Born of Water? Not Baptism!

Compare John 3:3 and John 3:5 - Without the new birth, a man cannot enter into the kingdom or even see (perceive / understand) it.

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.

BORN OF WATER IS NOT WATER BAPTISM!
Compare John 7:37-39, the water is the Holy Spirit. "Born of water and [of] the Spirit" - Notice "of" is in italics in the KJV text and there is no article ("the") in the Greek. Literally, "Born of water and Spirit" indicates this is one birth spoken of in this verse in the Greek.

Also, Nicodemus is reproved for not knowing about what Jesus spoke, John 3:10. But how could Nicodemus have known about Christian baptism? Why would Jesus reprove him for not knowing about baptism?

B. H. Carroll Explains "Born of Water" is Not Water Baptism:

• Christ and Nicodemus discussed but two births, the natural birth and the spiritual birth, John 3:6. Whatever verse 5 means, it is one birth. Otherwise our chapter talks of three births-the natural birth, the baptism birth and the Spirit birth, which is contrary to the context.


• There is no article in the Greek before the words - not even before "Spirit." This is therefore one birth. "Born of water" is the same as "Born of Spirit."


• The context shows that the salvation invovled in John 3 is a salvation of grace and not of sacraments.


• The Lord rebukes Nicodemus for not understanding what He meant. Carroll says, "The censure lies in the fact that what is meant by 'born of water and Spirit' is clearly set forth in the Old Testament, which is so silent about baptism."


• "The phase, 'born of water and Spirit,' is but an expansion of the previous phrase, 'born from above.' It interprets and develops the first phrase, bringing out the two elements in regeneration, namely, cleansing and renewing. It is only when we lose sight of the cleansing element in regeneration that we are liable to go astray in interpreting the phrase 'born of water.' The matter is clearly set forth in Ezekiel 36:25, 26 which declares: 'Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all of your idols, will I cleanse you.' This is the cleansing element of regeneration. 'A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit....' And this is the renewing element."


• See Hebrews 9:13-14. "The Old Testament idea of clean water...typified the blood of Christ, applied in regeneration by the Holy Spirit.... With this Nicodemus ought to have been familiar. 'Born of water and spirit' simply means 'cleansed by the blood of Christ and renewed by the Holy Spirit.'"


• See similar language of washing in Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:25-27.

The above is paraphrased from "The Four Gospels, Volume 1" by B. H. Carroll, pp. 325-237.

John 3:7 - Marvel not....

Apparently, Nicodemus marvelled at this doctrine.

John 3:13 - And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Notice the omni-presence of Christ; in heaven and earth simultaneously. This phrase stricken from the critical text and the modern versions, which weaken the deity of Christ.

John 3:14 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

Cross reference: Numbers 21:7-9.

"Even so MUST the Son of man be lifted up." - Must means it is absolutely necessary. Lifted up means lifted up on the cross; crucified. Defined in John 12:32-33. See also John 8:28.

John 3:16 - See "Man's Ruin" (or Romans volume 1) by Donald Grey Barnhouse, pp. 25-26 for excellent devotion on this verse.

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Notes on Church Discipline from Matthew Chapter 18

Notes at Matthew 18:15-18

Verse 15 - "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee...."

This is a personal offense, not a publicly known sin, for which see I Corinthians 5, or a private sin of which you are aware, for which see Galatians 6.

Verse 15 - "Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone."

GO AND GO ALONE!  This cannot be stressed enough!  Not wait for him to come to you; not start a telephone campaign to justify yourself; not ask others for advice on what to do; etc.

One other valid and wise option: Let love cover it, I Peter 4:8.

Verse 15 - "If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

This the sole aim!  Same in Galatians 6; I Corinthians 5.  Not to make yourself feel better.  Not to put him in his place.  Not to be justified before others.  The aim is restoration.  Any manner of dealing with it that does not have that goal is wrong.

Verse 16 - But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

"A just & sensible O.T. law established for the benefit of the N.T. church."  - quoted, source presently unknown.

"Witnesses" are brought in view of testifying of the meeting at the potential full church hearing later.  For "every word" to be "established" requires no advance talk to the witnesses.  Do not lay out your case to them first.  Proverbs 18:17 - "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him."

Verse 17 - And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

"Tell it unto the church", not to denominational headquarters, private deacon board meeting, elder tribunal, etc.  Compare I Corinthians 5:4, where power of Christ is present when full church assembled together in His name.

Verse 18 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

"Heaven ratifies what the church does on earth in compliance with Christ's law and in the spirit of it."  - B. H. Carroll, in his sermon "Little Christians."

VM