Baptism

Verily , Verily Except a Man be Born Again

Note: Baptisma {bap'-tis-mah} immersion, submersion. The translators of the bible created the word baptism, a transliteration (similar sounding word) of the Greek word baptisma, instead of translating, which means to immerse.

Jesus in his discussion with Nicodemous uses the expression (verily, verily), three times concerning being born again. Verily means (trustworthy, surely).

John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus repeats the expression verily, verily and provides more details.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water (immersion, baptism) and the Spirit (word of Christ), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus points first to the last stage in the process of the analogy of being born again, born of water (meaning immersion, baptism) for his hearer Nicodemus, due to coming forth from water in the natural process of being born is the most recognize birth, is similar to coming forth from baptism (immersion, water) a birth into the spiritual kingdom of God. Then Jesus goes further back to another stage, a birth previous to the more recognizable last stage. A birth not as applied or perhaps in his day not understood readily to the degree as today because of limitations of seeing it actually occur. We today can actually observe with a telescopic camera, the birth of the seed of man, through an opening in the wall of the egg of a woman, is another birth in of itself, conception.
Jesus knowing all things, applied as an analogy born of the spirit, as if the the seed of man represents the spirit (word of Christ), births through the wall (hardness of sin) of an egg (the heart of man, the place in your mind where you have your treasures of the world) begins to believe (persuaded Jesus is the Christ, son of God). Then the spirit (word of God) in the heart develops to repentance, confesses Jesus is the Christ and finally the last stage in the process to birth from water (immersion, baptism) for forgiveness of sins, births into the spiritual kingdom of God. Where all spiritual blessings, privileges are “in Christ“, rest the covenants promises in Christ family generation, seed, going back to the " faith " of Abraham, born anew.

Ye must be born anew

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, [even] the Son of man, who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; 15 that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.

If you need assistance in obeying the Lord in this vital matter, please feel free to contact the Church of Christ nearest you. Also please when you contact them send along this web page, so they will know what frame of mind you coming from. They will encourage you too bible study, and to assemble in fellowship and worship with them. God Bless

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