But what is this new birth Jesus teaches that is by water and the Spirit of God?

I believe that everything in Jesus’ New Testament teaches us that it is the spiritual birth of a soul into the family of God that takes place at baptism. We can begin right here in the very context where Jesus introduces us to the idea:

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John 3:22

Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were)….. John 4:1-2

What should we conclude from the above? Jesus teaches Nicodemus that he must be born again by water and the Spirit and then we are immediately told that Jesus and His disciples are baptizing more folks than even John the baptizer. What could we conclude but that Jesus’ design was for the new birth to take place at baptism?

Jesus says that being born again is an absolute necessity to enter the kingdom of God. Indeed, He said that no one could see the kingdom unless they are born again. Why is it then, that we find no reference to the apostles telling anyone in the book of Acts or anywhere else in the New Testament that they need to be born again? What we do see them teaching people over and over, however, is that they need to be baptized based on their faith in Jesus.

This was Peter’s instructions to those who cried out on Pentecost, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’, Acts 2:37.

The apostle’s clear and immediate response was, ‘Repent and each of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’, Acts 2:38.

This is consistent with all we have seen. Was their question in and of itself not an expression of faith? Having faith, they then had the right to become children of God according to what we have learned earlier from John 1:11-12. Having faith in Jesus and therefore the aforesaid right, Peter gave them the clear and simple instructions He had received from the Lord (Matthew 28:18-20 & Mark 16:15-16) that allowed for the new birth into God’s family.

This exact process is recorded several more times in Acts for our benefit. We see it again with Philip in Samaria, Acts 8:12-13. We see it with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:26-39. We see it in the conversion of Saul, Acts 9:17-19 (also 22:14-16). We see it with Cornelius and his household, Acts 10:34-48. We see it with Lydia and her household, Acts 16:14-15. We see it with the jailer in Philippi, Acts 16:25-34.

The pattern remains the same today. Jesus is preached and those who believe the message of the cross are baptized in His name. This is God’s plan for us to choose Him. And that, dear friends, is when God in turn ‘votes’ for us to become His.
Marty Kessler