What does it mean to be born again?

[APAK]

@Episkopos

Epi: regarding your video...the first 7 or so minutes for now...

I can see you have a particular ending and conclusion in mind and you provide information, language, logic to mold and guide it to that end or conclusion. I see missing gaps in logic, glaring mistakes, and and a few startling assumptions.

You begin with establishing some background in scripture of the people of the 'promise,' of being a type of Isaac and Sarah types born of Zion, born again into the New Jerusalem or the Kingdom of God. This is some good bible study you present connecting Psalms 87 with Isa 66:8 and Gal 4:6...

Then around 6:30 minutes/secs in, things go sideways for me at least.

You cite 2 Corinth 1:22

(2Co 1:22) who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.(WEB)
(2Co 1:22) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.(KJV)
(2Co 1:22) and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.(ESV)

The word you hone in on is the English word earnest, pledge, down-payment, holding until full payment is paid...from the Greek transliterated word 'arrabon' (you write aravon) dedicated for a future event with full payment or recovery.

arrabón: an earnest (a part payment in advance for security)
Original Word: ἀρραβών, ῶνος, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: arrabón
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-hrab-ohn')
Definition: an earnest (a part payment in advance for security)
Usage: an earnest, earnest-money, a large part of the payment, given in advance as a security that the whole will be paid afterwards.

2 Corinthians 1:22 N-AMS
GRK: δοὺς τὸν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ πνεύματος
NAS: in our hearts as a pledge.
KJV: and given the earnest of the Spirit in
INT: having given the pledge of the Spirit
2 Corinthians 5:5 N-AMS
GRK: ἡμῖν τὸν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ πνεύματος
NAS: who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
KJV: unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
INT: to us the pledge of the Spirit

Ephesians 1:14 N-NMS
GRK: ὅ ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας
NAS: who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,
KJV: is the earnest of our
INT: who is [the] guarantee of the inheritance

You now make the meaning of down-payment/pledge etc to mean a sample of grace or small amount of grace, I guess to get us started with something....our walk?

No, the intent of the down-payment or mark/stamp or pledge is God setting us aside in holiness (sanctification) and in righteousness by providing his Spirit of necessity as the legal owner of someone and in this case for later use or later full possession by him through his Spirit for future transformation and realization that his grace he gave us to walk with Christ today shall bring in immortality in the Kingdom of his Father.

I mean all that God does in this regard is all his umbrella of all grace given to us for salvation and the indwelling of the Spirit is one first critical step of this grace for our complete salvation in Zion. The Spirit is not a sample of grace, and then the experience of a 'higher' walk is the rest of the pledge or the fulfillment of the rest or latter part of the grace given.

This idea of mixing and breaking down grace as a component and this case the Spirit as a mark or pledge can be dangerous in my books. Like I said before in a few words earlier, you have a theory and conclusion to present and persuade folks to believe in...and chopping grace into parts is very appropriate and convenient for your salvation rebirth theory.

And then you get onto the idea that the root Greek word for the English translated word deposit or down-payment of the Greek transliterated word 'arrabon' is arava /arabah for desert. And this is misleading and incorrect.

The root word is arawbone, as in a pawn or a small thing of value for security and safekeeping. It is of the Hebrew origin.

erabon: a pledge
Original Word: עֲרָבוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: erabon
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-aw-bone')
Definition: a pledge

and then this erabon further is rooted in the Hebrew word 'arab'

arab: to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
Original Word: עָרַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: arab
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rab')
Definition: to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange

Now arabah is what you used and it means desert indeed, although it never is related to meaning pledge or down-payment.

arabah: a steppe or desert plain, also a desert valley running S. from the Sea of Galilee
Original Word: עֲרָבָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: arabah
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-aw-baw')
Definition: a steppe or desert plain, also a desert valley running S. from the Sea of Galilee

And then once you make that claim that pledge is derived for the idea of a 'desert,' you immediately state we are called to pursue a desert walk in the Spirit and include it as a straight and narrow desert walk to bolster your credibility as you take parts of other scripture into account to conjure up fear, and the real concern and fear of not finding the Cross and finding the right narrow gate would be in vain if you did not do it your way as you suggest I imagine..., as Christ accomplished it all in 40 days and for us may take a life-time.

Your discussion and its reliability now suddenly become suspect to err...many errs that will lead an audience astray...for me at least and IMO

I can go on if you wish.....with the rest of your video presentation feedback...and how you bring it all to a conclusion as you planned.

 

[Behold]

Jesus didn't hang on a cross because it was legally required of him.

For the sacrifice of Jesus to be our eternal Salvation, Jesus had to be be born human, under the law and commandments, and keep them.
When he was water baptized He said...

""""""""""But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
But Jesus said, “It must be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” for us to do this to FULFILL all righteousness.”"""""

See that quietthinker.
That is Jesus under the law, ......

He did all that was required "Under the law"...., so that he was legally and morally perfect and sinless, = so that he could become The perfect "Lamb" slaughtered for the "sin of the world".

 

[quietthinker]

For the sacrifice of Jesus to be our eternal Salvation, Jesus had to be be born human, under the law and commandments, and keep them.
When he was water baptized He said...

""""""""""But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
But Jesus said, “It must be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” for us to do this to FULFILL all righteousness.”"""""

See that quietthinker.
That is Jesus under the law, ......

He did all that was required "Under the law"...., so that he was legally and morally perfect and sinless, = so that he could become The perfect "Lamb" slaughtered for the "sin of the world".

Would you define Jesus as a legalist?

 

[Behold]

Would you define Jesus as a legalist?

A legalist is a religious person, and can be a believer. In both cases (unbeliever or believer) they are both trying to earn heaven.
In the case of the believer, they are trying to stay saved by self effort because they've become a deceived victim of their self righteousness.
99% of the time someone taught them to "fall from Grace"...or as Paul says.. "who has bewitched you."""

Whereas...

Jesus is the virgin born, Bread of Life, who said..."i am from above and You are from below", while he was standing in Israel and about 33 yrs old, in human form.
Jesus, who is the WORD made flesh, was described by John's Gospel. John 1:10. as...."Jesus was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew him not.""
Jesus said .. that he is "touched by the same feelings, desires, human weakness we have", yet without sin'"".... and because He understands this perfectly, He is able to give us relief and deliverance, through God's Grace

Jesus was "made under the law", a human being, born of a woman.
Jesus has redeemed us "from the curse of the Law".

What is that?
That is what Episkopos will tell that you are to be doing........He teaches that you are to be doing that "curse"....living it.
He well tell you, and has, that you are saved so that now you can go and keep the law that is a curse to you, that Jesus died to deliver you from, and that is why the NT, Paul teaching said you are "NOT under the Law, but under Grace".,,, as "Christ has redeemed the born again from the CURSE OF THE LAW"..

But, not according to Episkopos.

Episkopos preaches a different testament and a different gospel.
If you are a legalist, his words are "perfect".
If you are not, and are born again, then his theology read or heard is llke a sharp stick that he stabs into the Grace of God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Gosh I don’t even remember when I began waiting for God, knowing that I could never help anyone, not a single person, unless I sought and waited for whatever it was I waited for. I think it’s been…around two and a half years.…! How can that much time have passed already in waiting for His love? How have I waited that long and not fainted or lost hope? And how could two and a half years seem like just a few months? It’s like time just has no meaning or significance any more and so I couldn’t really…count time or spend any thought about time. How can a person think a few months must have passed when two and a half years passed. That’s not normal. I feel like the man who waited for over three years for rain but God kept him during it and kept him during the famine…and I haven’t been tense or distraught during it but for a few brief times from the pressure of family thinking I am crazy and pushing me. Pushing, pushing, pushing. But even that faded. I guess they saw eventually that…I wasn’t coming back to them as who they had previously recognized or wanted me to be, and wasn’t going to snap out of whatever had happened to me. Because I don’t remember exactly when they began to leave me alone about my life but…at some point they did. I think it was maybe…last summer? Or spring? that they finally retreated from me as I had retreated from them. Even in their presence I had left. And this is so odd but I was…some sort of glue for them because they retreated from each other too. They couldn’t get along or maintain a facade of love without me to absorb their…mess. And I think they blame me but know I don’t care what they want from me and don’t care to be what they want so they have no clue how to…gah, I don’t know, like…when I finally couldn’t be manipulated and defined by them to be what they needed for the show to go on, they became like a fly with no wings. Now that I give it some thought, they are scared of me. I’ve seen it in their faces. They’re afraid I will tell the truth. Any truth. Even a small truth. That’s it. I frighten them because I tell the truth now. Oh how odd life has become now that there are no games to play. Peaceful but very, very odd.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Oh! Sorry. I thought discussion was pretty much over in here. So I rambled. Just ignore me.

 

[amigo de christo]

You came in to once again personally attack Epi. You tear down and do nothing to build anyone up. Then you accuse me of doing what you did. Your nonsense was answered with nonsense.

Look at how the goat just licks up its masters all inclusivity lie . And goats sit under such .
Time to expose the lie and truly build the church up with actual sound biblical reminders . Many are buying the lie
The delusion that unites the decieved to join as one under the dragon and the beast has began .
And so many folks just think its love and unity and embrace its deadly unity under a lie . Those who love a lie
and those who maketh a lie , IT WONT bode well for them on the day of the LORD .
Time to expose this other image of what they think is God and what they think is love
for what it really is and who it really serves . Its of darkness and is uniting the unstable to be as one under
The dragon who has always desired to have the worship . Expose it i must .

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Look at how the goat just licks up its masters all inclusivity lie . And goats sit under such .
Time to expose the lie and truly build the church up with actual sound biblical reminders . Many are buying the lie
The delusion that unites the decieved to join as one under the dragon and the beast has began .
And so many folks just think its love and unity and embrace its deadly unity under a lie . Those who love a lie
and those who maketh a lie , IT WONT bode well for them on the day of the LORD .
Time to expose this other image of what they think is God and what they think is love
for what it really is and who it really serves . Its of darkness and is uniting the unstable to be as one under
The dragon who has always desired to have the worship . Expose it i must .

Ayeyieyie. SMH.

Google Image Result for https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/46700/46761/46761_storysoldier_lg.gif

images.app.goo.gl

All of your never ending caterwauling, all because you hate the thought of this: And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it is all gone, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.
It threatens the idols of your fathers and panics you.

 

[quietthinker]

A legalist is a religious person, and can be a believer. In both cases (unbeliever or believer) they are both trying to earn heaven.
In the case of the believer, they are trying to stay saved by self effort because they've become a deceived victim of their self righteousness.
99% of the time someone taught them to "fall from Grace"...or as Paul says.. "who has bewitched you."""

Whereas...

Jesus is the virgin born, Bread of Life, who said..."i am from above and You are from below", while he was standing in Israel and about 33 yrs old, in human form.
Jesus, who is the WORD made flesh, was described by John's Gospel. John 1:10. as...."Jesus was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew him not.""
Jesus said .. that he is "touched by the same feelings, desires, human weakness we have", yet without sin'"".... and because He understands this perfectly, He is able to give us relief and deliverance, through God's Grace

Jesus was "made under the law", a human being, born of a woman.
Jesus has redeemed us "from the curse of the Law".

What is that?
That is what Episkopos will tell that you are to be doing........He teaches that you are to be doing that "curse"....living it.
He well tell you, and has, that you are saved so that now you can go and keep the law that is a curse to you, that Jesus died to deliver you from, and that is why the NT, Paul teaching said you are "NOT under the Law, but under Grace".,,, as "Christ has redeemed the born again from the CURSE OF THE LAW"..

But, not according to Episkopos.

Episkopos preaches a different testament and a different gospel.
If you are a legalist, his words are "perfect".
If you are not, and are born again, then his theology read or heard is llke a sharp stick that he stabs into the Grace of God.

Have you considered Epi a work in progress......much the same as yourself?
The question of importance is not about the variations of how we see but rather, is Jesus known to us. If he is the variations of how we see takes on a flavour which is not blaming nor antagonistic.

Light dispels darkness far better than a bucket! ....yet remember, 'if the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness'....Jesus

 

[Enoch111]

You came in to once again personally attack Epi.

I have called out Episkopos as a false teacher. That is not a personal attack but an attack of his false teachings. And all wolves in sheep's clothing must be exposed for who they are. How else will Christians beware of them? When someone attacks the foundational doctrines of Christianity, they have chosen to be exposed for what they are. They are not "works in progress" but minions of Satan.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

A legalist is a religious person, and can be a believer. In both cases (unbeliever or believer) they are both trying to earn heaven.
In the case of the believer, they are trying to stay saved by self effort because they've become a deceived victim of their self righteousness.
99% of the time someone taught them to "fall from Grace"...or as Paul says.. "who has bewitched you."""

Whereas...

Jesus is the virgin born, Bread of Life, who said..."i am from above and You are from below", while he was standing in Israel and about 33 yrs old, in human form.
Jesus, who is the WORD made flesh, was described by John's Gospel. John 1:10. as...."Jesus was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew him not.""
Jesus said .. that he is "touched by the same feelings, desires, human weakness we have", yet without sin'"".... and because He understands this perfectly, He is able to give us relief and deliverance, through God's Grace

Jesus was "made under the law", a human being, born of a woman.
Jesus has redeemed us "from the curse of the Law".

What is that?
That is what Episkopos will tell that you are to be doing........He teaches that you are to be doing that "curse"....living it.
He well tell you, and has, that you are saved so that now you can go and keep the law that is a curse to you, that Jesus died to deliver you from, and that is why the NT, Paul teaching said you are "NOT under the Law, but under Grace".,,, as "Christ has redeemed the born again from the CURSE OF THE LAW"..

But, not according to Episkopos.

Episkopos preaches a different testament and a different gospel.
If you are a legalist, his words are "perfect".
If you are not, and are born again, then his theology read or heard is llke a sharp stick that he stabs into the Grace of God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I have called out Episkopos as a false teacher. That is not a personal attack but an attack of his false teachings. And all wolves in sheep's clothing must be exposed for who they are. How else will Christians beware of them? When someone attacks the foundational doctrines of Christianity, they have chosen to be exposed for what they are. They are not "works in progress" but minions of Satan.

Oh no! I must save the phony baloney idols of my fathers!

 

[stunnedbygrace]

23 About that time a major disturbance occurred in regard to the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing considerable business to the craftsmen;25 he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s Macedonian traveling companions. 30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. 31 Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent wordto him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. 32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

 

[amigo de christo]

False religions dont like being exposed . they had rather just follow the all inclusive lets get along lie .
Let us remember that . Lambs LOVE the peoples so lambs actually do correct error
and always point to CHRIST ALONE , that one must BELIEVE IN HIM to be saved . False religoins
embrace the lie . Lambs embrace the BIBLICAL TRUTH . PS speaking of idols , ROME needs to clean her idols and worship of said Idols OUT of the place . And more so they also need to quit trying to REIGN over all the religoins and rather PREACH JESUS
and not this lie that all religions are coming to GOD . What a crock of dung that is .
BELIEVE IN CHRIST JESUS . HE ALONE is the ONLY and i do mean ONLY way unto THE FATHER . all else is winds of vainity sold
under what most call love but in truth its hate .

 

[amigo de christo]

Now let all that has breath praise the glorious Lord

 

[stunnedbygrace]

False religions dont like being exposed . they had rather just follow the all inclusive lets get along lie .
Let us remember that . Lambs LOVE the peoples so lambs actually do correct error
and always point to CHRIST ALONE , that one must BELIEVE IN HIM to be saved . False religoins
embrace the lie . Lambs embrace the BIBLICAL TRUTH . PS speaking of idols , ROME needs to clean her idols and worship of said Idols OUT of the place . And more so they also need to quit trying to REIGN over all the religoins and rather PREACH JESUS
and not this lie that all religions are coming to GOD . What a crock of dung that is .
BELIEVE IN CHRIST JESUS . HE ALONE is the ONLY and i do mean ONLY way unto THE FATHER . all else is winds of vainity sold
under what most call love but in truth its hate .

Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!

 

[amigo de christo]

Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!

View attachment 29992

Keep those idols to yourself please . I didnt vote for trump nor biden . And hold not thy breath
waiting for me to say i am sorry that i didnt either .

 

[Lizbeth]

Ayeyieyie. SMH.

Google Image Result for https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/46700/46761/46761_storysoldier_lg.gif

images.app.goo.gl

All of your never ending caterwauling, all because you hate the thought of this: And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it is all gone, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.
It threatens the idols of your fathers and panics you.

Better rightly divide the word sister. It is also written that friendship with the world is enmity with God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Keep those idols to yourself please . I didnt vote for trump nor biden . And hold not thy breath
waiting for me to say i am sorry that i didnt either .

Speaking in king jamesese again.
Hold not thy breath waiting for me to take thee seriously.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Better rightly divide the word sister. It is also written that friendship with the world is enmity with God.