GOSPEL > FAITH > BAPTISM > DISCIPLESHIP

Recently, I spoke with a Christian brother about two passages of Scripture which I believe have been misunderstood on the subject of salvation.  The first is Matthew 28:19-20, and the other is John 3:3-9.  Here are my "two cents worth" on their interpretation.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ye therefore, - The Great Commissioning of the Lord's disciples.
and teach all nations, - What should they teach?  It has to be the Gospel which alone has the power of God to save lost souls (Rom. 1:16).  We know that what they teach results in faith in Jesus and in salvation because of the next phrase:
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: - Baptism is for those who are believers; here are references to that fact (Mk. 16:16; Acts 8:13, 37; Acts 18:8).  Ephesians 1:13 does not mention baptism but says "...after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation:  in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: - After one believes the Gospel and is baptized, he is to be taught how to live according to the will of his Lord, Jesus Christ!
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. - The word "world" is better translated "age."  The Greek word here is αἰών (aiōn), which means "a specific period of time, an age."  The age of which Jesus is speaking is the Church Age, the time between the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47), and the Rapture, or removal of the Church by Christ (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Th. 1:10; 4:13-18; etc.).

In summary:  First the Gospel is preached and believed; then believers are baptized; and finally, believers are taught how to live for Christ.

John 3:3, 5, 6 

"...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. - The natural man has experienced but one birth, and because of his ancestor Adam, he is born spiritually dead (1 Cor. 15:21-22; Eph. 2:1; etc.).
"...Except a man be born of water AND of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; AND that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. - The two births are physical birth and spiritual birth.  Many believe "born of water" refers to water baptism, but that is inconsistent with the order provided in Matthew 28:19-20.  Water baptism follows the new birth; it follows one's coming to faith in Christ.  I believe that Jesus is contrasting the physical birth from the spiritual birth; in the physical birth, the baby comes forth from the "water" in which it has developed (women often will say, "My water broke.").  The spiritual birth, the second birth, happens when one believes the Gospel; Peter wrote:  "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (1 Pet. 1:23).  Then, one is baptized.

Notice that both passages (Eph. 1:13 and 1 Pet. 1:23) mention being born again by faith in the Word of God.  Paul wrote:  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17)!