his sin and receives Jesus, the living, exalted, reigning, glorified, Word of God as his Savior and he is saved -- "born of water." So it is by the Word of God that we experience the new birth.

        We are cleansed by the Word. Remember water is a symbol of the Word. When one experiences the new birth, he is cleansed (washed) from his old sins. The old things that were once so dishonoring to God are washed out of his life. He should never again be characterized by his former manner of life, habits, and behavior.

Psa. 119:9 (KJV)
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Ezek. 36:25 through Ezek. 36:27 (KJV)
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Eph. 5:25 through Eph. 5:26 (KJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

John 15:3 (KJV)
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

        We Christians must study the Word of God and abide by it in order to keep our lives clean.

        "We may see from this how important it is that we daily study the Word of God, and spend time before Him in prayer, looking to Him to open up His truth and apply it to our own hearts and consciences. If we are consistent and persistent in thus seeking to know the mind of the Lord, our lives will be transformed as the Holy Spirit works in and through us, giving the Word as we need it for our food and using it too as water for the cleansing of our ways." -- Dr. H. A. Ironside

IV.   Born Of Water Does Not Mean Baptized In Order To Be Saved.

        One is saved before he is to be baptized. The gospel is to be preached to all the world and what is the gospel? It is the good news that Jesus came, died on the cross in our place, was buried and raised from the dead. He went back to the Father after having become the Savior of the world and He offers salvation to all who will accept Him. Now baptism is not a part of the gospel.

        The book of Acts tells us how the early church followed the instruction of Jesus to preach the gospel and baptize the believers.

Acts 2:41 (KJV)
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:36 through Acts 8:38 (KJV)
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 18:8 (KJV)
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

        The following Scriptures makes it very clear that one is saved by faith without baptism:

Luke 7:50 (KJV)
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Rom. 3:20 through Rom. 3:22 (KJV)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Gal. 2:16 (KJV)
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal. 3:24 (KJV)
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal. 3:26 (KJV)
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 2:8 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

V.   The Washing Of Regeneration

        Dr. Herchel H. Hobbs who was a few years back pastor of the First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was a Greek scholar and speaker on "The Baptist Hour." Please permit me to share with you this information he gave us.

The Washing Of Regeneration

Titus 3:5 (KJV)
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

        Paul is speaking of the manner in which God saves from sin. First, he states it negatively. Literally, "Not out of works the ones in righteousness which we did." There are two emphatic words in this statement. "Not" appears first in the clause, the emphatic position. So it is a strong negative. "We" is written out in addition to the verb form. It appears last in the clause. Thus it carries a double emphasis. So with strong emphasis he says that we are not saved by any good works which we do for ourselves.

        Second, Paul states it positively. Salvation is "according to his mercy." God deals with us not according to an indifferent justice but according to mercy. He satisfied His Justice in Christ. Therefore, in Christ He extends to us His mercy. And this God accomplishes through two immediate agencies. The word "by" renders a Greek word "dia", "Through," which expresses immediate agency. So it is "by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." "Regeneration" means "being born again." "Renewing" expresses "a making new again." The former is an instantaneous act; the latter is a continuing process of renewal by the Holy Spirit who indwells the Christian.

        But what may we understand by the word "washing?" Some see this as a figure for baptism. However, had Paul meant this he could have used the word baptisma meaning the significance of baptism. The word rendered "washing" comes from the verb which means to wash the entire body. It was used for ceremonial baths or ablutions with the idea of cleansing. So this "washing" most probably means "the thorough cleansing of regeneration." In regeneration, not baptism, the believer is cleansed from his sins. Thus he is born again. And this is "not by works of righteousness." Verse 7 says that it is "by his grace" or God's grace "through Jesus Christ our Saviour." Here again in verse 6 we have the word "through" of immediate agency. The regeneration is through Christ.

VI.   If Baptism Is Necessary To Salvation -- Then --

  1. No one was saved before John the Baptist (or John the baptizer). John, the baptist, had nothing to do with starting the Baptist churches as some believe. He was called, "the baptizer" because he was the first to baptize. Abraham was saved by faith.

    Rom. 4:1 through Rom. 4:5 (KJV)
    1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

    He believed God's promises and "it was reckoned to him as righteousness." This means he was saved -- made right with God. In fact salvation through faith has always been God's plan.

    Acts 10:43 (KJV)
    43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

  2. The repentant thief on the cross was shut out of heaven if one has to be baptized to be saved.

    Luke 23:39 through Luke 23:43 (KJV)
    39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

    He confessed his sin and asked Jesus to remember him and Jesus saved him. How do I know he was saved? Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you today (not sometime in the future) you shall be with me in Paradise."

  3. We must utterly ignore every passage in the Bible that teaches that salvation is by God's grace through man's faith. I will point out a few but there are so many.

    John 3:16 (KJV)
    16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

    John 3:18 (KJV)
    18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

    John 3:36 (KJV)
    36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

    John 5:24 (KJV)
    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.

    John 6:35 (KJV)
    35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

    Rom. 10:9 through Rom. 10:10 (KJV)
    9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

    Rom. 10:13 (KJV)
    13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    Romans 10:11 states, "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." The word "ashamed" means, "disappointed." The Living Letters edition put it right, "No one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed. If one believes in Jesus and is not saved he'll certainly be disappointed but that will never happen.

  4. Why did the Holy Spirit say through Paul that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation if one has to be baptized to be saved?

    Rom. 1:16 (KJV)
    16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

    Jesus spake of the "water of life" in John 4 speaking to the sinful woman. He said, "Whosoever drinketh of this water (natural well water) shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." Again, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." In revelation, "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." "The water of life is the glorious gospel message that comes down from the throne of God and flows out into the deserts of this world, bringing life and healing wherever it goes." "As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."

    The gospel is good news, the good news that Jesus came down from heaven to save poor lost sinners who will put their faith and trust in Him.

    Mark 16:15 (KJV)
    15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

  5. Why didn't Jesus go about baptizing if it was necessary to salvation? He said, "I cam that they may have life and have it abundantly." He longed for the lost to come to Him and receive life, everlasting life. If baptism was necessary for salvation, if He could not give life without it, then why didn't He go about baptizing? Why didn't He send His disciples out while He stayed at the Jordan to baptize those who came? But, instead, we find Jesus going about preaching the gospel.

    Matt. 4:23 (KJV)
    23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

    Matt. 9:35 (KJV)
    35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

    Luke 4:18 (KJV)
    18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

    Remember the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The Scripture states that Jesus did not baptize.

    John 4:2 (KJV)
    2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

    And Paul said that he was not sent to baptize but to proclaim the gospel.

    1 Cor. 1:17 (KJV)
    17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

        Let me say again that the new birth (salvation) is God's work while baptism is done by man. When one is saved -- born again, he is born of God.

John 1:11 through John 1:13 (KJV)
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

        Here some are mentioned who became sons of God, but how did they do that? By being born of God, the Bible says. There is no other way; if one is to become a child of God, he must be born into God's family. And this is by faith in Jesus and not by baptism.

        Put you faith in Jesus and not in baptism or anything else. Trust Him and He'll say, "Thy faith hath saved thee."