THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 5

IV. BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
John 3;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.

Now, 4 Major Views of the Science of Salvation [Soteriology] rely on this verse, as their proof text;
A. Baptismal Regenerationalists claim that God would not have said ''water,'' if He didn't mean
water.
They explain that Baptism, alone is not REGENERATION, But it is an essential part of The New
Birth.

B. Then, Those, who teach that, water refers to One's Physical Birth, and The Spirit applies to
Spiritual Birth, believe The Context proves both Births.

C. Next, Today, many Fundamentalists say, Water symbolizes God's Word, that is used by The
Spirit in Regeneration.
They say, The Baptism of The Spirit is Here, which is, Regeneration by The Word of God-But We see that, James 1;18 refers to the bringing forth of life, not its conception;
And I Peter 1;23-25 refers to Divine Seed, implanted by The Holy Spirit, according to what God's
Word says.

D. According to The Text and Context, John 3;3-5 teaches that, The Holy Spirit cleanses like
Water-
Nicodemus knew The Old Testament-Ezekiel 36;25-26-[Turn].
Verse 25 teaches that God justifies all those, He elects.
Verse 26 teaches that Regeneration is by God.

Only One Birth is referred to in John 3;5, and it is, The Birth out of Our God, by The
Regenerating Holy Spirit.
Neither 2 Births-Physical and Spiritual, nor 2 Baptisms, Water and Spirit, are taught Here.

Now, a distinction must be made between Regeneration, which is accomplished solely by The
Sovereign God, and Water Baptism-an ordinance, that those converted by The Gospel, after being Born Again, should obey.

CONTRASTS;

1. Regeneration is by the agency of The Holy Spirit;
Baptism is in water, administered by a man of God, of a local Church.

2.Regeneration is instantaneous;
Baptism must wait for The Baptizer and Water.

3. Regeneration changes the nature of the heart;
Baptism is the outward sign of that change, in an act of obedience.

4. The Spirit of Regeneration is irresistible;
Baptism can be denied until One's Regeneration is evidenced.

5. Regeneration takes place in the sphere of man's subconsciousness;
Baptism takes place in his consciousness.

6. Regeneration is the gift of life;
Baptism is an act of obedience of that life.

7. Regeneration gives a good conscience;
Baptism is the answer of that conscience.

8. Regeneration is not dependent upon The Gospel;
Baptism depends upon The Preaching of The Gospel.

9. Regeneration enables one to put away the filth of the flesh;
Baptism does not put it away.

10. Regeneration is the application of Christ's Blood;
Blood always precedes water.

Some have been so anxious to show that JOHN 3;5 DOES NOT TEACH Baptismal Regeneration,
that they have failed to consider the Greek Text-''een me tis gennethe ex hudatos kai pnemajos''
UNLESS ONE MAY BE BOEN OUT OF WATER AND SPIRIT.''

Since ''OUT OF WATER'' DOES NOT MEAN bAPTISM, WHAT DOES IT SIGNIFY/

There is only one birth in the text.
The single preposition ''ex'' describes the event.
John didn't put a 2nd ''ex'' before ''SPIRIT'' as they were two events.
Only one event is described in this verse.