John 3:5

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aball1035

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"Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”

Why did Jesus say this before Baptism was obligatory for salvation? Why not say it after? It became obligatory when Jesus resurected right?
 
aball1035 said:
"Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”

Why did Jesus say this before Baptism was obligatory for salvation? Why not say it after? It became obligatory when Jesus resurected right?
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It became obligatory when the Church became manifest (Acts, chapter 2). Prior to that, Christ could save whomever He wished.

So why did He say it before His resurrection? Maybe you can ask Him in a few decades! 😉 Seriously, though, I think its because Nicodemus wouldn’t come to understand until later. We see Nicodemus come to a gradual discipleship of Christ in the 3 scenes that he is in, finally coming to help bury Jesus along with Joseph of Arimathea. The teaching of baptism would be fully learned by the Church only after the receiving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In John, chapter 3, Jesus is simply planting the seeds (in my opinion).
 
Note that He reiterated the need for Baptism in The Great Commission [Mark 16:15-16]
15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
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