NEW BIRTH BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 1
Brit Prince
“There is much confusion today about what the “new birth” is.

Most Christians, if asked what the phrase “new birth” or “born again”
means, could not give a clear answer. Yet, our eternal salvation hangs on
our understanding of how to be born again.

“Jesus taught the new birth:

John 3:3 …Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 …Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God.

Clearly, being “born again” is the same thing as being “saved”. Therefore, it
is of utmost importance that we know how to be born of water and Spirit.

Simply stated, the birth of water is “water baptism” and the birth of the
Spirit is “Holy Spirit baptism”. The word baptism means to be “born of”.
There is no other logical way to interpret this passage.

THE PLAN OF SALVATION

“The only salvation available to the human race was purchased by Jesus
Christ at Calvary (John 8:24, 14:6). This was God’s grace to us while we
were yet sinners (Rom 5:8). We must accept this by faith and by obedience
to Calvary’s plan.The work of Calvary consists of Jesus’s death, burial, and
resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Since the work of Calvary consists of dying, being buried, and rising again,
Jesus called this plan being born again.

We are all “born” into this world as sinners (Psalms 51:5, Romans 3:10 &
23). Therefore, we all must be “born again” into the Kingdom of God.

Thus, we must follow the steps of Calvary by dying out to sin, in repentance,
being buried with Jesus in water baptism, and being raised again by the
baptism of the Spirit of God (Romans 6:3-5).”
“Salvation then consists of:

• Grace (John 1:17, Ephesians 2:5 & 8, Titus 2:11)

• Faith (Romans 5:2, Hebrews11:6)”

• Repentance (Luke 13:3)

• Water baptism (Acts 2:38, Acts10:48, 1Peter3:21)

• Holy Spirit baptism (Mark 1:8, Acts 1:8, 2:38)

These things (faith, repentance, and baptism) are foundational, as we see in

Hebrews.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith toward God,”

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms.

The plural for Baptism here means that there are at least two “baptisms”.
This scripture is obviously referring to water baptism and Spirit baptism.
This coincides with the “new birth” that Jesus taught.

“John 3:3-5). The birth of water is “water baptism” and the birth of the
Spirit is “Holy Spirit baptism”.”

OLD TESTAMENT FORESHADOW OF THE NEW BIRTH

1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be

ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed
through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
When the Israelites were freed from Egyptian bondage (type of sin) they
passed through the Red Sea (type of water baptism) and were under the
glory cloud in the wilderness (type of Spirit baptism).
Conclusion: These two baptisms foreshadow the new birth of water and Spirit,
a clear type of water baptism and Spirit baptism.”

HOW ARE WE BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT?

Since being “born again” is essential for salvation, it is of utmost

importance that we know how to be born of water and Spirit.

HOW ARE WE BORN OF THE WATER?

There is much confusion over water baptism today, but most Christians
agree that water baptism has something to do with salvation, although
many are not sure what it does.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

HOW DOES WATER BAPTISM SAVE US?

Water baptism remits sin (Acts 2:38, Luke 24:47).

The word remission is also rendered forgiveness or pardon. Therefore,

water baptism is for the pardon of sin.

When Paul was baptized, the officiating preacher told him,

Acts 22:16…arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins...

Water baptism cleanses our record of past sins which gives us a clear
conscience (1 Peter 3:21, Romans 3:25).

METHOD AND FORMULA

Since water baptism remits and washes away sin and since it is a part of
the new birth which is mandatory for entrance into the Kingdom of God,
then it must be administered correctly.
 THE METHOD

The word baptism means to dip, plunge, or immerse.

Jesus and the Ethiopian Eunuch are the only Biblical examples for the
method. They were both immersed.
“Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out
of the water:

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:
and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized?

Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Conclusion: Immersion is the only method found in the Bible.

THE FORMULA

The formula is the name pronounced over the baptismal candidate.

Confusion abounds today over the formula. Should we use the titles
“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” or the name “Jesus”?

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (see also Luke
24:47)
Notice the word “name” is singular, not plural. This means that the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit are merely titles of one name. Jesus is the official
name of the Father, as well as the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hence, we must
be baptized in the name of Jesus instead of just repeating the titles
referenced in the great commission.

The name of the Father is Jesus.

John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name...

The name of the Son is Jesus.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name
JESUS:

The name of the Holy Ghost is Jesus.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name...

Conclusion: since Jesus used the singular word “name” in Matthew

28:19 and not plural “names” then we can conclude that Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost are not names, but they are titles of the name Jesus. Thus,
the name of Jesus is the formula to be used in water baptism.

THE GREAT COMMISSION FULFILLED

The great commission found in Matthew 28:19, was fulfilled by the apostles
in the book of Acts by using the name of Jesus in every account of water
baptism. The titles Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were never used.

Interestingly, Matthew, the recorder of Matthew 28:19, never corrected the

other apostles when they used the name of Jesus.
 Let’s look at each account.

Jews at Jerusalem

Peter interprets Matthew

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...

“This was the first sermon preached in the church age. Acts 2:14 tells us
that Matthew stood up with the eleven apostles that day in support of Peter.

Summary: If Peter had preached the wrong formula, then it seems logical
that Matthew would have corrected him.

Samaritans

Acts 8:16 For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Cornelius’s House

Acts10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the

Lord.

Disciples at Ephesus

Acts19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.

Conclusion: These are all of the accounts in the Bible of people being
baptized in the church age. They were all baptized in the name of Jesus.
The titles were never used. Thus, the proper interpretation of the great
commission found in “Matthew 28:19 is to use the name of Jesus and not
the titles.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must
be saved.
 IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

Since baptism is essential for salvation, it should be done immediately. The

Ethiopian eunuch wanted to be baptized as soon as they found water. “See,
here is water, what doeth hinder me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36)

Paul and Silas took the Philippian jailer and baptized him and his
household the same hour of the night, straightway (Acts 16:33). (Also see
Acts 2:41, 8:12, 10:47, 19:5, 22:16)

RE-BAPTIZED PROPERLY

If I was baptized incorrectly, should I be re-baptized properly? The answer

is found in Acts 19:1-6 where Paul found some Christian disciples who were
baptized incorrectly. The Ephesians had been baptized by John the Baptist
who was not instructed to pronounce the name of Jesus over the candidate.
When Paul questioned them and discovered this, he re-baptized them
properly in the name of Jesus Christ.

Every Christian should make sure that their baptism is administered in the
name of Jesus. If it was not administered properly, then they should
immediately be re-baptized.

Remember that water baptism is the “birth of the water” and is essential
for entrance into the Kingdom of God. Baptism must be administered
properly by being immersed in water and having the name of
Jesus pronounced over the candidate. Any other way is not scriptural
and does not constitute a birth of the water.

Conclusion: We conclude this section by asking this important biblical

question, “What hinders you from being baptized?”