Born of Water and the Spirit

Monday, 08/17/26 at 07:42
A Voice Shouting

August 17, 2026

For the past few decades, the modern church has marginalized, minimized, and replaced baptism with the intent to reduce (and eliminate) its biblical significance. This false teaching is destructive and I’d like to show you how God has given us a pattern in the bible that destroys this false teaching. This pattern highlights how water and spirit are the pathway to life (new life) and is used by God to show us why baptism can not be exchanged for a prayer, nor can it be considered nothing more than a public testimony of faith. It’s so much more than that and I am hopeful you’ll come to understand we’ve been lied to for many years by our churches. As a result, multitudes have been led astray. Let’s explore this pattern further:

John 3:3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

John 3:5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”

Pattern #1

Water and the Spirit were present from the very beginning of creation. When the heavens and earth were brought to life (new life), both the water and His spirit were present to bring it into being.

Genesis 1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Pattern #2

The story of Noah brings this pattern to its fullness as the water and the Spirit are present, but with the added dimension of death to the old and the start of a new beginning. God brought judgment upon a world of corruption and wickedness while saving Noah and his family with the ark. The water destroyed (put to death) the old world and also saved them by separating them from the evil world. Additionally, the Spirit of God (the dove) pointed to a new beginning (a new world). Let’s look at the associated scripture:

Genesis 6:17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

Genesis 8:8 Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. Genesis 8:12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.

Again, water and the Spirit were involved in bringing death to the old world and life with a new world.

Pattern #3

Jesus was baptized at the beginning of his ministry. Clearly, he wasn’t baptized because of sin, but rather to bring an end to the old covenant and to initiate the beginning of the new covenant. When Jesus was submerged into water, he put to death the old covenant (including the Levitical priesthood), and when he came up out of the water the new covenant was born (along with becoming a priest in the order of Melchizedek). The Holy Spirit then descended like a dove pointing to a new beginning (Jesus ministry), a new priesthood (in the order of Melchizedek), and a new covenant (new life in Christ).

Hebrews 8:6 But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

Pattern #4

The final piece to the pattern is Christian baptism. Let’s start with Acts 2: Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Notice again, the reference to water and the Spirit.

Matthew 10:38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

If we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus, eventually we will need to partake of His death, burial and resurrection. This occurs only through baptism. Let’s look at scripture:

Colossians 2:10-13: So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.  When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 

When we believe (faith) that Jesus died for our sins, we follow Him. When we follow him, we die, are buried and are raised again. When we are baptized, we put to death the “old sinful nature” and are raised to a new life. We then receive the Holy Spirit (again, the reference to water and the Spirit). Can a prayer accomplish this? I don’t see how it’s remotely possible.

Lastly, let’s take a look at one more reference to water and the Spirit in scripture:

John 7:37-39 …“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

We come to Jesus by faith. We follow him in His death, burial, and resurrection (water), and we receive the Holy Spirit (spirit). Jesus said we can’t enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Faith, baptism (water), Holy Spirit (spirit), and union with Christ is the pathway to eternal life.

1 Peter: 19-21 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in learning more about the biblical pattern of water and the Spirit this 15 minute video does a great job of explaining it in great detail.  May God’s grace be with you all.