Question: In a recent newsletter, Dave Hunt refers to being "born of water" and being "born of the Spirit" as both being the spiritual birth of a person. Could you please explain that position further?

Question: In a recent newsletter, Dave Hunt refers to being "born of water" and being "born of the Spirit" as both being the spiritual birth of a person. Could you please explain that position further?

Response: There can be no question concerning "born of the Spirit." It is the expression "born of water" that raises questions. Certainly it cannot mean baptismal water, inasmuch as Paul clearly shows there is no link between baptism and the gospel of salvation: "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Cor:1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
See All...). Of course, infant baptism and baptismal regeneration of any kind are grave heresies. Salvation requires faith, and baptism is only for those who have believed the gospel (Acts:2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
See All...; 8:37;10:47,48, etc.)-impossible for a baby.

The Word of God, of course, of which the gospel is a vital part, is credited with effecting the new birth: "Being born again... by the word of God...the word which by the gospel is preached" (1 Pt 1:23,25). God's Word is depicted in many ways. It is the seed sown in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8: "The seed is the word of God" (Lk 8:11). It is also the living water of eternal life: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (Jn:7:37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
See All...); "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst..." (Jn:4:14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
See All...); "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rv 22:17). It is also shown to be like water that cleanses from sin in the process of the new birth: "Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (Jn:15:3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
See All...); "washing of water by the word..." (Eph:5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
See All...).

No water other than the water of life in the Word of the gospel can be meant by the phrase, "born of water." Moreover, this water of life of the Word of God is essential to the new birth.