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Edward Fudge
'BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT' (1)
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "Jesus says that 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). I have heard for many years that this means that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. Is this a reference to baptism in water?"
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These words are part of a conversation between Jesus and a ruling Pharisee named Nicodemus, in which Jesus challenges the assumption of the Jewish establishment that fleshly birth into Israel also obtains a ticket into the Kingdom of God (see also John 8:33; Matt. 3:9). The whole conversation contrasts earthly birth and heavenly birth, physical birth and spiritual birth -- and so, I think, does this expression. In light of the context, I do not think that Jesus' remarks here concerning "water" refer directly to the water of baptism.
Jesus begins by telling Nicodemus that unless one is born "again" (literally, "from above"), he cannot see God's kingdom (John 3:3). Since every human being has, by definition, been born once already, to be born "from above" would necessarily mean being born "again." [The Greek word which John uses here occurs 12 other times in the New Testament and is translated "from above" (John 3:31; 19:11; James 1:17; 3:15, 17); the "top" (Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; John 19:23); "from above" or "again" (John 3:3, 7); "from the very first" (Luke 1:3); "from the beginning" (Acts 26:5), and once is left untranslated (Gal. 4:9).]
Supposing that Jesus is talking about someone being reborn physically, Nicodemus asks how such an impossible thing could happen (John 3:4). Jesus repeats that "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). He quickly explains that comment by adding that what "is born of flesh is flesh" and what "is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). "Do not marvel that I said to you," he concludes, "'You [plural, meaning the Pharisees and all other Jews] must be born again" [literally, "from above"] (John 3:7).
gracEmail
Edward Fudge
'BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT' (2)
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "Jesus says that 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). I have heard for many years that this means that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. Is this a reference to baptism in water?"
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Every human is born "of water" or "of flesh" into this world, and has a nature that "is flesh." Only those "born from above" are born "of Spirit" and have a regenerated nature that "is spirit." Every one of us needs spiritual regeneration by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Receiving Christ by faith is a sure sign that one has been born, not only "of water" in physical birth but also of "the Spirit" from above (John 1:12-13). Christian baptism had not yet been instituted when Nicodemus had this conversation with the Savior. Gospel baptism is nowhere in this context. Everything Jesus says here makes clear sense without it. I do not think that Jesus is speaking directly about water baptism when he talks of being "born of water" or "born again."
That does not mean there is no connection between baptism and the new birth by the Holy Spirit. Newborn babies are customarily cleaned by washing (Ezek. 16:4). Ezekiel foretold a time when God would "sprinkle clean water" and "cleanse" his people, would give them "a new heart" and give them his Spirit (Ezek. 36:24-28). Jesus himself was anointed with God's Spirit when he was baptized in water (John 1:29-36). Immediately after this conversation with Nicodemus, John reports an incident involving pre-Christian water baptism (John 3:22-30).
Christian baptism and the Holy Spirit go together as the inner and outer aspects of conversion (Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22; Eph. 5:25-26). Jesus himself commanded water baptism as the initiatory act of discipleship for those who believe the gospel (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16). Baptism rests on solid authority without inserting it into John 3:3-5.