For centuries God’s prophets promise the coming of the King. Then John the Baptizer and Jesus arrive, announcing,
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15).
Many Israelites rejoice, for their King is bringing their kingdom. They are, after all, the chosen people, the children of Abraham. But John warns them,
“And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9).
Jesus tells Nicodemus that his Israelite birth is not enough. He must receive a higher birth to enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus answered, “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” (John 3:5-6).22
This new birth is God’s choice. Why does He insist on it so strongly? Because the unholy has no place with the Holy! The Old Testament drives this lesson home in countless ways.23 We all, both Jews and Gentiles, are far from holy. We all, both Jews and Gentiles, need to be cleansed so that we can have a fresh start. Ephesians (5:26) calls this “cleansed… by the washing of water with the word.” Colossians (2:11) calls it the “circumcision of Christ.” His death cuts away our sins. His resurrection lifts us up, fresh as newborn babies.
…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead (Colossians 2:12).
The unholy sinner must die. The “new life” of righteousness must begin. By God’s choice, both the spiritual death and the spiritual birth take place “in baptism… through your faith.”24
These spiritual realities explain a curious incident in Ephesus. When Paul arrives for his longer stay in Ephesus, he meets twelve “disciples.” Something seems amiss, for they know nothing of the Holy Spirit. Now notice the literal wording of Paul’s question: “Into what then were you baptized?” They reply, literally, “Into John’s baptism.” Somehow they have heard only the teaching of John the Baptizer. Their immersion was obedient, but it lacked the necessary “faith” described by Colossians 2:12. It also lacked the purpose or intent of Christian baptism.
“…make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [literally, into] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
So Paul teaches them about Jesus.
“On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts19:5).
“Into” is the word for entrance.
“All of us… have been baptized into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3).
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).25
Before you enter a house, you are outside that house. Likewise, before baptism into Christ, you are outside Christ. After you enter, you are “in Christ.” As Paul reminds the Ephesians (with the twelve of Acts 19),
“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” (Ephesians 1:13).
When we are “in Christ,” God no longer sees us as unholy sinners. Our old selves are dead and buried.26 Our new selves live inside Christ where something new and wonderful happens. Let’s call it the divine logic – God’s special reasoning – concerning every person who remains “in Christ.” The logic goes like this:
Whatever is true of Christ becomes true, in some wonderful way, of the person inside Christ.
For example, Christ is pure and holy. Therefore all who are “in Christ” – all who are clothed and covered with Christ27 – are seen by God as cleansed, pure and holy.28 Now notice what this logic means for being chosen.
Christ is the Chosen One. Therefore all who are “in Christ” are also chosen. Just as Scripture says, “He chose us in Him” (Ephesians 1:4).
22. For the context of this passage, see Study Note Two: The Context of John 3.
23. Research subject – Holy separated from unholy: Exodus 19:23; 22:31; 28:42-43; 29:37; Leviticus 10:1-3,10; 11:44-47; 15:31; 20:7,22-26; Numbers 3:10; 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; 23:14; Joshua 24:19; 2 Samuel 6:6-7; Psalm 5:5; 15:1-5; 24:3-4; Isaiah 5:20; Ezekiel 22:26; 42:20; 44:23; Malachi 3:18
24. See Study Note Two: The Context of John 3.
25. Research subject – Baptism as beginning: Matthew 3:6-8; 28:19; Mark 1:4-5; 16:16; Luke 3:3-9; 7:29-30; John 3:3-5,22-23,26; 4:1; Acts 2:38,41; 8:12,36-39; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15,33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 5:26; Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:20-21
26. Colossians 2:11-12,20; 3:3; Romans 6:3-11
28. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 5:8; Romans 6:11; 8:1; 1 John 3:5
Picture: An ancient grave marker, now in the Athens Museum, shows loved ones saying their final farewells. Death comes to all born of flesh. Eternal life comes to those born of the Spirit (John 3:1-21).