The devil has many false christian preachers that teach that the "birth of the water" refers to a man's physical birth (since there is a watery fluid involved at birth). That teaching is one of the cheapest, cop out, deceptions in Satan's arsenal to deceive people about the IMPORTANCE of baptism.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Notice carefully that Jesus was declaring what a MAN had to do (not a baby), and that Jesus was referring to a RE-BIRTH; being BORN AGAIN. He could not have been referring to the fluids of a baby's birth. HE was telling a grown MAN how to be BORN AGAIN. Oh, it sounds real convincing to look at it as "physical birth", unless you consider that he was talking to a MAN, a grown MAN telling him how to be RE-BORN (spiritually). And if that isn't enough to convince you, then just look at how WATER and SPIRIT are BOTH elements in the plan of salvation that was preached at the birth of the church:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Water Baptism in Jesus name is what washes away sins because of the shed blood of God.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Let's look at another verse that Jesus spoke (and I hope that no one would be so shallow and deceitful to suggest that a non-believer would even consider baptism)
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The same God that said Water was part of the RE-BIRTH also declared "and is baptized" as part of salvation. How could the Bible be any clearer?
In John 3:5 Jesus was talking to a GROWN MAN telling him about a RE-BIRTH. Also, as a matter of fact, a baby are born IN water NOT 'OF' Water. Of course, Jesus was not speaking of a "re-entering" of the womb for the second birth, but rather the spiritual results of baptism.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily , verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is
old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily , verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.
A MAN is re born of water by being water baptised in Jesus name. (for the remission of sins).
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
If you are in the snare of a false preacher, it's not going to be "OK", unless you get away from him/her/it and find a true church. Denominal preachers are only deceiving souls into hell.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which
go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
But some of you like your false preacher, don't you? The Bible addresses that scenario as well.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.
Rev. Steve Winter