John 3:4-5

John 3:4-5. 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? 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.

We understand the passage to mean, "Water, that is, the Spirit;" but it may refer to the purifying influence of the Word as symbolized by water. I do not think that baptism is referred to here at all.