This is pursuant to the Lord Jesus Christ's

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III


This is pursuant to the Lord Jesus Christ's words to Nicodemus: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John.3:3). The Lord explained this to him, saying: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John.3: 5). Then He added "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The wind blows where it wishes... So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John.3: 6,8). Thus the Lord considers that everyone who is born of water and the Spirit is born from above or born of the Spirit.
It also seems strange that some Protestant brethren want to water-down this text by claiming that the Lord did not say, "unless one is baptised of water and the Spirit", but, "unless one is born"! Of course there is no doubt that both express the same thing, because what is the other meaning of "born of water" except "to be baptised" since the baptised comes out of the womb of the font and moreover the Apostle St. Paul affirms the same meaning when he says: