Author
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Topic: Are you "born again"?
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Wayne Freeman
Advanced Member
Member # 627
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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
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wparr
Advanced Member
Member # 891
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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
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Wayne Freeman
Advanced Member
Member # 627
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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
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