“Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say to thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 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?’ 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.’” (John 3:3-7)
Jesus’ words in this passage are very plain. The admonition, “Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born again,” has caused much needless argument and anxiety for some. This is not to suggest that Jesus required us to understand something that is hard, but to suggest that men do not want to accept what Jesus commanded and they are, therefore, anxious to find a way AROUND it!
Penitent believers in Christ are to be born again of the “water and the spirit”. Almost any preacher can tell you what it means to be born of the spirit, but many preachers will almost burst buttons off their shirts as they try to explain away the obvious meaning of being “born of water.”
Why is this? Because they know that in order to be consistent with other teachings of Christ, this birth of water must mean WATER BAPTISM! (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16)
Often when Gospel Preachers mention baptism for remission of sins (Acts 2:28) they are branded by many to be false teachers. I ask this question: “By what standard are we false teachers. All we are saying is that all must obey the teachings of God as recorded in Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:48; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:1-5, and other scriptures?”
It seems to me that many today are close akin to the hypocritical scribes and lawyers of Jesus’ time who “rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him.” (Luke 7:30)
My friends, if I refuse baptism then I am rejecting the counsel of God against myself! Are you willing to do that? Why not follow the Bible Plan – NOW?!
-Glenn Ramsey, Professor of Religious Education
