Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
3/22/98 am
Born Of Water And Spirit
Reading – John 3.1-15
Jesus came preaching a different gospel... He spoke of a new kingdom coming, a new economy:
- Where those who mourn would be comforted.
- Where the meek would inherit the earth.
- Where those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would always be satisfied.
- Where the merciful would receive mercy.
- Where the pure in heart would see God.
- Jesus talked of an economy where happiness was possible even in persecution.
- Where the children of God would be the light of the world and salt of the earth.
- Where we could ask, seek, knock and we would receive, find and doors would be opened.
- A kingdom built upon a rock that Satan and the storms of life could not destroy.
This kind of preaching and teaching intrigued Nicodemus. He came to Jesus asking HOW?
- How can I gain admission into such a kingdom?
- What must I do to live in this new economy?
Jesus’ answer was simple and straight forward, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Nicodemus was a Jew, he understood that to be a part of God’s kingdom that one must be born into it… be a child of Abraham… an Israelite by birth.
So he asked, “how can I be born again, must I enter the second time into my mothers womb?” Jesus’ reply was, “unless a man be born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Then Jesus explains that He was not speaking of a physical birth, but rather a spiritual one.
I believe everybody here would like to be apart of such kingdom. We would all want to live in this new economy... RIGHT? So, the lesson this morning... WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT?
The first thing I want to do is to establish the fact that water in John 3.5 is the water of New Testament baptism. Some have tried to say that Jesus is speaking of two births here. That the water is referring to our physical birth and that the word spirit refers to a spiritual birth. But notice there is only one preposition... Born of water and the Spirit. You see, in this new birth, whoever is born of water is also born of the Spirit at the same time. Jesus is speaking of only one birth in this text. Now we need to point out that you’ll see the preposition OF twice in the KJ, but it is italicized. That means it is not found in the original Greek and has been added by the translators. The ASV, NASV and the NIV all render it as it is in the Greek.
In fact Jesus goes on to say, that which is physical is physical and that which is spiritual is spiritual. You see, being born again is a spiritual event that includes:
- Baptism in water
- And a renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Can I say that again?... Being born again, born from above is a spiritual event that includes baptism in water and a renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Randall, do you have a scripture that says this... book, chapter and verse? Yes I do, Paul makes this very plain in Titus chapter three. Listen closely as I read... Titus 3.3-7, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another... (Paul is describing the alien sinner). But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us (How?... Watch it now!) He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
- When are we born from above?
- When do we experience renewal by the Holy Spirit?
- When are we justified by His grace?
- When do we become heirs of eternal life?
Paul says it is in the washing of rebirth... The KJ says, washing of regeneration
The Hebrews’ writer puts it this way, “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
- When do we have our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience?
- When do we have hope for what He promised?
WHEN WE ARE WASHED WITH PURE WATER.
One more scripture, this time Ephesians 5.25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
- How do we become a part of God’s church?
- How are we cleansed?
- How are we made pure, without stain, wrinkle or blemish?
- How are we made holy and blameless?
By the washing with water through the word. Folk, is there any doubt that the water of John 3.5 is genuine New Testament baptism?
This week, take time to go through your New Testament and count the number of times that salvation, forgiveness, entrance into the kingdom is tied to water baptism, beginning with our text in John chapter three.
- In Mark 15.15 Jesus said, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but who ever does not believe will be condemned.
- Peter told his audience on Pentecost, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit... And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- The Ethiopian eunuch said, see here is water what keeps me from being baptized.
- At Cornelius’ house Peter said, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
- The Philippian Jailer asked, what must I do to be saved? Paul and Silas replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house... Then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
- Ananias told Saul in Acts 22, Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Now, with these thoughts in mind, let’s study the subject of baptism. Where God Has Placed Baptism In Our Salvation. I want us to do this first noting how God has used water in the Bible
NOAH AND HIS FAMILY WERE SAVED BY WATER.
Listen to First Peter 3.18-21, For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, (Our King James and NASV says SAVED BY WATER). The Bible says the water of the flood saved Noah and his family from sin and gave them a new life in a new world.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE DELIVERED FROM BONDAGE BY WATER.
First Corinthians 10, beginning with the verse one reads, For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Here God placed water between bondage and deliverance. Now, I have two questions!
1. How many people, in the day of Noah, were saved that were not saved by water?
2. How many Israelites were saved that did not cross under the cloud and in the sea?
NAAMAN WAS CLEANSED BY WATER.
We find this narrative in Second Kings chapter 5. Naaman was advised to go to Israel to find a cure for his leprosy. Elisha told him to go dip himself in the Jordan seven times. He did as the prophet of God instructed and was cleansed. You see, God placed water between this man’s leprosy and his cleansing.
JESUS HEALED A BLIND MAN BY WATER.
John chapter nine records Jesus spitting on the ground, anointing a blind man’s eyes with this spittle, and then telling him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. The significant thing is that when he washed in the water he was healed. Jesus could have healed him by just speaking the word, as he did blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10. Or by just touching his eyes as He did two blind men in Matthew chapter nine. But this time He chose water. Jesus placed water between blindness and sight... Between his illness and his healing.
For the next part of our lesson, I want to notice essentially the same thing... Where God has placed water baptism. Yes, God could have saved us some other way, if He had chosen to do so. But he didn’t... He chose water baptism to be a part of our salvation.
HE HAS PLACED BAPTISM BETWEEN BEING IN CHRIST AND BEING OUT OF CHRIST.
There are at least 34 new Testament references to being IN CHRIST. In fact, we are told that all spiritual blessing are where?... IN CHRIST. Listen to these scriptures with me:
- Ephesians 1.7 says, In Christ, we have redemption and forgiveness of sins through His blood.
- Romans 8.1, There is now therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 5.17 says, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- 1 John 5.11, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- 2 Timothy 2.10 tells us, salvation is in Christ Jesus.
Do you want to be IN CHRIST?... I do because:
- This is where all spiritual blessing are to be found.
- There is redemption.
- There is forgiveness of all our sins.
- There is no condemnation.
- We are new creatures.
- Eternal life is in Him.
- Our salvation is in Jesus.
Why would anybody not want to be in Christ?
Now listen to me closely, there are two verses which tell us how to get INTO CHRIST. Romans 6, verse 3 reads, Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? You see, all the spiritual blessings which belong to humanity through the death of Jesus are brought to bear upon an individual when he is baptized.
- Baptism is the time when the sinner is merged into the benefits of the cross.
- Baptism is the means God chose by which we have access to the death of Jesus.
- Baptism is the way God chose to appropriate to us what Jesus did on the cross.
The second scripture is Galatians 3.26-27, You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, have been clothed with Christ. How do we put on Christ?... How do we get into Christ? In the act of New Testament baptism. The preposition INTO presupposes that one is outside. No one can come into this building unless he is outside of it... RIGHT? one can be baptized INTO Christ... INTO the benefits of His death, unless he is outside of Christ before that baptism.
It should be clear to us all, that the point at which one enters Christ, and the benefits of His death on the cross is at what?... New Testament BAPTISM! You see, God has placed water baptism between being IN CHRIST and out of Christ. I want to be IN CHRIST... Don’t you?... Of Course.
SECONDLY, GOD HAS PLACED BAPTISM BETWEEN SIN’S GUILT AND FORGIVENESS.
In Acts 2.38, Peter told his Pentecostian audience, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus. (WHY? For what?) For the remission of sins.
A second passage which teaches baptism stands between sin and forgiveness is Acts 22.16. Ananias told Saul, Arise and be baptized and wash your sins away. Saul had seen the Lord on the Damascus Road:
- He believed,
- He confessed Jesus.
- He has spent three days in remorseful repentance and prayer, but he still has his sins. Arise, and be baptized and wash away our sins. If his sins had been forgiven, back on the road, at his instance of faith, then there would have been no need for this command... Right? Acts 22.16 demonstrates that God has placed baptism between guilt and forgiveness.
God has placed baptism between one being DEAD IN SIN and being ALIVE IN CHRIST.
Listen carefully as I read from Colossians 2.12-13, In baptism, you were buried with Christ and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful flesh nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
- When were we made alive in Christ?
- When did He forgive us all our sins?
Paul says it was in the act of New Testament baptism.
GOD PLACES BAPTISM BETWEEN OUR BEING SAVED AND BEING LOST.
In Mark 16.16 Jesus says, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Baptism is placed before salvation in this passage.
Folk, you can diagram this sentence any way you like... In the English or in the Greek and it always says the same thing... He that believes AND is baptized shall be saved. The conjunction AND connects faith and baptism inseparably together as a requirement for our salvation.
You see, if we remove baptism as a requirement for salvation, the sentence would read, he that believes shall be saved. Of course if we have the right to remove baptism, then we have the same right to remove faith, so then it would read, he that is baptized shall be saved. Are you ready to agree with the fact that an individual can be saved without faith? Of course not. Jesus plainly taught that faith and baptism stands between one being lost and being saved?
GOD HAS PLACED BAPTISM BETWEEN BEING IN THE BODY AND BEING OUT OF THE BODY.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12.13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. If we are baptized into the body, then it stands to reason that we are not in that body before baptism.. Right?... But we are in that body after baptism.
So what is the body?
- Ephesians 1.22 & 23, Colossians 1.18 & 24 plainly tells us that the body is the church... Of which Christ is both the Head and the Savior.
- Jesus told Nicodemus, in our reading, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
- In Acts 2.41-47, Luke says, those accepting the message were baptized and the Lord added to their number, to the church, those being saved.
So then, baptism stands between an individual being IN or OUT of:
- The body of Christ,
- The Kingdom of God,
- The Church,
- The number of the saved,
- God’s household,
- His family.
THEN FINALLY, WE SEE THAT GOD HAS PLACED BAPTISM BETWEEN UNBELIEF AND FULL ACCEPTANCE OF THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST.
Baptism is a part of genuine faith, truly believing in Christ. In Acts 16.31, the Philippian jailer was told to believe on the Lord and he would be saved.
- So after he heard the Word,
- Believed it,
- Demonstrated his repentance by washing their stripes, the wounds of Paul and Silas,
- He was baptized;
That’s verse 34.
Acts 2.41 reads like this, Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. For those in Acts two, baptism was a part of acceptance of the Gospel Message... It was a part of their faith. Has baptism been a part of our faith?
- If we accept the message,
- If we genuinely accept Jesus, then we will be baptized. That is if we do it as they did in Acts 2. You see church, we cannot preach Christ, nor can we accept the message about Christ without preaching and accepting New Testament baptism.
I want to close the lesson by reading 1 Peter 3.18-21 again, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. The like figure where unto even baptism does also now save us-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
No, No, there is nothing in the water that saves, that takes away our sins. Salvation is not in the water, but is in obedience to God.
- Baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
- Baptism is doing what God asks us to do without questioning why.
“He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
“Repent and be baptized and you shall receive the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“Arise, be baptized and wash away you sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” “We are the children of God by faith, for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Indeed!!... We must be born again of water and the spirit!
