Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
I am done beating a dead horse.
Jesus did not contradict himself. He said he died for the world in John so. so that whoever in the world believes would be born again.
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Jesus did not contradict himself. He said he died for the world in John so. so that whoever in the world believes would be born again.
I have yet to,see scripture where mans says to God, yes, Lord I choose you to make me Born Again..LOL...they don’t even know God, not until they have been brought to believe in Jesus by God and gifted the precious faith to believe....and as his word says, without his Spirit we are none of his....
Finally, the wind blows where it wishes. Nobody can guide its direction. The same is true of the Spirit of God. He works in His unique way and there is nobody, in heaven or on earth, who can tell Him what to do.
The word of God never returns void, it always accomplishes what is pleasing to Him....the word of God is Alive and Active....his word is his “ Living Spirit”....
Finally, the wind blows where it wishes. Nobody can guide its direction. The same is true of the Spirit of God. He works in His unique way and there is nobody, in heaven or on earth, who can tell Him what to do.
The word of God never returns void, it always accomplishes what is pleasing to Him....the word of God is Alive and Active....his word is his “ Living Spirit”....
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Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
John 1: 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [e]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
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.
John 3: 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 4: 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
John 5: 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 6: 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. .......40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”..........47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes [j]in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
There are so many more. i lost count.. But these should be more than enough to show that unless we do this. We will not go anywhere..
John 3
King James Version
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:2 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.
3 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.
4 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?
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The wind is unexplainable. We do not know where it comes from or where it is going. Likewise the Spirit of God works in unexplainable ways. Where and how He is going to work His divine will is a mystery to us.
We must be Born Again to see the Kingdom of God....
Spirit gives birth to spirit....it’s our spirit that must be Born Again ..then we have the faith to know Jesus,,,as in the Spirit.....
If we believe it’s because we have been Born Of The Spirit...the spiritual rebirth.
“We know we have been born of God, if we are now believing.”
We must be Born Again of imperishable seed...then we are saved from eternal damnation..
Born Again and saved from eternal damnation...the two go hand in hand...you aren’t saved unless you have become Born Again by The Spirit of God...
No one knows the time or the place when they will be Born Again.only the Spirit of God knows that.as it’s by his will that we are Born Again, it’s not our choice.
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Commentary.
Saving faith is distinct from every works-righteous system because it isn’t the result of human effort. In the same way that repentance is granted by God (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25), faith is also a supernatural gift of God. Ephesians 2:8–9 affirms this: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Our response in salvation is faith, but even that is “not of [ourselves], it is the gift of God.” Faith is nothing that we do in our own power or by our own resources. In the first place, we do not have adequate power or resources. Moreover, God would not want us to rely on them even if we had them. Otherwise salvation would be in part by our own works, and we would have some ground to boast in ourselves. Paul’s emphasis in Ephesians 2:8 is that even faith does not come from us apart from God’s giving it. Human effort has nothing to do with it (cf.Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16), and thus no one should boast, as if he contributed any part.
Spiritually dead, we were helpless until God intervened to quicken us: “Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5). Faith is an integral part of the gift His grace bestowed on us.
Scripture consistently teaches that faith is not conjured up by the human will but is a sovereignly granted gift of God. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). And “No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). Acts 3:16 speaks of “the faith which comes through Him.” Philippians 1:29 says, “To you it has been granted for Christ’s sake . . . to believe in Him.” And Peter wrote to fellow believers as “those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours” (2 Peter 1:1).
How do we know that faith is God’s gift? Left to ourselves, no one would ever believe: “There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:11). “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). God draws the sinner to Christ and gives the ability to believe. Without that divinely generated faith, one cannot understand and approach the Savior. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14). That is precisely why when Peter affirmed his faith in Christ as the Son of God, Jesus told him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Faith is graciously given to believers by God himself.
As a divine gift, faith is neither transient nor impotent. It has an abiding quality that guarantees that it will endure to the end. The familiar words of Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous will live by his faith” (cf. Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38), speak not of a momentary act of believing, but of a living, enduring trust in God. Hebrews 3:14 emphasizes the permanence of genuine faith. Its very durability is proof of its reality: “We have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” The faith God gives can never evaporate. And the work of salvation cannot ultimately be thwarted (cf. John 10:27–29). In Philippians 1:6 Paul wrote, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:8; Colossians 1:22–23).
For those reasons, saving faith is nothing like the fickleness of wavering human belief. It is as enduring and unchanging as the God who grants it.
Saving faith is distinct from every works-righteous system because it isn’t the result of human effort. In the same way that repentance is granted by God (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25), faith is also a supernatural gift of God. Ephesians 2:8–9 affirms this: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Our response in salvation is faith, but even that is “not of [ourselves], it is the gift of God.” Faith is nothing that we do in our own power or by our own resources. In the first place, we do not have adequate power or resources. Moreover, God would not want us to rely on them even if we had them. Otherwise salvation would be in part by our own works, and we would have some ground to boast in ourselves. Paul’s emphasis in Ephesians 2:8 is that even faith does not come from us apart from God’s giving it. Human effort has nothing to do with it (cf.Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16), and thus no one should boast, as if he contributed any part.
Spiritually dead, we were helpless until God intervened to quicken us: “Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5). Faith is an integral part of the gift His grace bestowed on us.
Scripture consistently teaches that faith is not conjured up by the human will but is a sovereignly granted gift of God. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). And “No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). Acts 3:16 speaks of “the faith which comes through Him.” Philippians 1:29 says, “To you it has been granted for Christ’s sake . . . to believe in Him.” And Peter wrote to fellow believers as “those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours” (2 Peter 1:1).
How do we know that faith is God’s gift? Left to ourselves, no one would ever believe: “There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:11). “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). God draws the sinner to Christ and gives the ability to believe. Without that divinely generated faith, one cannot understand and approach the Savior. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14). That is precisely why when Peter affirmed his faith in Christ as the Son of God, Jesus told him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Faith is graciously given to believers by God himself.
As a divine gift, faith is neither transient nor impotent. It has an abiding quality that guarantees that it will endure to the end. The familiar words of Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous will live by his faith” (cf. Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38), speak not of a momentary act of believing, but of a living, enduring trust in God. Hebrews 3:14 emphasizes the permanence of genuine faith. Its very durability is proof of its reality: “We have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” The faith God gives can never evaporate. And the work of salvation cannot ultimately be thwarted (cf. John 10:27–29). In Philippians 1:6 Paul wrote, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:8; Colossians 1:22–23).
For those reasons, saving faith is nothing like the fickleness of wavering human belief. It is as enduring and unchanging as the God who grants it.
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You are in ERROR!! Man, in his own volition, would like to take a part in his own salvation. Man by nature is "spiritually dead" and therefore cannot make any kinds of decision in spiritual things.
To God Be The Glory
Absolutely!!!...100% Amen!!
We also know that all scripture that relates to “ Believing” means, ..those who have been “ Born Of The Spirit “....that is why we believe, we cannot believe without the testifying of the Holy Spirit with our spirit,that we are children of God.....
Those without the Spirit could never understand this as they are carnal and lead themselves through scripture..
..without being Born Of The Spirit, spiritual rebirth, it’s none other than human belief/ faith...which is meaningless.....as Gods word says, without the Spirit we are none of His......
As His word also says.....No one knows the time or the place when they will be Born Again.only the Spirit of God knows that.as it’s by his will that we are Born Again, it’s not our choice.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
We receive faith before we can ever believe in Jesus....my opinion/ testimony and belief....we must have our spirit reborn/ Born Again ,then we believe....that is the miracle act of God...” Mind Blowing”.
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Also.....
1 Corinthians 2:14
King James Version
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
Your in error
Man can not have a part in his salvation. We are saved by grace PERIOD.
But God will not force you to take his salvation. Remember he is a God of love. Not hate,. He offers people his gift. That way his Love is still intact. and no one can make a charge against him.
That salvation we receive BY GRACE,, is only accomplished through faith.
Only by trusting God will you receive him
John 1 said as man as have received him, Not as many as he has chosen. You have rewritten the word of God.
Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
Absolutely 100% False.
A spiritually dead person is separated from God. it does not mean God can not convince him to repent..
in fact, if that person wants saved, he has to respond to Gods calling..
The reason we don't know the time when we become Born Again, is because we are born at different times in history, but ultimately, we became born again when our Father elected us in eternity past before the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.
Again, this is so, because the elect are born at different times in history.
Indeed Mind Blowing!! What a loving Father and gracious God we serve!!
To God Be The Glory
Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
I know the exact moment I was born again. I remember it like it was yesterday.
If you do not know when, I must question if you ever were
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We know when we have been Born Again though, don’t we...?
I didn’t write down the date, I do remember it was the evening and remember the song called,” it must have been love” by Roxette....the spiritual rebirth is something one could never forget...
I mean we were Born Again by God...” mind blowing “ and still it blows my mind after 32 yrs of being Born Again...I can’t believe that I am a child of God!!!..
I know God knew who were his before the foundation of the world?
Isn't that what I've said? You are displaying your lack of reading what others have written, how much more when you read scriptures!!??
You can scream and shout, and kick, but if God wants to save you He will. There's nothing God can't do!!
as usual, you are in ERROR. Whose Faith?? IT IS THE FAITH OF CHRIST!!
No I have not. Jesus said: "Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you."
To God Be The Glory
Amen!!...Faith is a gift from God, we can’t believe in Jesus or God without his Spirit....we must be Born Again...Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Amen!!...he chose us before the foundation of the world...and he knew the date, time and day / evening, when his Spirit was going to make us Born Again.....he had planned our spiritual rebirth, from the very beginning...how amazing is that.
How could you know?? Jesus in John 3:7-8 declared:
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Knowing how you read written words, if you don't understand the above, let me know and I'll expound it to you.
Just read my posts and see if I ever was born again according to Scripture.
To God Be The Glory
Amen!!..that is how we are Born Of The Spirit...the spiritual rebirth, we never know when, because becoming Born Again is by the will of God as his word says.Praise God.
Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
lol. So we both agree. Thank you/. I have been saying that all along, But you have been saying I am trying to have a part in my salvation. Which is error on your part
Then everyone would be saved.. Thank God he is not the evil leader you want him to be. He will not force his salvation on you.
A forced love is no love at all.
Christs faith was on the cross.
He will not trust himself on my behalf so I can be saved.
I never said I chose him, Again, your lack of reading skills proceeds you
I said God offered to save me, i just cried out for him to save me. He had to receive me, but only after I received him.
again, John 1: 12. but as many as received him.....
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