John 3:5, “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ ”
This verse explains how one may attain membership in the “kingdom of God.” Jesus was teaching how to enter God’s kingdom and how to be blessed by it.
Nicodemus, knowing about John’s baptizing, probably mentally associated verse 5 with water baptism. From this perspective, we are begotten through full consecration (symbolized by water immersion) and through receiving of the holy spirit.
The public act of baptism shows the importance of symbolizing a person’s consecration in an outward manner. In water baptism, the person is lowered backwards into the water – symbolizing the death of the human will. When the person is lifted up, it is as though he is a new creature, or a newly resurrected life, obeying only God’s will. Thus, the water refers to water baptism.
A second interpretation is, we are begotten “through the Word of truth.” (James 1:18). The Apostle Peter wrote, “having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God…” 1 Peter 1:23 (ASV) Thus, water symbolizes God’s word of truth. When God opens our eyes to recognize our sinful state and shows us that belief in Jesus’s sacrifice covers our sins, we are experiencing washing. Ephesians 5:26 (ESV), “that he (Christ Jesus) might sanctify her, having cleansed her (the church) by the washing of water with the word.”
Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast Episode #1306: “Are Christians Really Baptized Into Christ?”
Comparing several biblical baptisms with baptism into Christ
