|
Author
|
Topic: Are you "born again"?
|
Wayne Freeman
Advanced Member
Member # 627
|
posted
Exactly. What most people don't realize is the penalty of "becoming" (Genesis 3:22-24)is separation from eternal life. Only 2 men have left this world alive, enoch & elijah; & they too will return one day soon to die in the streets of Jerusalem. Our only hope is the resurrection. If Jesus hadn't been resurrected from the dead we'd have no hope @ all. If there were no "new birth", no "new life" from heaven, then we'd have no hope of ever being any different in this life; but we do, when we yield to the influence of that "new life within" every truly "born again" believer.
--------------------
If you're not in the light of God, you're in the dark about a lot of things
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/getrealwithgod
Posts: 21 | From: Littlefield TX | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged | 
|
|
wparr
Advanced Member
Member # 891
|
posted
Glory to God
Glory to God
We are NOT saved by Jesus' death
We ARE saved by His resurection
The cross cleared the table of our sins so that we could be made alive to God In Christ.
Posts: 1203 | From: Eagle Nest, NM | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Wayne Freeman
Advanced Member
Member # 627
|
posted
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we
know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these
miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and
said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 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. That which is born of the flesh
is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:1-6
Salvation is not accomplished through forgiveness of sins. Salvation
comes about through the "new birth". You're either truly "born
again", or you're not. Forgiveness of sins through the shed blood of
Jesus Christ "qualifies" you to receive this "new life" from God. If
all you asked God for is forgiveness, then forgiveness is exactly
what you got; but you're not saved & on your way to heaven until
you're truly "born again". A multitude of "believers" will stand
before Jesus Christ one day soon truly "believing" they're saved & on
their way to heaven, only to find out they never knew Jesus Christ @
all. They were taught all they need is forgiveness of sins through
Jesus Christ, & faith that their sins are forgiven is enough to get
them to heaven. That's just not true. Faith that results in the "new
birth experience" saves you, but merely "believing" won't get you
there. It's like finding yourself standing on the brink of a mile
deep gorge with a raging forest fire approaching from the rear; &
finding a bridge there that will take you to a place of safety on the
far side of the ravine. Is knowing that bridge exists going to save
you? No. Crossing the bridge will though. There are those who will
tell you you're automatically "born again" the minute your sins were
forgiven through "faith" in the blood of Jesus. These people know
they need to be "born again" to get to heaven, but is that knowledge
enough to save them. No, no more than knowing that bridge exists
saved the people in the previous story. You've got to get on that
bridge & cross it to the other side of the gorge to survive. You've
got to be "born again" to be saved; & never let anyone convince you
that the "new birth" is anything but a very real experience.
But if we [continue to]walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son [continues to] cleanse us from all sin.
1st John 1:7 literal translation
The light of God begins to shine in a believer's heart long before he
or she is saved to reveal the need for salvation. The light of God
begins to reveal the true state of that future believer's heart &
life. Under conviction that believer cries out to God for
forgiveness, & that's what he or she gets. When a believer begins to
cry out to God for a very real change in his or her heart & life, God
gives him or her what they need to bring about that change, "new life
within". You can't be truly "born again" & not know it.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
Romans 8:16
There's a peace that comes over the heart of that struggling believer
that's the product of the Holy Ghost influencing the heart of that
newly "born again" believer. It's God's Spirit influencing the
believer through that "new life within". There's a time of peace &
great joy in the life of that newly "born again" believer; but a time
comes when the Holy Ghost begins to draw that believer out into the
wilderness so to speak to be tempted by Satan as Jesus was, & in that
wilderness experience the believer finds out just how sinful he or
she still is. He or she is faced with 2 very real choices @ that
time; (1) Rebuke the devil & tell him that's all under the blood, or
(2) own up to the very real problems God's revealing & ask Him to
help you get the victory over them. John admonishes us in a literal
translation of 1st John 1:7 to "continue to walk in the light of
God", to continue to allow the "new life within" to influence our
hearts & lives. That's what I'm all about folks, encouraging you to
allow God to complete the very real work of salvation He's already
begun in your life. Right now there are 2 basic camps in the church
world; one that believes faith in the blood of Jesus is enough to
save you, & another that believes in "sinless perfection". I find
myself right in the middle. I don't believe faith in the shed blood
of Jesus Christ itself saves you, but instead merely qualifies you to
be "born again; & I don't for a minute believe one of us will be
perfect in this lifetime. It is to our best interest however to yield
to the influence of that new life within & allow it to root out the
very real control that sin nature has on our lives now so that we can
have the "life more abundant" Jesus promised us. For all who get
involved @ one of our 2 new websites, I promise to do all I can to
help you find that "life more abundant" Jesus has promised you.
--------------------
If you're not in the light of God, you're in the dark about a lot of things
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/getrealwithgod
Posts: 21 | From: Littlefield TX | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
