Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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Water & Spirit

3 July 2014

"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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:3-6

Nicodemus felt that he deserved a place in God's kingdom based on his lineage and understanding of the law. Jesus throws a curve ball that Nicodemus just doesn't know how to handle. He probably threw his hands up in the air mocking Jesus because the concept of the new birth had no place in the religion of the Pharisees.

Lest we make the same mistake and misunderstand Jesus, let's take a closer look at what Jesus means to be born "of water and of the Spirit."

First of all, Jesus is not teaching that you have to be both physically born and spiritually born. If this were the case, then angels could not be in the presence of God. This would also exclude those who died pre born.

Neither is Jesus teaching that you have to be baptized as well as be born of the Spirit. If that were true, then all the old testament saints are lost and Jesus was lying when he told the theif next to Him on the cross that he would be in Paradise. Nicodemus would not have understood the concept of Christian Baptism because all he witnessed was John's baptism of repentance. Also, water baptism is never referred to by just the word "water." Incidentally, most who promote this concept actually link the two actions together and say that the baptism causes the new birth!

The answer is much more simple than "grace plus something you do." Jesus is using the word "and" like we use the word "even." The water and the spirit are the same thing. This concept is prevalent in scripture. Particularly in Paul's letter to Titus;

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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 3:4-5

Here, Paul teaches the exact same concept as Jesus. He rebukes the idea that it is anything that man does that saves him. Man must be "washed" or "renewed" from his condition of death in sin. Paul ascribes this work to the Holy Ghost just like Jesus.

Remember, Nicodemus thought that his justification for heaven lie solely in his heritage and abilities. Jesus teaches him that the flesh can only bring forth works of the flesh. The Spirit of God must bring forth spiritual things in our lives.

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Tags: baptism, grace, harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, john, new_birth, nicodemus, regeneration

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.