The Birth of Water and the Second Birth

Submitted by: W.G.E.N.

Birth of water and all of us were born of the water. You know that you were great swimmers for nine months? And the water broke and then we came out and that's the birth of the water. But it's not enough to be born of the water. In order to enter into the Kingdom of God, you must have your water birth and your spiritual birth. And that is why it is called to be born again. It's another birth. It can happen to you when you're 10, when you're 15, when you're 50, or you're 110 but you have to have it.

  
Bible Bite: The Birth of Water and the Second Birth 

 

Most of us would readily recognize that we live in a very “label conscious” world. Clothing manufacturers print their names or sew their labels on the outside of a garment so others can see, via their label, what brand of clothes you are wearing. Car emblems often “label” the owner with a certain financial status and even environmental conscience level, in some cases. Even in the computer world users have a label associated with their choice of device, you’re either a “PC” or “Mac” person. Your political “label” assigns you to a category of people of a certain mindset regarding social, economic and moral issues.

This practice has even made its way into the church where there are denominational names and descriptive labels used to identify what “kind” of Christianity you follow. There are evangelicals, charismatics, pentecostals, orthodox, conservatives and lately a group who label themselves progressives.

However, just as there are visible outward expressions through skin tones, physical features and dialects, there is only one race of people and that is the human race. There is only one kind of Christian and that is a “born again” Christian.

John 3:1-3

"...There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”..."
Consider all the “labels” in this passage that Jesus brushes aside. Nicodemus is identified as a Pharisee, a label of his religious status, he is also a ruler, which is a label indicating his social status. His ethnicity is identified as being “of the Jews.” He even comes to Jesus and says that he recognizes that Jesus is different than all other teachers and that He has come from God and that God is with Him.

Yet with all these impressive credentials Jesus says to Nicodemus; "You must be born again."

John 3:4-10

"...Nicodemus said to 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 answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?..."
Jesus adds another label to Nicodemus' credentials as; “the teacher of Israel” and yet says to him, as “the” teacher of Israel how is it that you don’t know these things? Paul would further highlight the same truth concerning labels that Jesus made with Nicodemus when he wrote;

1 Corinthians 15:50

"...Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption..."
Jesus is saying to Nicodemus that your ethnicity, your religious or social status are all labels of the flesh and none of them can save you. You must be born again, even as a Jew, even as a Pharisee, even as a ruler and even as “the” teacher of Israel. The flesh and all the labels and categories man has divided it into cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Only those born a second time can inherit God’s kingdom, those born of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14

"...But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned..."
There are countries in our world where a religious affiliation is printed on birth certificates and driver's licenses but the truth is, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, no one is saved by their first birth, no one is born a Christian. You must be born again. Paul even says the natural man cannot comprehend the wonderful things of God because they can only be discerned by those who are born of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

"...Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect..."
Paul is warning the church against divisive labels by reminding us that there is only one Church and Christ is the head. The one Church is comprised of people of various, social, ethnic and financial statuses who share one common feature, they have been born again.

Some say baptism must be done this way or that, some even claim baptism is essential for salvation. Some say their “denomination” has it right and others say they are wrong and they have it right. But, the question is not; are you Baptist, Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox or Coptic or any other human label? The question is; Are you born again? According to Jesus, who is still the head of the Church, you must be for those who are not, cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus is coming for His Church soon, and only those born again are ready to meet Him in the air and forever be with Him.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!