014. Born of Water and the Spirit

014. Born of Water and the Spirit

14 BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT John 3:3;John 3:5

INTRODUCTION Entrance into the church requires such a change that it is called "a birth "; it is conversion.

I. KINGDOM OF GOD 1. It is the church.

2. A spiritual kingdom (a) Has a spiritual King.

(b) Ha s spiritual laws.

(c) Has spiritual territory .

(d) Has spiritual forces.

(e) Has spiritual subj ects.

II. "BORN AGAIN ’’

1. Synomyms.

(a) Conversion. (Matthew 18:3.) (b) Obedience to gospel. (c) Translation. (Colossians 1:13.) (d) Obedience to the faith . (Acts 6:7.) 2. "Born anew." "born of water and Spirit."

3. Some theories.

(a) Born of water mean natural birth; this makes two births. (b) Born of water means baptism and born of Spirit when raised from the dead . (c) Direct operation of Holy Spirit.

III. WHAT IS A BIRTH?

1. Two necessary actions.

(a) Begettal. (b) Delivery.

2. Begetting process similar to natural.

3. God begets throu gh the Holy Spirit.

(a) Word, the seed. (Luke 8:11 ; 1 Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23.) (b) When begotten? When one believes. (John 1:11-12; 1 John 5:1.) (c) Spirit giveth life. (John 6:63-64 ; 2 Corinthians 3:6.) 4. The deliverance in baptism.

(a) Life not imparted by deliverance . (b) Birth passes the pre-existent life into a new and favorable state for growth and development.

IV. EXAMPLE OF THIS BIRTH 1. One could not be born of Spirit until Spirit came.

2. Spirit came on Pentecost.

3. Pentecostians, heard , believed, repented , and were baptized .

4. They were saved ; hence born again.