If you've been "born again", were you reborn gradually or did it just happen in an instant?

[ScottA]

I do believe that I have been born again and I would say it's been a gradual process over 2.5 years. How about you?

That may seem to be so, but is not really how it works.

Our body of flesh is one body, and our new spiritual body is another body (which does occur instantly).

What seems like "a process", is simply our flesh body getting with the program. That experience will continue to some degree until our flesh body eventually passes. During which time we have the grace of God and the Helper to see us through unto the end.

 

[quietthinker]

If you've been "born again", were you reborn gradually or did it just happen in an instant?​

Does it matter?

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Does it matter?

Depending on whether a person accepts God's Word as being Truth or if they claim carnal man made religion is "truth"

Many here obviously believe carnal man made religion is "truth"

 

[lforrest]

If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved... for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

If we agree that being born again is instantaneous, as there is a moment in our lives that the Holy Spirit begins to indwell. But does that mean the person is saved already? Or that they are as good as being saved?

We have many promises from God that give confidence in the permeance of salvation:
1. That there is no power in this world or any other that can separate us from the Love of God in Jesus Christ.
2. The Spirit will complete the good work he started.
3. We are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
4. He will not leave or forsake us.

Similarly to how God warned Adam, that on that day you eat (from the tree) you shall surely die. Those who hear the words of Jesus Christ and believe in him, they pass from death to life.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

That there is no power in this world or any other that can separate us from the Love of God in Jesus Christ.

Except for us according to numerous warnings in the New Testament.

1 Timothy 4:1,2
Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron

John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(NOT in our own strength - see Philippians 4:13)

He will not leave or forsake us.

Unless we deny Him, then He will forsake us

2 Timothy 2:12
If we deny Him, He also will deny us

It's important that we consider all the Lord says in the New Testament.

Otherwise it leads people (and possibly ourselves) to believe we can go ahead and flow with the world in sin and still be saved which is not true.

People get all upset about bringing this up which is odd. You'd think those that love the Lord would want to know everything He says rather then just a few happy verses and ignore the rest of the God's Word.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Are you always a jerk?

This is your clue a person saying this sort of thing is not a Word person meaning they really don't care what God says. Very sad.

However they are most likely really big on the doctrine of whatever denomination that are servants of.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

You're trash. Slither back into your sewer.

Of course, since you are looking at things from the devil's point of view I can see how you'd think that
The devil thinks anybody encroaching in to his territory is being mean
So anywho, enjoy thy false doctrine

 

[quietthinker]

Depending on whether a person accepts God's Word as being Truth or if they claim carnal man made religion is "truth"

Many here obviously believe carnal man made religion is "truth"

We all know you are beyond reproach and everything you think, in your estimation is God breathed!

 

[quietthinker]

Are you always a jerk?

How does my reply qualify as me being a jerk?

 

[RepentingChristian]

This place is FULL of pompous, know-it-alls. I'm out.

 

[quietthinker]

This place is FULL of pompous, know-it-alls. I'm out.

C'mon brother, ' here is the patience of the saints; here are they who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus' Rev.14:12

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

I do believe that I have been born again and I would say it's been a gradual process over 2.5 years. How about you?

Being born again is an instaneous spiritual birth. Still, the soul needs work and that takes time. Remember, we are body, soul and spirit.
Sanctification is gradual, a separation process from the worldly things, walking in the flesh into dying to yourself and walking in the spirit. And this is a growth period, growing in the knowledge of Christ, while the Holy Spirit guides and teaches us life lessons, as we become more aware of the sin in our lives and how to practically apply God's principles. "Being transformed in the renewing of your mind" is what your thinking born again is. No, that is spiritual growth, when the Spirit transtorms your behavior - the soul ( mind, will, emotions), a result of being born again. As a newborn baby is ignorant to everything, still it's born in an instant.
So when does that happen? The moment when one is baptized by the Holy Spirit.
God first prepares your heart, He removes that blindness so we can see initially, we begin to open our hearts, get invited to church, read and hear the Word and enlightenment begins. This takes time. Still not born again, but williny really curious ... could take months or years. You waver with doubts, have numerous questions ... still attending Church, but not totally committed yet. The moment is coming ... but not until you truly believe in Jesus, ask God for forgiveness and you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. In a moment, He forgives you, cleanse your sins and baotizes you on the Holy Spirit, Who from that point on dwells within you.

 

[JustMe]

It is in mine since I live in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ enjoying the benefits of the Risen Lord of Glory

Obviously salvation is not possible in your carnal minded religious world

Now being defensive is fine as long as you know why you are in that mode. I think though you over-reacted and now have become trigger -happy. Did you really read my post before sounding off? Hint: It may have something to do with how you quoted and used scripture in the initial post I reacted to.

 

[Scott Downey]

Saul into Paul
Also you or may not feel anything.
The Holy Spirit of God blows on you like the wind, you don't see it coming or going but you can sense it's effects, same thing in your life.

The Letters written to the church emphasize belief in the Son as does Christ and Revelation.
Being Born of God is not your call, this is what God does.

God does not gradually make you alive spiritually who were dead in trespasses and sins.

Bible Gateway passage: 1 John 5 - New King James Version

Obedience by Faith - Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His...

www.biblegateway.com

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—[a]our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

[Scott Downey]

Bible Gateway passage: John 3 - New King James Version

The New Birth - There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most...

www.biblegateway.com

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

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 [b]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 [c]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. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

 

[Scott Downey]

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?

The earthly things of God, are the things God does on the earth, where you live right now in the flesh, for you to believe in His Son.

 

[ScottA]

@RepentingChristian

You're trash. Slither back into your sewer.

Unbecoming. A sad revealing of you.

 

[JustMe]

It is in mine since I live in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ enjoying the benefits of the Risen Lord of Glory

Obviously salvation is not possible in your carnal minded religious world

Without all the emotional hoopla and trigger-happy response, do you therefore accept a true salvation that can be maintained easily, in which the former natural state of a person's carnal free will is significantly and permanently reduced and inclined toward God and His Son in their life?

 

[NayborBear]

@RepentingChristian

You're trash. Slither back into your sewer.

Unbecoming. A sad revealing of you.

Sad? Not really.
Revealing? Now, that, it is!
In formats such as these, when not knowing a poster from Adam, some posters (ahem) may say things about themselves or their Spiritual journey/ings that may inadvertently and/or unintentionally cause one not further down that narrowing road, grief!

It is a very good thing, isn't it, that Jesus Christ of Nazareth and God the Father: Not being a respecter of persons, is very slow to anger with those who are, or have started going in the right direction!

With me? It was, and still is at times, a roller coaster ride sometimes having a similar "white knuckled" effect on a believer/seeker (me) in just trying to hold on and not let go! And "fearing no evil" whilst God is showing me while walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" in this very dark and lawless and Godless world we live in!
Of the which, is not to be avoided, or detoured around and which reveals a lot when encountering or interacting with people/churches/denominations who have and do!

I suspect that "birds of a feather flock together" holds true with "measures of faith" also?

 

[RepentingChristian]

@RepentingChristian

You're trash. Slither back into your sewer.

Unbecoming. A sad revealing of you.

Indeed. I'm tired of every thread being destroyed by pompous, know-it-all, "Christians".