Has anyone in the group had a misconception or heard of a misunderstanding about salvation? Share those with the group. PR explained the difference between being Born of Water and being Born of the Spirit. Take some time to explain that to each other in the group? Why is being born of water NOT referring to baptism in this context? What does water baptism mean? Does the wind analogy that Jesus used to describe the moving of the Spirit helpful to you? How did the moving of the Spirit affected you at the point of salvation? How did God use the Holy Spirit to draw you to Himself when you got saved? What were some of the circumstances or conditions surrounding your salvation? You are the master of your own story. No-one has lived your life with all its ups and downs as thoroughly as you. How do you think the Lord could use your story to draw someone else to Himself? PRAYER: Father, I know that You are not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to eternal life. Please use me to be an instrument in Your hands to draw others to Yourself.
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but not everyone will be there. Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 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. Being born of the Spirit is easily interpreted salvation involves a new life that only the Holy Spirit can produce 2 Corinthians 3:6b The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. Born of water refers to physical birth. This birth parallels being born of the Spirit, as a similar new birth occurs within our hearts 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. The Greek word for wind is pneuma, the same word used for spirit. When wind blows, we cannot see it, but we see where it has been. John 6:63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but not everyone will be there.
John 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 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.
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.
Born of the Spirit is easily interpreted salvation involves a new life that only the Holy Spirit can produce.
Born of water refers to physical birth. This birth parallels being born of the Spirit, as a similar new birth occurs within our hearts
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. A person once-born has physical life; a person twice-born has eternal life.
1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Now, it must be stated here that the phrase born of water is not a reference to water baptism. Baptism is nowhere mentioned in the context, nor did Jesus ever imply that we must do anything to inherit eternal life but trust in Him in faith
John 3:6-8 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.
The Greek word for wind is pneuma, the same word used for spirit. When wind blows, we cannot see it, but we see where it has been.
Neither persuasive words nor intellectual arguments have the power to make someone born of God. Only the Holy Spirit can perform that transformation. 2 Corinthians 3:6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
John 6:63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God, did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.