What did Jesus say in John 3:15,16,18; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26? What did Peter say in Acts 10:43? What did Paul say in Acts 13:38-39; 15:7-9; 26:18? Do you understand what it means to believe in Jesus unto salvation?After looking at the verse you shared I think I see the problem.
When JESUS told HIS disciples he will make them fishers of men he didn't mean go fishing in HIS word to circumvent HIS word.
HIS word is like a big puzzle that when we read it ALL of the peices have a place and they have to go together.
YOU THINK all you need to do is believe in JESUS and that faith gets rid of your sins is that correct?
Believing in Jesus for salvation is not simply a thought rolling around in your head. Saving belief in Jesus involves faith, trust and reliance in Jesus for salvation.If so, you think just a thought gets rid of your sins.
See (John 7:37-39; Acts 11:17; 15:7-9; Ephesians 1:13).We didn't even speak of receiveing the Holy Ghost.
Believing in Him unto salvation is trusting in His finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of our salvation. Don't confuse what Jesus says to unbelievers in order for them to become saved with what Jesus says to believers after they have been saved. An error here may culminate in salvation by works.When JESUS says this in John 3:5?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
He says we need TWO things to ENTER at just a thought wans't one of them.
Do you think JUST beleiving in HIM or beleive EVERYTHING he says?
Do you think JUST faith in HIM or faith in what HE says?
What do you think being born of water and of spirit means?
In regard to born of water and of Spirit in John 3:5, elsewhere Jesus mentions "living water" in John 4:10, 14; 7:37-39 and in John 7:38-39, we read - "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of living water and spiritual cleansing.
If "water" is defined as baptism, then we could just as justifiably say, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living baptism" in John 7:38. If this sounds ridiculous, it is no more so than the idea that water baptism is the source or the means of becoming born again. So, to automatically read "baptism" into John 3:5 simply because it mentions "water" is unwarranted.
Yet "water" is also used in the Bible as an emblem of the word of God, and in such uses it is associated with cleansing or washing. (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26)
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begets new life, and we are said to become "partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4) The new birth is brought to pass through "incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever" (I Peter 1:23) and the Holy Spirit accomplishes the washing of regeneration. (Titus 3:5)