Born of...

  What does it mean to be "born of?" It simply means that which is produced by, a product of, comes forth from. Man is born of woman (Job. 14: 1). He comes from woman and is the product of woman. We sometimes use the term figuratively when we say that our frustrations may be born of things we do not understand. They comes from confusion.

  Just one observation here. We are to be "born of water" (John 3: 5). We are products coming forth from water. This is baptism. This is the "washing of regeneration" which is noted in Titus 3: 5. It is when we are baptized (born of water) that we enter the "newness of life" (Rom. 6: 3, 4). Baptism puts us in Christ (Gal. 3: 27). It is "in Christ" that we are "new creatures" (2 Cor. 5: 17).

  So the question we must consider is not whether baptism is essential to being born again (Jesus shows it is) but whether we have obeyed Him and been baptized as He teaches. :