Unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Whatever Jesus means here, all will agree, that: (1) no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born again; (2) only being born of water and the Spirit makes it possible. All will agree that the birth of the Spirit points to a spiritual change. The majority of scholars see in water the rite of Christian baptism. See Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22. Alford (Greek Testament) says: "All attempts to get rid of this have sprung from doctrinal prejudices." We view Christian baptism [in contrast to John's baptism] as a reaching out through faith to seize the sacrifice of Christ and make ourselves part of it. Compare notes on Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21.

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Old Testament