What does it means to be born again
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Lets start with the scriptures, I will continue with the comments later
John 3:1-18
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]"
4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[d] 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[e]
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. -
The event described here between Jesus and Nicodemus (a short background on him, he is a Pharisees, not just any Pharisees, he is a member of the Jewish ruling council; ie. a high ranking Pharisees)
Here, Jesus was telling Nicodemus, that one need to be born again to enter into the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus at the first moment was confused, hence he asked the Lord, "how to be born again?"
Here is Jesus' answer to Nicodemus;
No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
at this, Nicodemus obviously lost, asked how can this be? as in what is it to be born of water and the Spirit?
At this, Jesus reminded him about the bronze snake that Moses lifted up in the desert.
(background to this event: pls read Numbers 21:4-9 - 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
Key note to this is that whoever bitten by the snake (consequence of their sin), will to look at the bronze serpent (not fight the snake, not suck out the vernom..etc) will live. )
contrast this to our Lord Jesus, He was hanged up on the cross (pole) and whoever will to put their faith in Him (not on works or deeds), will not be condemn (consequence of Sin) but have eternal life (live).
Hence: to be born again is to change our mindset
From
trying to work it out with God through our works or deeds
To
believing/depending in the finished works of Christ on the cross. -
Not convience? never mind, let scripture interpret the scripture for us.
yes, you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God, after being purified by obeying the truth.
1Peter 1:22-25
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.
and this truth is
The is the truth which we are to obey, to believe in..
1 Peter 1:13-21
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Set your hope fully on the grace to be given to you when Jesus Christ is revealed (had Christ been revealed?, yes)
When?
1) you know you were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect
2) Through Jesus you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God -
Conclusion:
A person is born again, when he/she realised that his/her works will never be enough to qualify him/her to enter into the kingdom of God, hence a repentence (a decision to change the mindset) from self work to Christ's work, from self righteousness to Christ's righteousness. Meaning, acknowledging the perfect scarcifce of Christ on the cross as payment for his/her sins, hence receiving salvation from God by His grace, though Christ Jesus our Lord.
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wad is baptism?
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It seems like you are trying to interpret scriptures in using logic.
2 + 2 = ???
My understanding thru etereal walk , didn't gave me any logic.
Maybe logic is what most people try to understand and start to believe , so be it.
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are you refering to water baptism?Originally posted by davidche:wad is baptism? -
Many Christians see water baptism as being born of water. That the person's soul is not renewed by the Holy Spirit until the moment that their body comes up from the water.Originally posted by vince69:are you refering to water baptism?
Thses same Christians do not see Acts 22:16 as being figurative. They do not see 1Pet.3:21 as saying water baptism is an appealfor a clear conscience, but a washing away of one's sins. -
sounds so catholicOriginally posted by Palisade:Many Christians see water baptism as being born of water. That the person's soul is not renewed by the Holy Spirit until the moment that their body comes up from the water.
Thses same Christians do not see Acts 22:16 as being figurative. They do not see 1Pet.3:21 as saying water baptism is an appealfor a clear conscience, but a washing away of one's sins. -
We are not to interpret the Bible according to HUMAN logic. We interpret it according to BIBLICAL LOGIC.Originally posted by NotFromVenus:It seems like you are trying to interpret scriptures in using logic.
2 + 2 = ???
My understanding thru etereal walk , didn't gave me any logic.
Maybe logic is what most people try to understand and start to believe , so be it.
BIBLICAL LOGIC IS SANCTIFIED LOGIC.
BROTHER VINCE LET THE BIBLE SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONCERNING BEING BORN AGAIN. IT'S A GOOD POST BY BROTHER VINCE. -
what is biblical logic then?Originally posted by Ironside:We are not to interpret the Bible according to HUMAN logic. We interpret it according to BIBLICAL LOGIC.
BIBLICAL LOGIC IS SANCTIFIED LOGIC.
BROTHER VINCE LET THE BIBLE SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONCERNING BEING BORN AGAIN. IT'S A GOOD POST BY BROTHER VINCE. -
Vince, great job!
BECAUSE HE LIVES!
God sent his son, they called Him Jesus He came to love, heal and forgive
He bled and died, to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And then one day, I'll cross that old river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory
And I'll know He reigns.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives.