https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Why-Water.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tText: John 3:1-12<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Jesus stated that unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of\nheaven – John 3:5\n A. We understand, despite efforts by many to avoid it, that Jesus refers to baptism\nwhen he said one must be born of water\n
B. Today, I would like to consider “Why water?”<\/p>\n
C. What is it about water that makes it representative of becoming a Christian<\/p>\n
II. The Character of Water<\/p>\n
A. It is abundant<\/p>\n
1. Water is so abundant on this planet that it is easily taken for granted<\/p>\n 2. We drink it, bathe in it, swim in it, generate electricity with it, grow things\nwith it, etc.\n
3. We find it in liquid form, solid form, and gaseous form – Job 36:26-29<\/p>\n
4. We can marvel at the weather – Job 37:5-20<\/p>\n 5. When Christ commanded that disciples be made from all nations through\nbaptism, the availability of water is rarely an issue – Matthew 28:19-20\n
B. It refreshes<\/p>\n 1. We don’t have to work long, especially in the heat of summer before we\nare thinking of water. How refreshing it feels when our tongue feels like\nsandpaper!\n
2. Thus Jesus’ agony on the cross – John 19:28<\/p>\n 3. David was battling the Philistines and while relaxing in a cave thought\nlongingly of water from a particular well – II Samuel 23:15\n a. Unfortunately Bethlehem was currently being held by the\nPhilistines\n b. But three of David’s men overheard him and stole into the camp\njust to get him water from that well – II Samuel 23:16-17\n
4. A mark of kindness – Matthew 10:42<\/p>\n
5. Our physical thirst represents our spiritual thirst for truth – Psalm 63:1<\/p>\n
a. The spreading of truth becomes a well-spring – Isaiah 35:6-7<\/p>\n b. What Jesus offered was truth that would always be available – John\n4:13-14\n c. When explaining the need for salvation, one must repent and be\nconverted to experience refreshment – Acts 3:19\n d. Souls eager to be refreshed in the presence of God will submit to\nHis will – Acts 2:38-39\n
6. A representation of heaven – Revelation 22:1-2<\/p>\n
C. It cleanses<\/p>\n 1. After a long day of hot, sweaty work a long shower or bath feels so good.\nRemoving the sweat and grime cleanses the body and it makes you feel\nlike a new person.\n
2. Cleanses was an important part of the Old Law<\/p>\n a. Water of purification was used after a person became unclean –\nNumbers 19:19-20\n
b. The priests had to wash before serving God – Exodus 30:18-20<\/p>\n 3. Such physical cleanses represented the spiritual need to be cleansed from\nsin\n
a. Wash yourselves clean by ceasing to do evil – Isaiah 1:16<\/p>\n
b. Whiter than snow – Psalm 51:2, 7-10<\/p>\n c. In speaking of the salvation of mankind through Jesus – Zechariah\n13:1\n
4. Baptism in water represents that – I Peter 3:21<\/p>\n
a. Wash away sins – Acts 22:16<\/p>\n
b. Washing of regeneration (new birth) – Titus 3:5<\/p>\n
c. A new life – Romans 6:3-4<\/p>\n
d. Only in this way can we draw near to God – Hebrews 10:22<\/p>\n
D. It is essential to life<\/p>\n
1. All life on this planet requires water. <\/p>\n
2. The human body is about 75% water. We cannot survive without it.<\/p>\n a. It is needed for circulation, digestion, respiration, temperature\nregulation, waste removal, and so much more.\n b. We can go without food for a while, but we cannot go without\nwater.\n
3. Water has been involved in saving people<\/p>\n
a. Noah was saved from the corruption of the world – I Peter 3:20<\/p>\n
b. Israel was saved from the corruption of Egypt – I Corinthians 10:1-4<\/p>\n 4. It should not be surprising that this essential element is used to represent\nsalvation in the New Testament – Mark 16:16\n
a. Romans 6:3-7 – freed from the bondage of sin<\/p>\n
III. God has blessed us with abundant water<\/p>\n
A. Though there might be periods of difficulty, no one need die of a lack of water.<\/p>\n B. With the gospel abundantly available to all men, there is no need for any to die a\nspiritual death either\n
C. As the eunuch observed – Acts 8:36-38<\/p>\n
D. What about you?<\/p>\n
\n
Based on “Water” by Wayne Greeson<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Text: John 3:1-12 I. Jesus stated that unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven – John 3:5 A. We understand, despite efforts by many to avoid it, that Jesus refers to baptism when he said one must be born of water B. Today, I would like to consider…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[52,946,341,721,47,161],"class_list":["post-34436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-baptism","tag-cleanliness","tag-desire","tag-kindness","tag-salvation","tag-water"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5310,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/you-must-be-born-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":34436,"position":0},"title":"You Must Be Born Again","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 3:1-22 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I had a fellow ask me if I had been born again. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In particular, he wanted to know how I came to believe such a thing. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When I replied with I John 2:3-6; 4:6; 5:2-3, he became quite upset \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He wanted to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":79216,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-didnt-jesus-mention-baptism-to-nicodemus\/","url_meta":{"origin":34436,"position":1},"title":"Why didn’t Jesus mention baptism to Nicodemus?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Why didn't Jesus mention baptism to Nicodemus in the gospel of John when he asked? Answer: Great question. I love Nicodemus's story, and I believe it can help us understand the need for water baptism. Firstly, I would like to say we don't see the whole story of Nicodemus\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":94982,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-not-sure-jesus-is-talking-about-actual-water-in-john-35\/","url_meta":{"origin":34436,"position":2},"title":"I’m not sure Jesus is talking about actual water in John 3:5","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I just had some questions about John 3:5. I am not sure whether Jesus is referring to literal water here. The reason I say that is that later in the book of John, Jesus attributes the Holy Spirit and calls it \"Living Water\" when talking to the woman\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28066,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-receiving-the-holy-spirit-mean-baptism-in-water-is-unnecessary\/","url_meta":{"origin":34436,"position":3},"title":"Does receiving the Holy Spirit mean baptism in water is unnecessary?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 8, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have another friend that believes you don't need water baptism because once you believe that's when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and that's when you're baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. She gave me theses Scriptures: Acts 11:14-16, Acts 11:47-48, Matthew 3:11-15, Acts 10:44-48, Titus 3:5,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10776,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-you-a-born-again-christian\/","url_meta":{"origin":34436,"position":4},"title":"Are You a Born Again Christian?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 27, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steve Dewhirst What other kind of Christian is there? 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