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QUESTION 110
In John 3:5, We read, "... born of water." Is this referring to water baptism?

ANSWER:
Water is a physical cleansing element. It was used all through the Old Testament in ceremonial cleansing. It is symbolic of cleansing from sin. "Unto Him that loved us and WASHED us by His own blood." Revelation 1:5. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14.

The word "washed" is figurative of the cleansing by the blood of Christ. Water cleanses us physically and is used in Scripture figurative of cleansing spiritually. It is, "...and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. It is the Word of God that cleanseth or corrects us when we err from the way. "Now ye are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you." John 15:3. The birth of Christ was all from above. He was born of God. His is a good example of the new birth. It was the Holy Ghost that came upon Mary and planted that seed that brought forth the Christ child. The seed was the WORD of God, the Living Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Man is spiritually dead to God.  His soul and spirit is blended together. He is soulish and not spiritual by nature. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12. The word "quick" is an old English word "to make alive." Baptism then has nothing to do with the birth from above. It is all of God. Baptism is an act that we perform. It is physical and figurative. Read 1 Peter 3:21.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen