All human beings begin life, at conception, in their mothers womb where God then develops a water filled, amniotic sac in which the fetus develops. Nine months later when birth pangs begin, God sets in motion the birthing process. When the amniotic sac of water breaks, the baby is born, and at that point, it's body is as much as 77% water. That, my friends, is a "water birth" and that is what Jesus was talking about
when He told Nicodemus what was necessary for a person to be forgiven of their sins, become right with God (righteous), and become a "born again" child of God.
A "water birth" is a physical birth. Everybody must obviously be physically born before they can be "born again" ... spiritually. The term, "born again" infers a previous birth, but only one. Nobody has ever or will ever be physically born twice but that is what Nicodemus thought Jesus was saying. The same is true with the spiritual birth. Nobody has ever or will ever be born "spiritually" twice. Jesus did not say we could be born again and again and again. You can be born once physically and once spiritually ... and never again. (Read the proof in Hebrews at bottom of this post)
Here are Jesus' words (in perfect grammatical outline) to a lost man who understood physical birth but could not understand a spiritual birth:
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.John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
This "water birth" is a very obvious reference to our physical, water birth (that which is born of the flesh is flesh) and not to water baptism as some denominations teach and make water baptism necessary to salvation. Water baptism is a "work", and our works have nothing to do with our salvation but are the fruit of salvation. "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...." Titus 3:5. But "works" must follow salvation...."Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." Jm.2:18. Works do not save us but prove we are saved. Water baptism is the first step of obedience for a new Christian and portrays the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and our association with Him, and has no part in our salvation, which is a spiritual birth. It is not a physical baptism in the hands of some preacher with access to water, but a spiritual baptism (immersion) with the Holy Spirit of God.... "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". Otherwise one could not be saved in an airplane, car, train or bus, in the desert, in a hole or up a tree. Nonsense. Quite a few people have been saved on airplanes. I, myself, have had several, personal re-dedications in airplanes ... in a storm, and have seen others saved there. I doubt anyone has ever been baptized in water in an airplane, but that would be necessary if water baptism were essential to salvation.
Everyone, of course, experiences the first birth and if they do not experience the second birth, they will not only die once, in the flesh, but will die the second death which is a spiritual death...... Born once, die twice....
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev.21:8.
Everyone ever born in the flesh who also, during their life, experienced the second birth and is "born again", as Jesus said, shall only die once, in their physical body, and then wake up, in a spiritual form, in Heaven, and then will, at the resurrection of their old, dead body be reunited with it in a spiritually glorified state, unaffected by the second death..... Born twice, die once ....
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev.20:6.
Hebrews 6:4-6 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." That will not, cannot happen again and again. RB
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