Born of Water and the Spirit - John 3.5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3.5.

The baptism of repentance in which John baptized with water could not regenerate people. Except one be born "of water and the Spirit" he is not born again. The baptism of repentance announces that not only man’s behavior—being deadly wicked—needs to be repented of, but also man himself—being corrupted and dead—must be buried in baptism.

Yet man is not born again "of water" alone; he must be born both "of water and the Spirit." He must receive the gift of the Holy Spirit from the Lord Jesus before he can have God’s life. Repentance delivers us from all which belongs to us. Believing gets us into all which belongs to God. We enter the water through repentance, we receive the Holy Spirit by faith. This is regeneration.