Post #2014379

> But what does he mean by born of above? Then or now? The answers are slightly different. Then he meant being able to recognize him as the Son of God and confessing same. See Matthew 16:17 where he tells Peter "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven", indicating that only those inspired by God (from above) could do so. Now (since the Pentecost) it means both the former and the baptism by the Holy Ghost. The indwelling of the Holy Ghost when you are baptized by same makes you "from above". That's something even the evangelical Protestant denominations get right. Baptism by water is a mere symbolism of this actual baptism.