Catholic Apologetics: Being Born Again.

Greetings and Salutations everyone.
It is interesting to me the many ways people view the term "Born Again". I hear things as "Accepting Jesus into your heart" or "Accepting Jesus your personal Lord and Savior." When I question them, they argue that it was what they were taught, and that it is what the bible says. Interestingly enough, the phrase "personal lord and savior" is not even IN the bible. Of course, when it comes to being "Born Again", I get referred to John 3:3, in which Jesus says:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

However, this is where it ends. I can't count the times I have been told, in response to my "Born Again" query, to read Jesus 3:3 ONLY. Just that one verse. But, if we were looking for the truth, why would we only read one verse and make an entire sub-faith out of it? Let us read on, shall we? After all, context does matter.

John 3:4-5,
"4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 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."

Ok, so these were Jesus' words. Except a man be born of water AND spirit. In other words, BOTH need to happen. Water AND spirit. Why did he not just say "Nicodemus, no worries. Just accept me into your heart, and we are good. That's all it takes." Jesus never says that. He says we have to be reborn through water and spirit. This is something all Catholics do. It is called Baptism. This of course means, according to JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, and according to the BIBLE ITSELF, all Catholics are Born Again. Interesting, no? Here's Steve Ray discussing this very same topic, in a very similar situation:







Until next time, EXCELSIOR........ and God Bless.