Born of Water and the Spirit

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5.
Christ here referred to water baptism and the renewing of the heart by the Spirit of God.
Repentance, faith, and baptism are the requisite steps in conversion…. As Christians submit to the solemn rite of baptism, He registers the vow that they make to be true to Him. This vow is their oath of allegiance.
Christ has made baptism the sign of entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He has made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Before man can find a home in the church, before passing the threshold of God’s spiritual kingdom, he is to receive the impress of the divine name, “The Lord our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6 Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They have obeyed the command: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, … and touch not the unclean thing.” And to them is fulfilled the promise: “I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.
Henceforth the believer is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. He is to make all worldly considerations secondary to this new relation….
The obligations in the spiritual agreement entered into at baptism are mutual. As human beings act their part with whole-hearted obedience, they have a right to pray, “Let it be known, Lord, that Thou art God in Israel.” The fact that you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is an assurance that if you will claim their help, these powers will help you in every emergency.
The Faith I Live By p. 145
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a friend who has fallen on hard times for Jesus. Buck
—-My husbands hand surgery is today he’s anxious please pray for him. Shanda
—-Please pray for our Community in Polk Co. North Carolina. (Western NC) the mountain in front of our home had a land slide killing one and injuring many. Several of our Neighbors lost homes too. We live in the valley by a small river That over flowed at the same time the land slide was coming down threatening our home. We have a therapeutic foster home with special needs children. I believe the reason God Saved our home is because of these precious children, for the landslide stop at our front door and the flood stop at our back door. God certainly heard my cry for help. Our little Community is traumatized still. Many are still digging out there homes as I write. So many have lost their way . Discouraged people asking why me and many asking why not me. Please pray for us all as we mourn. Thank you so much. Dixie
—-Please pray for Kathy who is in the hospital with chest pains. Diane
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Dear Friends,
When my friend, Darlene, was diagnosed with cancer, she used it to help those she met. She became involved in the lives of the other cancer patients in the doctor’s waiting room. Often she spoke words of encouragement to them and pointed them to the Great Physician. She always carried little books, such as Steps to Christ, to give to them. Many times she was able to go to their homes and study the Word of God with them. Many times she took them food that she, herself, had baked. Many of those people gave their heart to the Lord.
I often called to encourage her. (By this time, we had moved half way across the country.) The moment I would say “Hello,” she would know who it was. She knew me so well. She would not talk to me very long, before she could tell that I was feeling a little “down” even though I tried to hide it. (Often the reason I was feeling sad, was because of her condition.) Even during the last weeks of her life, she spent time encouraging me, whenever I called to encourage her.
Our Loving Saviour longs for each one of us to look away from self and take the time to share His love with those we meet just as Darlene had. How much she exemplified her Saviour, Who, when He was upon this earth, ” went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” Matt 4:23,24 Our Great Redeemer ” was moved with compassion. . . because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” 9:36
“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24
Just so, our Dear Saviour would have us “follow in His steps, to be “an example . . . in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 He said of His work, “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30 So we are to seek not our own will, but seek to do His will. How He longs to have us to be a light to those around us, ever pointing them to the True Light, the Lamb of God Who takes away our sin. (John 1:1-14, 29)
May we “Let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 May we allow our Loving Redeemer to work through us, spreading the kindness, love, and concern that He, Himself, has for those He has created. May we daily set self aside and earnestly pray as did Isaiah, “Here am I; send me.” Isa 6:8
Rose