“Understanding The Kingdom of God” Lesson 23 – The Instrument of the New Birth

The New Birth experience includes baptism by immersion in water in the Name of Jesus Christ, and also the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Repentance and dying out to sin is representative of the death of our old sinful man. The physical water used in baptism is symbolic of our entering into the tomb with Jesus, and arising from the grave as we come up out of the water. However, the natural water is not what cleanses us from our sins. This lesson explains how our sins are washed away by the Spirit and Word of God. The Spirit is the cleansing agent. It is a spiritual work that only God can do to those who obey His plan. Salvation is not something we can do on our own. We must do our part so that God may honor His Word and do His part.