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You cannot be “born of water” by sprinkling. Water does not bring dead things to life. Water helps living things to thrive but it cannot produce life. You cannot be born of sprinkling.
You can be born again by the word of God and the word of God is referred to as “water” in the Bible:
…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever… [1 Pet 1:23]
…that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word… [Eph 5:26]
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In the synoptic gospels, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. In these accounts, John preaches repentance before the coming judgment, baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the imminent arrival of one far greater than him. Jesus came to the Jordan River and was baptized with water, there by John…WHY? After the baptism, the heavens open, the holy spirit like a dove descends, and a heavenly voice acclaims Jesus is his Son.
Jesus clearly illustrated by example that baptism, an outward sign of inward grace, by water was/is essential, only in His case, the H.S. was seen by John; He said: Allow my baptism, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. If Jesus thought it was necessary to be baptized by water, then we had better believe him --right?
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
"John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.”
When a person is baptized, the same thing happens to them, that happened to Jesus, ONLY THIS GRACE IS NOT VISIBLE AS IT WAS TO JOHN!