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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Water (04/26/04)
TITLE: You Must Be Born Again
By Mark Richardson
05/01/04
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You Must Be Born Again

Water! It’s such a common substance that we may often over look it or even take it for granted. However, when we look at significance given to it in scripture maybe we can begin to see it in a different light. Let’s spend some time looking at a few areas where water was important in the Bible.
First, Jesus talked to Nicodemus and told him that only people who had been born again would be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Upon further explanation he added that this rebirth included being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5). Paul, also addressed this same issue when he was talking to the church in Rome and showed the significance of water baptism. He said that all who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death. He also said that baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and that when we are baptized in water, we are displaying our own death, burial and resurrection. We are then raised to live a new life (Romans 6:1-4).
Jesus also discussed another crucial concept concerning water in the following two passages. The first one was with the woman at the well in John four. He told her about "living water" that was available to those who believe. The second is found in John 7:37-39 where it is revealed that "living water" refers to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit flowing inside His children to produce His fruit. What a wonderful way of describing the life giving water that God grants us.
In first John we learn of yet another way that water is significant in the life of the believer. Water is one of the three witnesses discussed that will testify as to whether or not our faith is real. Look at what John revealed in chapter five. He stated that there are three who testify - the Spirit, the water and the blood (5:8). The testimony that these three witnesses give for those who have experienced the rebirth that Jesus described above is that God has granted life to this person and that life is found in His Son Jesus. (5:11).
Have you been born again of water and the Spirit? Do you have the testimony of the Spirit, the water and the blood in your life? If not, why not?