You and other Catholics are the ones stating it only refers to water. And you accuse me of taking verses in isolation?
What exactly does it mean to be born again?
What exactly does it mean to be born again?
---read post # 91...
Uh, no we aren't. I thought you understood us better than that. We don't believe Baptism, or being born again is only about water.
It is about water and the Spirit, just like the verse says. When we are Baptised, we are externally washed in water. This is an outward sign, visible as a testimony to the public, of a very real inward cleansing of the soul, a making of a new person, and an indwelling of the Spirit.
The last thing a Catholic believes is that baptism is only about water. That is the Baptist position, that it is a symbol and effects nothing.
What exactly does it mean to be born again?
To be made a new creature in Christ, to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit, to be placed into a state of grace.
It does not mean that we are immune from the consequences of our actions in the future.
SD