filosofer,
Well, except this goes back to what I mentioned about the one preposition (EX in Greek) for both water and spirit, indicating one thing not two.
The reference for Nicodemus would likely be Ezekiel 36:25-27
Ezekiel talks nothing of being 'born'..it simply speaks of water and flesh. The whole Nic/Jesus conversation is about being born. Why would they have a whole conversation about being born, and natural birth not be relevant in it?
I think you're all looking way too deep here.
Moving on...
Baptism is *not* a requirement for salvation, but is a v.good thing to do. There are plenty of passages that say that believing and receiving Christ is enough, there are also saying that if you receive Christ *and* get Baptised then you are saved.
Lets use a little logic here:
Scenario A - Baptism a requirement for salvation
Scenario B - Baptism is
not a requirement for salvation
x = Believing in Christ for salvation
y = baptism
>Some scriptures say you are saved if you do just 'x'
This directly contradicts Scenario A, but not Scenario B
>Some scriptures you are saved if you have done both 'x' and 'y'.
This contradicts neither Scenario A nor B because:
If A is true then you need both 'x' and 'y'.
If B is true then you just need 'x', but if you do 'y', you are still saved.
So baptism is not a requirement for salvation. But just to reiterate - I do believe that baptism is something that all Christians should do - it's a v.powerful thing. I just don't think it's necessary for salvation, and I believe that scripture supports this.
I hope that jumble of a post makes sense..I'm in a bit of a rush <g>
God bless,
Tris