What does it mean to “be born of water and of the Spirit”?


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 3:5 KJV)


Just like many other words of Jesus, many have found this term difficult to explain. Even though everyone is entitled to his own opinion, we can spot out any fallacious interpretation of scripture wherever we find it if only we hold on to a guide submitting to the Spirit. Alleluia!


First, I want to say that this word "be born of water and the Spirit" should not so much worry the Christian. It never gave Nicodemus to whom that word was spoken to so much a headache in finding its interpretation as it seems to be giving most Gentile Christians today. There are proofs Nicodemus got the message Jesus was passing; and I think any Jewish man would also grab it easily because it was a Jewish terminology. But a gentile Christian may not understand it.


Straight to meaning, may we see the context?

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. 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. (John 3:3-5 KJV)

In simple terms, without Greek/Hebrew dictionary, without a theological literacy background, we can see what we need in the statements.

First, Jesus said, a man needs to be born again. But this was a strong New Creation term and the man in the talk did not seem to understand. "How can a man be born when he is old?" he replied. So Jesus was trying to explain using examples of "earthly things" perhaps he will understand. "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:12 MKJV). Thus, in seeking a practical explanation, Jesus began to say "Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit…"; that is, to be born again is the same as to be born of water and of the Spirit; in that one is a further illustration of the other. Hence, if you do not understand the first, you should, the second or vice-versa. One is not a "deeper level" of the other as some have presupposed. Being born of the water and of the Spirit is not a higher level than being born again. This misinterpretation probably came from Jesus' use of the word "see the kingdom" in one and "enter into the kingdom" in the other.

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.

I believe both ("see" and "enter" mean the same thing; in as much as to be born again is the same as to be born of water and the Spirit. That is, when you are born again, you are born of water and of the Spirit at the same time. It is not water baptism and Holy Ghost baptism as some have also thought. "See" only speaks of experiencing, and "Enter" speaks of being launched into the kingdom experience. Therefore, to be born again is to enter the kingdom of God; and to be born of water and the Spirit is quintessentially to enter or see the kingdom of God. The kingdom being referred to here, do not seem to be heaven, but a place where people are launched into immediately they are born again.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. (1 John 5:1 MKJV)

"Born of water and of the Spirit" speaks of spiritual washing and spiritual quickening. The best parallel text I have seen with this text is Titus 3:5

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 KJV)

He says, that washing/baptism is regeneration and that "of Spirit" is the "renewing of the Holy Ghost" done on the man.


Another version says:
he saved us through the WASHING in which the Holy Spirit gives us NEW BIRTH and renewal. (Titus 3:5 GW)

We are made to know that for the Christian, he has been washed (baptised) from an evil conscience; he has his body washed with pure water.

…having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies WASHED with WATER. (Hebrews 10:22 KJV)

Thus we are born of water and of the Spirit when we are born again! Nothing needs to be added to "complete" us, for "we are complete in him who is the head of all principalities" (Colossians 2:10).


Hence saint, you can rest in hope and confident assurance of what Christ has done for you, rooted and built up in Him, giving thanks always.

very simple you hear the word and you are convicted by the Holy Spirit then you are born again
water is the word of God

@kei144, are you asking a question, or just trying to impose your opinion about it

kayuseful:
■ What does it mean to “be born of water and of the Spirit”? 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 3:5 KJV) Just like many other words of Jesus, many have found this term difficult to explain. Even though everyone is entitled to his own opinion, we can spot out any fallacious interpretation of scripture wherever we find it if only we hold on to a guide submitting to the Spirit. Alleluia!
First, I want to say that this word "be born of water and the Spirit" should not so much worry the Christian. It never gave Nicodemus to whom that word was spoken to so much a headache in finding its interpretation as it seems to be giving most Gentile Christians today. There are proofs Nicodemus got the message Jesus was passing; and I think any Jewish man would also grab it easily because it was a Jewish terminology. But a gentile Christian may not understand it.

Straight to meaning, may we see the context? 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. 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. (John 3:3-5 KJV) In simple terms, without Greek/Hebrew dictionary, without a theological literacy background, we can see what we need in the statements......

To be Born of Water means being baptized into the New Covenant and Law, Jesus Christ, the new source of Living water for those who are born again. Water baptism, as explained by John the Baptist in Matthew 3 vs 7 - 11 & Luke 3 vs 2 - 18 & Mark 1 vs 1 - 8 symbolizes the transition from (complete abandonment) the Old Law of Moses in order to begin anew following God's New Law and Covenant in the Kingdom of God, God's New fountain of Living Water. John referred to it as the Baptism of repentance.

To be born of Spirit means to be born of the Spirit of Eternal Life, God's gift of Eternal Life which is granted to sinners who believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in fact describes it as an actual possession of the individual by the Spirit in John 3 vs 8, and since the Spirit is Eternal Life itself, He remains with the individual 24/7 for eternity from that point on wielding power and control over the one He possesses (but not over their will).

kuss:
very simple you hear the word and you are convicted by the Holy Spirit then you are born again
water is the word of God

According to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit aka the one who does the convicting you speak of cannot abide in those who are unrighteous — Holiness cannot approach unholiness. And since Jesus Christ came to call the unrighteous(unholy) to God meaning all those who he makes the offer of Himself to are in fact unrighteous(unholy) sinners, it is against Jesus Christ— antiChrist— to claim that it is the Holy Spirit aka the Spirit of Truth(holiness) who interacts with the unrighteous(unholy) in order that they may then become born-again.

By the way, a born-again remains a sinner even after gaining entry into the Kingdom of God.

Kei144:
■ You started well by saying that Jesus made the statement to a Jew and that the Jew obviously understood what He meant; but you ended up interpreting the whole thing from the viewpoint of today's Christian.
""Born of water and of the Spirit" speaks of spiritual washing and spiritual quickening."
■ Did Jews of Jesus' time understand spiritual washing and spiritual quickening? Now let us compare John 3:5 with some other statements made to Jews of Jesus' time.

Which one is spiritual washing again?