Watch Tower: Was Jesus Born Again at His Baptism?

 

In the Reasoning Book, p.76, the Watch Tower write:

'Being born again involves being baptized in water (“born from water”) and begotten by God’s spirit (“born from . . . spirit”), thus becoming a son of God with the prospect of sharing in the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5) Jesus had this experience, as do the 144,000 who are heirs with him of the heavenly Kingdom. 'Why is it necessary for any Christians to be “born again”?

God has purposed to associate a limited number of faithful humans with Jesus Christ in the heavenly Kingdom.

Luke 12:32: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.”

Rev. 14:1-3: “I saw, and, look! the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand . . . who have been bought from the earth.” (See pages 166, 167, under the heading “Heaven.”)

Did Jesus Need to be Baptised?

It is interesting that they are ambiguous in how they state their case; ‘Jesus had this experience,’ they say. Why did Jesus have this experience? I spoke to a JW on the street just this week and asked her this question. She replied that this was, obviously, not about Jesus’ sin since he is sinless. It was, she said, where he was ‘anointed for his ministry.’

Let’s look again at that first paragraph:

'Being born again involves being baptized in water (“born from water”) and begotten by God’s spirit (“born from . . . spirit”), thus becoming a son of God with the prospect of sharing in the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5) Jesus had this experience, as do the 144,000 who are heirs with him of the heavenly Kingdom.’

The term ‘born again’ translates gennaō, to beget, and anōthen, from above; from the beginning; again, anew. For every born again Christian believer it is a new start. The reason for the new birth is the old man is sinful from birth (Psalm 51:5). Paul describes the former state of those being renewed:

‘Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.’ Eph.2:3

In Romans he writes:

‘No one is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless…’ Rom.3:10-12

‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…’ Rom.3:23

Lustfully self-indulgent, child of wrath, unrighteous, ignorant, indifferent to God, worthless, sinner, falling short. All these, and more describe those who need to be born again.

How does the Bible Describe Jesus?

‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.’ Heb.4:15

‘Tempted’ translates peirazō, to test, tempt, try to trap. We all fail the test because of the sin nature, but Jesus,, ‘in every respect has been tested(tempted) as we are yet without sin.’ ‘Test’ is a better translation here because to be tempted is to entertain the temptation but reject it. Jesus was without sin in spirit, mind, and body, and was tested, passing the test in every aspect of his life.

‘Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying,’I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus answered him,’Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.’ Mt.3:14-15

For Jesus, baptism inaugurates his ministry, that is correct, but it intrinsically involves his identifying with sinners (Heb.4:15 above). He also authenticates John’s ministry, as well as directly linking his own with that of John’s. Finally, it is an act of obedience as the new Adam. Rom.5:122-21; Heb.2:5-9

For mankind, baptism is an outward sign of an inward work of God in bringing us to faith in Christ, being born again. Jesus said:

‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.’ John 5:24

Jesus didn’t need to pass from death to life, He is ‘the author of life.’ Acts 3:15

Did Jesus ‘Become a son of God’?

Don Carson lists seven different applications of the title son of God: ‘Adam, Israel, David, God’s covenant people, those adopted by God (in Christ), imitators of God, and believers who will receive the kingdom of God are labelled sons of God.’ He also distinguishes between these and Jesus’ eternal Sonship, while linking his ministry as representing all these in fulfilling the promises of God in the New Covenant (See here)

Paul writes to the Galatians:

‘When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons’ Gal. 4:4–5

Jesus was the Son from eternity, sharing the glory of the Father:

‘And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed...Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.’ John 17:3,24

He was the glorious, eternal Son before creation.

Who Exactly Must be Born Again?

Well, Nicodemus to begin with. Nicodemus came with the purpose of understanding Jesus (John 3:4) What did Nicodemus need to understand? Jesus comes straight to the heart of the matter. In order to even see the kingdom of God ‘one must be born again.’ Further, one must be born again to enter the kingdom ((v5) Why must one be born again? In order to become fit for the kingdom. Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God something must be done to fit a person for the kingdom:

‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ Rom.5:8

We appropriate the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice by repenting and trusting in him (John 5:24)

All sinners must be born again, otherwise we will be fit for nothing but eternal punishment, neither entering, nor even catching a glimpse of the kingdom. Again, I pointed this out to my JW friend this week (Omi, a lovely young woman trying her best).

I asked if she wanted to see the kingdom and she told me this was why she was talking to people about Jehovah. I pointed out the obvious, ‘then you must be born again.’ She insisted this was about the 144,000; I pointed out Jesus said nothing about 144,000. In John 3:16 he says ‘whoever,’ as he does in John 5:26. Omi stuck to her script, but she has heard the good news for the 'whoevers' of this world. Pray for her.

All who repent and trust in Christ become part of God’s family, all previous distinctions having been cancelled, all having equal access to God’s kingdom and His throne of Grace:

‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Gal.3:28 We might add, no 144,000 and Great Crowd, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.