Baptism - Unless one is born of water and the Holy Spirit...

Dear Jesus, help us to feel Your Love and help us to Love You, more and more, in every moment that is gifted to us. Please forgive me if I had said anything that do not please You. Dear Lord, please accept my humble beseeches to seek Your help in hiding the things that are unnecessary for the reader. You are the Teacher of teachers. Please make us understand the truths to our necessities in your will and wish. We would like to love you.

Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God - John 3:5

The same verse in the International English translation - Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit"

There are few things that I would like to present here.

1. Passive voice

First of all we can see that this sentence is in passive voice.
If we have to write the same verse in the active voice, some of the ways we could write are as given below.

• Unless you go get yourself a birth of water and the Holy Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God 
• If God through a pastor or priest baptizes you, you can then  enter the kingdom of God
• If you are born of water and the Holy Spirit, you can enter the kingdom of God

It is to be noted that writing the same verse, like the ones mentioned above, in active voice would not have the same meaning as the original verse. Some times, it would change the meaning completely.
For example, let us take this statement (please do not forget that this is not written in Bible, I am just writing it here, in this way, to discuss about something): If you are born of water and the Holy Spirit, you can enter the kingdom of God
This statement, besides its direct meaning, would also mean that you can possibly enter the kingdom without being born of water and the Holy Spirit. In other words, it means: you do not need to be born of water and the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

Anyways, the original verse is rather mentioned in passive voice. It has these words: you are born again of water and the Holy Ghost.

This means, someone or something else is in action. The person who is born such way is passive in this action. Being passive is the only action that such a person could do the least.

I humbly believe that, in a pure and correct spiritual sense, it is our beloved God who is the agent in action. We have a priest or pastor as a "symbolic" representative of God in this wonderful action.
I also believe, in special cases for heavenly reasons, our beloved God may choose to do this action directly without any symbolic representative being present or acting on behalf of Him. Again, it is God's choice not ours.

Passive voice permits subjects to have something done to them (by someone or something) - The Columbia Guide to Standard American English

This verse does not care to mention anything about by whom or where or when the Baptism is given. Does not this simply imply that the information about these things are not that important as the message that is getting conveyed by this verse? Please understand that this does not anyway mean that any one can just decide to give Baptism without God's choosing and will. If one does so, he or she answers the Lord. Also, this does not mean we can either undermine the role of or disrespect or not respect the priests or pastors.

2. Unless

Please take some time to learn about the usage of the word 'Unless' in English sentences (link1, link2). It is really necessary. People, like me, who are not good in English literature may not really understand the true meaning that is being conveyed. Also, we shall know the meaning especially if we are going to use the words in our spiritual lives.  Lack of understanding is an easy target for error. And it will serve as a (stealthy) trap door to justify one's actions in favor of doing what does not please God or in favor of skipping to do the necessary good acts. I think this is especially true for people who are not simple or do not approach or embrace God's kingdom as little children. If I am one of those who are not simple with God and Godly matters, and try to always understand or reach God (only and majorly) through intellectual means, then I need to be very careful.

An unless clause states a condition that is an exception (if ... not) to achieving the outcome in the main clause. Here the outcome is: one entering the kingdom of God.

The use of Unless also indicates another fact. We cannot write the statement without negation, again without changing the meaning.

But let us carefully see how it is written. The original verse is repeated here for continuity and clarity:
Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God

So, this verse can be rewritten, in "if then" pattern, with the exact meaning, as given below. Please see the beautiful use of negation here. Negation is the key here. It promises about "not born of water and the Holy Spirit". It does not promise about "born of water and the Holy Spirit".

If one is not born of water and the Holy Spirit, (then) one can not enter the kingdom of God.

This verse means or implies three truths. From the above statement, these three truths are given below. In each of these 3 truth statements, if the fact that is mentioned on the left side (of the implication) has happened (or is true), then the fact that is mentioned on the right side (of the implication) must be true:

i. A is not born of water and Holy Spirit
              ==> A cannot enter the kingdom of God;
If one is not born of water and Holy Spirit, then one cannot enter the kingdom of God

ii. A enters the kingdom of God
             ==> A is certainly born of water and the Holy Spirit
If one enters the kingdom of God, then that person is certainly born of water and the Holy Spirit

iii. A could not enter the kingdom of God  
             ==> A may or may not have born of water and the Holy Spirit;
If one could not enter the kingdom of God, then such person may be born of water and the Holy Spirit or may not be born of water and the Holy Spirit.

This clearly says that, even if I am Baptized, it does not guarantee entry into the kingdom of God.
Some of us, either always or some times, seem to forget this fact and so does not seem to be living a life that is compatible with these facts.

3. Factors of misinterpretations

-  Is Baptism a Magic ticket to Heaven? I usually think Baptism as a magic token to Heaven. I used to think, if I get Baptism, literally as it is mentioned in Bible, then I am already inside the kingdom of God.

-  What is the role of 'I' in Baptism? - I also often thought Baptism as... I am taking Baptism. It clearly means different thing - I am not the agent here. I am an object of the agent. So it has to be at least said (and realized) in this manner: I am (being) Baptized (by God). 

-  Do I give the due respect to the Pastor or the place of Baptism? - Never it was said that just water is enough for the Baptism to be complete. Water is just one part of the whole process. Some times, may be because it is the only thing that can be talked about and is visible (in our physical limitation), it is given too much importance as if nothing else matters.

If I give the major part of my heart, strength, soul and mind to these (external) things, then what is left to give for my beloved God. Even if we have to do these external things, to whatever level needed, the more we immerse in and focus on (the love of) God while we do these things, the better fruitful it would be. Let us seek God for help.

-  This is what happens in reality in some cases. The water, the place of the water, and the way the water is used, the Church in which the Baptism occurs, the Pastor who gives Baptism, and many other things are given importance so much in excess that we end up losing the real picture of the Baptism. Would any one just want to be the person who can only see these (physical) things and not (spiritually) realize and feel God?
This does not mean the pastor or the priest is not important. For us, they are chosen and represent God, in their life and teaching and especially, in the Baptism ceremony which comes once a life time. They have to be respected for what they are.
However, sometimes, some pastors or some churches themselves might be given or might even take an emphasis or a limelight, more than what would be truly necessary, in this ceremony as the actors and agents. If this is the case, God who is the sole Mighty, Merciful and the Loving actor in this ceremony may not have His due importance,  reverence, love and mention in our hearts and souls. There are two things: seeing the God (part) in and through humans & seeing only human in humans. Immersed and getting lost in the Love of God, we can do and think everything, even seemingly material things, toward heavenly motives, because their being material is of no value at all to such souls. Without the Love of God, we would be doing everything, even seemingly spiritual things, toward material objectives, because we cannot see nothing but material.

-  In Mathew 18:3, our Lord Jesus says in the same tone (as the Baptism verse) the following words: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven
I see many come to me (in person) and ask if I took Baptism or if I took immersion Baptism, etc. If I say no, then they would follow to ask me if I do not know that I cannot enter Heaven without taking such. Why have I not seen any one coming (in person) to me asking if I am converted (in heart & soul) and become as little child in accepting God? 

In our hearts, there may be many others factors of misinterpretations about this wonderful ceremony. We will be answered if we ask our dear Lord Jesus.

4. Baptism

The Bible has more verses related to Baptism. There are lots of whole books written about Baptism. Following is just a very brief personal view of Baptism. For more profound truth, let us ask God in prayer to help us. God will give us, in His will and pleasure, whatever is necessary for us.

In Baptism, I believe we are becoming the children of God. We become like children (kids) in receiving or accepting the kingdom of God. On accepting God and His guidance as children, let us stop or at least diminish the use of our head and intellect, and let us joyfully start or expand the use of our heart and soul. As we cannot accomplish any virtue on our own, as our Lord urged us to ask for anything, let us ask God to assist us so that we fill our heart and soul with our God alone.

Baptism, I believe, besides many other things and having many other beneficial effects, is also the very first and the best time of cleansing and forgiving, of a person as a whole, by God. From the point of Baptism, by God's promises, the Holy spirit enters into the Baptized and knows the Baptized. Now the Baptized person is gifted to being counseled, advised, strengthened and graced by the Holy Spirit to lead a life worthy of representing and entering the kingdom of God. The person, who is Baptized thus, on every occasion, in his or her free will, which is again the gift of God, may very well choose to or choose not to listen to (or follow) the loving guidance of the Holy Spirit and so end up loving or hurting God respectively. Who am I or who are you going to be?

There may be infinitely more things to Baptism and to these verses (than what has been said here). Also, whatever is said above, one or more things may not be correct. Even if they are correct, they might not have been conveyed in the right manner. Or it is also possible, for some reasons, that the reader could not have understood something correctly. In addition, so many other things might come into play to block or twist our understanding of the truth. So if you have read up to this far, please submit everything to our Lord Jesus Christ. Please ask our Lord Jesus in prayer whatever you would like to ask (after this verse and these things). Dear friend, please pray also for me now, if you have some time left. God will teach us what is necessary. Loving wishes to you.

Alleluia