What does it mean to be born again?

[stunnedbygrace]

I’m going to see that Jesus movie at matinee today. Excited. I read that movie theaters have reclining seats now!!? The last movie I went to see in a theater was Amazing Grace in 2006 which was the year I came to God and there were no reclining seats.
I have it in my head that it will be like on an airplane where putting your seat back causes discomfort to the person behind you…

 

[Episkopos]

I’m going to see that Jesus movie at matinee today. Excited. I read that movie theaters have reclining seats now!!? The last movie I went to see in a theater was Amazing Grace in 2006 which was the year I came to God and there were no reclining seats.
I have it in my head that it will be like on an airplane where putting your seat back causes discomfort to the person behind you…

Please leave a comment in my Jesus Revolution thread. I hope you like it!

 

[Lizbeth]

You were very surprised at the insight I shared.. Yes, I asked about where things stood with you, because I didn't know where you were coming from, based on some of the things you were saying or agreeing to etc. But we all have our blind spots regardless. Areas of strengths and weaknesses. Works in progress, growth, knowing in part, and who can plumb the depths of so great a God. In my better moments I see knowledge as a river that is always flowing (from a source greater than ourselves), rather than a lake of accumulated knowledge.

That’s odd…I think you are not “advanced enough” and have zero spiritual insight yet you are the one who has more than once questioned if I even have received the Holy Spirit…so you are the one who has done what you say I do.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

You were very surprised at the insight I shared

I was? I only remember that I had no idea what you were saying Regarding “both things being true.” But then I got some vague sense of what was in your head as being…it’s wrong to reject MY truth, which reminded me of a conversation a few years ago where my mother got furious at me and said, “that’s YOUR truth! It might not be someone else’s truth!” I struggled to understand what on earth she meant and then I said, a man beats the heck out of his wife. Her truth is that it is wrong. His truth is that she brought it on herself.
Her jaw dropped and she just walked away. But I’ve never heard her say it again…

 

[Lizbeth]

You are the one who said that the crows were doing so because of zeal for the truth. Do you remember your own words?

I have dealt with many people...who remain cool, calm and collected, but firmly rooted in the flesh...now become religious.

I will leave you to yourself and God.

Please just consider what I brought, and I will leave you to the Lord.

 

[Lizbeth]

I was? I only remember that I had no idea what you were saying Regarding “both things being true.” But then I got some vague sense of what was in your head as being…it’s wrong to reject MY truth, which reminded me of a conversation a few years ago where my mother got furious at me and said, “that’s YOUR truth! It might not be someone else’s truth!” I struggled to understand what on earth she meant and then I said, a man beats the heck out of his wife. Her truth is that it is wrong. His truth is that she brought it on herself.
Her jaw dropped and she just walked away. But I’ve never heard her say it again…

"I agree! But…I’m confused as to how you are able to see this, based on much else you have said…"

Your words. Maybe you misspoke. But if I misunderstood your post, I apologize.

 

[Episkopos]

Please just consider what I brought, and I will leave you to the Lord.

The flesh? All I see from you is an apologetic for putting yourself at the forefront of the plan of God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

"I agree! But…I’m confused as to how you are able to see this, based on much else you have said…"

Your words. Maybe you misspoke? If I misunderstood your post, I apologize.

Oh. I had been referring to the previous “why can’t both be true” thing you talked about that I never responded to because I literally had no idea what you were saying.

 

[marks]

Contempt for others is like a fire burning on a hill, and only those enamored with it's blaze don't see it.

Much love!

 

[Eternally Grateful]

how to be born again.. In Jesus own words

John 3:
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 1

Notice what Jesus said

1. Like moses lifted the serpent..- if we remember the story..

Numbers 21: 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

so anyone who was bitten (a death sentence) would be healed and live, if only in faith they looked to the serpent (a type of Christ)

2. The son of man must be lifted up. so whoever looks to him (we all have a fatal disease and will die if we do not look to the true serpent or Christ)

3. Those who do (belief) will live

4 Those who do not (by unbelief) will die

the life God gives is called eternal life. it will never end..

he who believes is not condemned (born again)

he who does not believe is condemned already (still dead in their sin, need born again)


this is salvation 101 and how to be born again, if anyone tells you anything other than this. they are calling Jesus a lair.

 

[marks]

If anyone has any wisdom at all here.

Who is more likely to be seen as reprobate? The one who testifies of a higher walk and encourages others to seek it...or the ones who attack that one and say he is a devil etc...

Think really hard about it. Because if you think this will not be reviewed on judgment day, your head is in the sand.

Your teaching is that you must have a "higher walk" that you cannot do, and MAYBE God might give it to you if you impress Him enough.

God tells us that if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit, but you deny we can walk in the Spirit in the faith and power we have received in Christ being born again.

So then who is likely to be seen as reprobate? The one who denies that the just shall live by faith.

Much love!

 

[marks]

I dont' think I'm anything, but I think you must have misunderstood something...that isn't what I meant at all.

Hi Lizbeth,

FWIW . . . I don't think there is an issue with understanding. I've questioned ep on this off and on over the years, without any real change in how he responds. I've watched him do this with me, with others, and now with you. There is only one response, so far as I've seen, that ep will accept, and that is your gushing of thanks. When I've asked of him Scriptural support, he gives Scriptures which don't say what he claims. When I question that, the ad hominems start, and once they've started, they don't end.

Reading through this thread, it's just dripping with contempt and falsehoods. And it shows the truth that the student becomes like the teacher, whether that is a good thing or not.

Much love!

 

[marks]

When He says he is seated in heavenly places...he's talking about . . . a real place.

This I can agree with.

Ephesians 2:1-7 KJV
1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)
6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So the question is, of whom does the apostle speak?

Much love!

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Contempt for others is like a fire burning on a hill, and only those enamored with it's blaze don't see it.

Much love!

 

[marks]

View attachment 30063

We all reveal ourselves. Not everyone sees that.

Much love!

 

[Episkopos]

Your teaching is that you must have a "higher walk" that you cannot do, and MAYBE God might give it to you if you impress Him enough.

God is impressed by faith. Enoch impressed God so much that he was translated to be with the Lord then and there. But who is wondering why Enoch is used as an example of faith in the NT context?

God tells us that if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit, but you deny we can walk in the Spirit in the faith and power we have received in Christ being born again.

So then who is likely to be seen as reprobate? The one who denies that the just shall live by faith.

Much love!

The righteous live by their faith. However, the holy live by the faith of Christ.

Is it evil to point to a higher walk...like we read about in the bible? Or is everyone in the bible just acting like modern believers?

What about the Laodiceans Were they not born again too? They just took an early exit and claimed to be rich and in need of nothing further (sound familiar?) whereas Jesus states their TRUE condition...they are stuck in an initial baby stage of initial grace, now being covered over by a religious certainty. Surely you see yourself in that.

 

[marks]

This I can agree with.

Ephesians 2:1-7 KJV
1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)
6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So the question is, of whom does the apostle speak?

Much love!

Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Those who have died with Christ, and been risen with Him.

Romans 6:3-7 KJV
3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Much love!

 

[Episkopos]

This I can agree with.

Ephesians 2:1-7 KJV
1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)
6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So the question is, of whom does the apostle speak?

Much love!

I know you can help yourself here...you want to claim it for yourself. But the Laodiceans did that very thing. Why not identify with being poor, naked, wretched, and blind,....????? The more you claim the riches of God ....when not walking in resurrection power...the more religious you become...and the more deceived.

 

[marks]

What about the Laodiceans Were they not born again too?

Is this how you perceive "born again"?

Revelation 3:14-22 KJV

17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Christ stands outside, seeking an invitation.

Is it evil to point to a higher walk...like we read about in the bible? Or is everyone in the bible just acting like modern believers?

That sounds nice, but it's not responsive.

Tell me plainly . . . is a man who is born again able to walk in the Spirit in the faith and power given him in his rebirth, in your view? It seems very much that your answer must be no, but is it?

No obfuscation, I'm looking for a simple and plain answer, if you are able to speak plainly.

Much love!

 

[marks]

I know you can help yourself here...you want to claim it for yourself. But the Laodiceans did that very thing. Why not identify with being poor, naked, wretched, and blind,....????? The more you claim the riches of God ....when not walking in resurrection power...the more religious you become...and the more deceived.

Let's stop with the games. OK? Why do you bother to respond if you aren't actually going to respond? This is sophistry pitted against Scripture.

And BTW . . . I didn't write this:

Ephesians 2:1-7 KJV
1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)
6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So the question remains, I guess for others, since you've declined to answer,

Of whom does the apostle speak?

Much love!