John 3:5. ''Unless one is born of water and of the Spirit...'' (hell, woman)

[pcamps]

Originally Posted by AlabamaStorm

Probably the best spiritual picture we have of being "born of water" is found here:

Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Those scriptures give a very good illustration of spiritual regeneration. The act of God whereby He removes us from our captivity (the flesh), and placing a new heart and a new spirit within us. No mention of faith here on the captives part. Simply God's work of Grace upon those He makes born of the Spirit. Pure monergism by the Spirit of Christ.

Eze 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.

The next two verses (above) tell us what happens after being regenerated, after having a new heart and spirit placed within us. We are then made willing and able to hear the Gospel and receive the Spirit of Christ through faith.

This i can agree with.


I like this verse too you quoted Alabama

Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

It reminds me of the verse As in Adam all die,so in Christ all will be made alive.

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by AlabamaStorm

Probably the best spiritual picture we have of being "born of water" is found here:

Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Those scriptures give a very good illustration of spiritual regeneration. The act of God whereby He removes us from our captivity (the flesh), and placing a new heart and a new spirit within us. No mention of faith here on the captives part. Simply God's work of Grace upon those He makes born of the Spirit. Pure monergism by the Spirit of Christ.

Eze 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.

The next two verses (above) tell us what happens after being regenerated, after having a new heart and spirit placed within us. We are then made willing and able to hear the Gospel and receive the Spirit of Christ through faith.

It talks about rebirth of Israel and the Jews return to God spiritually. Sprinkling of the water means God will bless them again since they return to Him.

[AlabamaStorm]

Originally Posted by Finn_Jarber

It talks about Jews returning to Israel and back to the ways of the Lord. Sprinkling of the water means God will bless them again since they return to Him.

It does, but there is always that deeper treasure of scripture that can be found.

Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

To give Jesus all the glory for our regeneration, as well as our justification, should not be discounted my friend.

[Jerwade]

Being born again is the required textbook rendering of those who derive their existence as being physically separate from that which is Spiritual, voting to accept or reject what they do not understand. It has been popular among many, especially those of the traditional mindset to literally read John 3:7, as a command to Nicodemus that "You must be born again!" This has become the framework of men to support their own calling of acceptance before it is too late,"I am special, you’re not" predicated on some kind of offer which seriously undermines the Spirit of truth. There is no such command given to Nicodemus or any other that one must be born again; a second time. Born of the Spirit is that which is already capable of changing the soul, "He raises it from the wages of sin to the righteousness of life.” To restrict the meaning of born from above to a particular set of actions or beliefs is flawed. When you die to self on the road to Damascus or at the last trumpet of this life, you will be raised incorruptible. Those alive will not proceed; those who have died. Good grief, it rains on the just and unjust alike!

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by AlabamaStorm

Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

To give Jesus all the glory for our regeneration, as well as our justification, should not be discounted my friend.

Did you throw this in because it is your favorite line? I don't see it relate to anything that has been said.

[AlabamaStorm]

Originally Posted by Finn_Jarber

Did you throw this in because it is your favorite line? I don't see it relate to anything that has been said.

ETer's usually don't.

[Bright Hope for Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Finn_Jarber

John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

Rev 21:6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

John 4:13-14 says, "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

So, Finn, who are the thirsty in Revelation since they do thirst, and the ones who already drank of the water Jesus gives will never thirst again. Hmmm..

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by AlabamaStorm

ETer's usually don't.

I see. No need to explain. Have a nice evening.

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by Bright Hope for Tomorrow

John 4:13-14 says, "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

So, Finn, who are the thirsty in Revelation since they do thirst, and the ones who already drank of the water Jesus gives will never thirst again. Hmmm..

They are the same people. They are those who choose Christ. Water of life represents salvation (eternal life).

It is repeated often in the Bible, like John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

[AlabamaStorm]

Originally Posted by Finn_Jarber

I see. No need to explain. Have a nice evening.

Com'on Finn, there was no ill will, you know that.

Now, consider the scripture I gave you. There is nothing about Israel coming back to God on their own, as you seem to imply. It was all the work of God. God alone did it, and God did it for His Holy names sake, not Israel's:

Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD , saith the Lord GOD , when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Israel did none of it. It is all the work of Christ, alone. Just like He does for our own regeneration, being born of water and the Spirit.