You are only finding problems with you own theology, not with the Bible. The CC says that Jesus is speaking of baptism here but Jesus did not say Baptism.
No, our theology, passed down to us under the protection of the HS by Jesus does not cause “problems” for us.
The Bible is a product of Catholic Theology, and that is why nothing in it contradicts the Church Teaching.
- The water of the womb. Jesus is telling Nic that there are two births required, the first birth from the womb (water) and the second birth of the Spirit.
No, Berean. You are interpolating your 21st century understanding of science into the scriptures. They did not know about amniotic fluid in those days. On the contrary, human birth was always associated with blood, not water. This is why Mary had to make a sacrifice. Birth was associated with blood. The ritual uncleaness was equated to the menstrual period (shedding of blood) not “water”.
"And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24
The event of birth made the woman “unclean” by virtue of exposure to the blood, not water.
Lev 12:1-13:1
12:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Say to the people of Israel, If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying; she shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.
6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her; then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
The Jewish understanding and practices were oriented toward blood as the “life” of the being, not “water”. You will not find any purfications with regard to water. And the only ritual cleansings that were prescribed relate to blood. God had revealed to Israel that the “life is in the blood”. In this it was His intention to forshadow the sacrifice of His Only Son.
However, if you are still not able to see the prefigurement of the OT in the New, I will show you another testimony:
John 1:12-13
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
You see here that there is no “water” in the Hebrew understanding of birth. To Jews, natural children were born of blood (belonging to the natural parents), “the will of the flesh” (rape, fornication, and any other activity not of God).
John 1:12-13
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
RSV
2. The washing of the water of the word. We are born again by the word of God.
'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is not required for salvation. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is required for salvation.
This is what you have been taught to believe, because your spiritual ancestors have been separated from the Apostolic Teaching. However, the Apostles never separated water baptism from the baptism of the HS. They understood that Jesus joined the HS to the baptismal waters when He entered them, and that His commandment to “be born again of water and the spirit” was a reference to baptism. This is clearly shown in the writings of those who trained under the Apostles.
at is why Paul was not concerned about baptism but preaching the gospel:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
(Edited)
Oh, contraire! He is only lamenting because baptism is so essential and required. He is relieved that he did not baptize anyone else, because the disciples were becoming factions. You dont’ want to go here with Paul. No other NT writer is more clear on the regenerative nature of baptism than Paul!
Paul’s gift was preaching. He left the baptisms to his helpers while he got something to eat, and get some sleep.
