Church of Christ in Springville

08/19/2026

Jn.3:5 “Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Some make the argument that this is a “dry” verse not a “wet” one. They argue against this being a reference to water baptism by Christ.

It is most certainly the case that John’s baptism was water baptism. In Jn.1:26 John himself admits that, “I baptize with water…” and that he came to reveal Christ to Israel, “…therefore I came baptizing with water” (Jn.1:31).

Now let me ask a question: if it was the case that John was the voice of one crying in the wilderness calling Israel into preparation to meet their Messiah (Jn.1:23); Did Israel have an obligation to be baptized into John’s baptism in order to obey the Lord and partake of His scheme of redemption? Yes or No?

And was John’s baptism a baptism of repentance, in water, “for the remission of sins?” (Mk.1:4 & Lk.3:3). Yes or No?

If it was the case that the old covenant people were obligated to obey and be baptized into Johns baptism (unto repentance and for the remission of sins),… and if it was the case that the tax collectors justified God having been baptized with the baptism of John (Lk.7:30), but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves by not having been baptized by him (Lk.7:31), and if Nicodemus was a Pharisee, how could Jn.3:5, NOT be speaking of this very thing?

Jn.3:5 is in the context of water baptism. Look at Jn.3:22-23, Jesus and His disciples baptized and (vrs.26) a dispute arose between John’s disciples and the Jews over purification. This was the purification process of water baptism = being born again of water and Spirit.

Vrs.26 John’s disciples admitted that Jesus was baptizing and all are coming to Him.

It takes a lot of help NOT to see that this entire context is about water baptism in coming to Christ. Vrs.26 “…He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”

Thus, you must be born of water baptism and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. One is not saved by “faith only.” Jam.2:24.

I would encourage you all to attend the church of Christ in Springville, to hear the gospel of Christ.

God bless you in the study of His Word.

Brent Bischel

08/17/2026

In Romans 8 Paul uses the terms “flesh” and “spirit” to refer to and contrast Judaism and Christianity.

The flesh is an idiom for old covenant Judaism. The spirit is an idiom for New Testament Christianity.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

He continues this “flesh” and “Spirit” idiom throughout the chapter.

Vrs.8 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Being in the flesh is an Old Testament covenantal term for the Jew. Being in the flesh is referring to the natural state of the Jew under the law of Moses. It does NOT refer to being in one’s physical biological body.

The flesh is put off in Christ, but in putting of the flesh, one is still and always will be in their physical biological body, so long as they live in this earthly state. Thus, the flesh in this context is not speaking of the physical biological body. It is speaking of a “covenantal state” of Judaism.

Notice vrs.9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…” Being in the Spirit is referring to being in Christ— being and existing in the new covenant. If one is in the spirit he is in a new existence in Christ, no longer in that old covenant existence of Judaism being condemned under the law.

Let’s stop reading the Bible like a 21st century American, and start reading it in context with a first century Jewish mindset as we let the context determine the meaning of its own terms.

Hope that helps

Think about it

B.Bischel

08/16/2026

https://youtu.be/N_dPCXUuv2U?is=9qdd_WBDvTwuNEk2

A Christian’s word should mean something. Scripture repeatedly emph...

08/16/2026

Just a quick little secret. The “end” of Matt.24:6,13-14, is the same “end” of 1 Cor.15:24. God bless you in the study of His word.

Think about it.

08/16/2026

We had a great time at church this morning. Great fellowship.

Heb.10:25 “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another…”