Nicodemus’ reply: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (John 3:4). Does he simply mistake Jesus to be speaking literally or is Nicodemus himself answering figuratively, meaning, “How can an old man learn new ways as if he were a child again?” We cannot say for sure, but in any case Jesus answers, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born again.”’ (John 3:5-7).
Here Jesus equates “born again” or “born from above” with “born of water and the Spirit.”
Clearly, the context implies that born of “water and the Spirit” refers to baptism.
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that he had to be born again - and he clarifies it two verses later "You must be born of water and the Spirit" which he stated with reference to baptism. John made that point clear to the reader, because as soon as he finished describing Jesus' discourse with Nicodemus in verses 2 to 21, he says next in verse 22 that After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized
And a few verses later, John writes ho the pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John - in other words, when Jesus said that we must be born again, what he meant was baptism
Cronos, No, Clearly, the context DOES NOT imply that born of “water and the Spirit” refers to baptism. Baptism is the symbolic rite of being born of water and spirit. That is why we do not Baptize our infants. They do not yet have the ability to have or express faith in Jesus Christ.
I could ask and go through a ceremony of Baptism.... but if I have not already professed faith then all the water and words of the ceremony will NOT mean anything.