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Question 1

The new birth doctrine is built upon what scriptural passage?

Answer 1

John 3:3-5.

Question 2

Various theological interpretations have provided four possible meanings for Jesus’ statement on the “birth of water.” List each.

Answer 2

a. Natural birth with its flow of amniotic fluid.
b. Identical to the birth of the Spirit.
c. Spiritual cleansing performed by the Word of God.
d. Water baptism, at which God remits sins (p. 86).

Question 3

Jesus was not speaking of a natural birth in John 3 when He spoke of the “birth of water,” since this usage does not appear in ordinary speech or in _________________________.

Answer 3

Scripture (p. 87).

Question 4

A careful reading of John 3:3-5 shows that being “born of water and of the Spirit” is equivalent to being ________________.

Answer 4

Born again (p. 87).

Question 5

If “birth of water” means natural birth, why would Jesus apparently be unfair in His rebuke of Nicodemus?

Answer 5

Because he would have been asking Nicodemus to do something he had already done or to do something physically impossible (p. 87).

Question 6

a. Does John 3 establish that the “birth of water” alone is the new birth?
b. What else is needed to complete the new birth?

Answer 6

a. No.

b. The birth of the Spirit (p. 88).

Question 7

Some theologians insist that the birth of water and the Spirit are identical experiences, but the apostle John emphasizes the distinction between the two in John 3:3-5 and again in ____________.

Answer 7

I John 5:8.

Question 8

Some promote the view that the “birth of water” is a cleansing by the Word and use Ephesians 5:26 to support their view. But this interpretation ignores the _______________________ meaning of John 3:5 and chooses a _____________ meaning with no support from the context.

Answer 8

Literal; symbolic (p. 89).

Question 9

Rather than being a part of the new birth experience itself, the Word of God is more appropriately understood to be the agent of ______________.

Answer 9

Conception (p. 89).

Question 10

From the beginning chapters of the Gospel of John, how can we support the conclusion that the “birth of water” can be literally understood to mean water baptism?

Answer 10

The context of John 3:5 suggests water baptism, as John’s baptism is spoken of in John 1:25-34 and 3:23 and the baptism of Christ’s disciples is
mentioned in John 3:22 and 4:1-2 (p. 91).

Question 11

As a Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus would have understood Jesus to be speaking of water baptism in referring to a “birth of water.” What are two reasons why he could have been expected to have this understanding?

Answer 11

a. Nicodemus was familiar with Old Testament ceremonial cleansings and Jewish proselyte baptism.
b. More importantly, he was familiar with John’s baptism. Both were a part of conversion and repentance (p. 91).

Question 12

Water baptism must be a part of the new birth, because God does what at water baptism?

Answer 12

Remits sin (p. 92).

Question 13

Paul linked water and Spirit to the new birth in what verse?

Answer 13

Titus 3:5 (p. 92).

Question 14

Biblical scholars generally agree that the “washing of regeneration” or “bathing of the new birth” of Titus 3:5 refers to what?

Answer 14

Rite of baptism (p. 93).

Question 15

Water baptism is not in and of itself a saving act, but the remission of sins is totally dependent upon what?

Answer 15

God’s grace (and man’s faith in Christ) (p. 93).

Question 16

The “birth of the Spirit” is the operation of the Holy Spirit for what purpose?

Answer 16

Man’s salvation (p. 94).

Question 17

Nicodemus would have been aware of prophecies of the Spirit’s outpouring, particularly the prophecy of what Old Testament book?

Answer 17

Joel (p. 95).

Question 18

John baptized with water, but he prophesied of a mightier One to follow who would do what?

Answer 18

Baptize with the Holy Ghost (and fire) (p. 95).

Question 19

a. In what scriptural passage did Jesus describe the “promise of the Father” as being “baptized with the Holy Ghost”?
b. What scriptural passage describes the fulfilment of Christ’s words and equates being “baptized with the Holy Ghost” to being “filled with the Holy Ghost”?

Answer 19

a. Acts 1:4-8.

b. Acts 2:4 (p. 95).

Question 20

In what passage of Acts did Peter describe the “gift” of the Holy Ghost as being “baptized with the Holy Ghost”?

Answer 20

Acts 11:15-17 (p. 95).

Question 21

What verse in the epistles demonstrates that the work of the Spirit in salvation is the baptism of the Spirit?

Answer 21

I Corinthians 12:13 (p. 96).

Question 22

Is salvation complete at either repentance, water baptism, or the Spirit baptism individually?

Answer 22

No. Salvation is completed at the union of the three (p. 96).

Question 23

Since the blood of Jesus purchased our salvation, when can we say the blood is applied to our lives in the experience of salvation?

Answer 23

The blood is applied not just at one point in time, but throughout the salvation process (p. 98).

Question 24

Name the characteristics of the born-again believer, as described in I John:

Answer 24

a. Confesses that Jesus came in the flesh (4:2).
b. Has love (4:7).
c. Confesses that Jesus is the Son of God (4:15).
d. Believes that Jesus is the Christ (5:1).
e. Overcomes the world (5:4).
f. Does not continue to commit sin (3:9; 5:18). (See p. 99.)

Question 25

Point out two reasons why Old testament believers were not born again in the New Testament sense:

Answer 25

a. They did not have permanent remission of sins.
b. They did not receive a new nature in the form of the permanently indwelling Spirit, because it was not available to them (p. 100).