You stated in your previous post:
I find it interesting that people refuse to accept what is so obvious in the detailed conversion accounts of the Acts of the Apostles. The God-designed rebirth clearly parallels the elements He put in place regarding one's natural birth. (Rom. 1:20) Birth requires coming out of the waters of the womb. And drawing in life sustaining air (a picture of receiving the Holy Spirit into the body) in order to become a viable human being.
What I find interesting, is so many people refuse to accept the obvious from what is taught in John 3:3-10. In order that one may "SEE" and "ENTER" the Kingdom of God, (John 3:3 & 5), one must be "born anew". Jesus Christ was the Kingdom of God on earth. Therefore, in order to see and enter into Him, one must be "born anew". Because, what is flesh is flesh and what is spirit is spirit.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
If one is not "born of the Spirit, then that one has a "natural mind" (born of the flesh is flesh), and the natural mind does not discern the things that are spiritual in nature. (1 Cor. 2:14). Without this discernment, one cannot properly understand the Gospel and the need for it's message.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.
The persons that are born of the flesh, had no decision or part in their conception. They had no choice as to whom their mother and father would be. They could not say, "I do not want to be born". or "I want to be born." Their life, if you will, was completely decided outside of their decision or will.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that has been born of the Spirit.
In this same way, John 3:8, teaches the Sovereign Work of the Spirit. He moves as He wills and comes to those that He wills. We have no more say so in being born from above, than we had in our physical birth. This is the proper understanding of the parallel of the "two" births. First, physical - second, spiritual.
This fact is further backed-up, by the writers choice of word in the Greek. The Greek word translated in verse 8, as" "has been born", is the word: γεγεννημενος. It is a Perfect. Passive. Participle of: γεννάω. The perfect tense emphasizes the verbs past action and it's continuing results but the part we should pay close attention to, is the passive voice. This means the recipient is not active in it's taking effect. The recipient receives this new birth in the same manner as one received their physical birth. They were acted upon but had no say in it's action. If it were in the "active voice", then we would say that they birthed themselves.
Enochanti wrote:
The existence of God answers the atheists who says there is no God and the lordship and sovereignty of God answers the word of faith adherent who in their core teachings deny the sovereignty of God by claiming God needs man’s permission before he can operate in this world. But that is not the God of the Bible for the God of the Bible is Lord over all.
In the receiving of the Holy Spirit, in the Book of Acts, as I stated earlier, was the blessing promised by Jesus and why the disciples were told to tarry until Pentecost. At Pentecost, the fledgling church was empowered with the various gifts needed for it's early earthly ministry. In Acts 1:5, this is called the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" and is not referred to as the "New Birth".
We must remember, the NT Scriptures did not yet exist. The preaching of the Gospel, needed to be authenticated with signs and wonders because it was proclaimed by word of mouth without any written prooftext, except when the OT passages were referenced. Jesus Christ's ministry was also authenticated in a similar manner. So too, Moses' ministry before Pharaoh.
Those that the Holy Spirit fell upon, were already in a "born anew" position and were partakers of the Faith. The Sovereignty of God's Grace, is shown throughout the Book of Acts: (KJV)
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Lydia - was a business woman of purple dye and may have been a Jewish woman or at least a proselyte because the Scripture says she worshipped or was a devout woman before God. This proves she knew of the God of Israel but like Israel, was worshipping out of an incorrect knowledge. At this time, she knew not Jesus Christ whom Paul had come to proclaim. Scripture says that the Lord opened her heart (the New Birth), and subsequent to this event, she gave head to what Paul proclaimed.
But this takes us away from the discussion of Baptism and it's purpose and enters into the Sovereign work of God in Salvation.