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

[ScottA]

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

So am I. Thanks for being honest.

It would seem that this is the "everyone gets a trophy" generation and everyone thinks their "opinion" is the gospel.

Unfortunately, repentance is usually required of such a generation.

 

[atpollard]

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?

Both ... there was an instant of radical transformation when who I was died and who I am was born (everything that mattered changed in a moment - like dead to alive) ... then comes Ephesians 2:10 and a lifetime of walking it out and being transformed gradually into the image of Jesus.

It is not unlike marriage: there is an instant when you are transformed from a "bachelor" to a "husband" followed by a lifetime of growing to learn to finish each other's sentences.

 

[RepentingChristian]

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 View attachment 80071

I'm sorry for calling you "trash" and for my other insults.

 

[Scott Downey]

Both ... there was an instant of radical transformation when who I was died and who I am was born (everything that mattered changed in a moment - like dead to alive) ... then comes Ephesians 2:10 and a lifetime of walking it out and being transformed gradually into the image of Jesus.

It is not unlike marriage: there is an instant when you are transformed from a "bachelor" to a "husband" followed by a lifetime of growing to learn to finish each other's sentences.

That walking out your salvation relationship is a sanctification process.

But you were and are saved in a moment, translated into the kingdom of God with a new master.

Bible Gateway passage: Colossians 1 - 21st Century King James Version

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, who are at Colossae: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying...

www.biblegateway.com

Colossians 1

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that ye might walk worthy of the Lord, in all pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 He hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

16 For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him.

17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

18 And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence.

 

[Deborah_]

You are confused.

Being born again happens instantly.

The renewing of the mind and growing spiritually happens gradually.

There may well be for everyone an "instant" moment when the Spirit seals us and God says, "Now you're mine!" But not everyone is aware of it at the time.

 

[ShineTheLight]

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

Try this. Try these ones.

Ephesians 4: 31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Colossians 3: 8-10
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

 

[ShineTheLight]

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

You're doing things that make it sound to those with opposing views like you're superior or being like a jester while at it. That's not what I expect from someone who lives in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ

 

[GRACE ambassador]

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?

Instantaneously was my Justification From God (Past Tense!), From The Everlasting Penalty Of sin,
when a precious saint explained God's Gospel Of Grace to me over the phone many years ago! Thereafter
the maturing process has taken over 46 years. And, thanks for asking, precious @RepentingChristian:

Because Of His Word Of Truth explained here: God's Three Tenses Of Salvation!

---------------
And, precious friend(s), Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified
In The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:

The Bible: The BIG Picture

Amen.

 

[Lambano]

There may well be for everyone an "instant" moment when the Spirit seals us and God says, "Now you're mine!" But not everyone is aware of it at the time.

I've always been intrigued by what Jesus told Nic at night: 8 "The 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". So how do you know?

 

[Scott Downey]

I've always been intrigued by what Jesus told Nic at night: 8 "The 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". So how do you know?

Yes, profoundly points to God's Holy Spirit being the decider of who He makes 'born of God'.
That is not your decision or will.
I would say the being born of God comes first, before your receiving of Him, as in God first changes your heart to make you open to the gospel message.

John 1
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His [c]own, and His [d]own did not receive Him. 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: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Were born, past tense, prior to the receiving of Him in your heart. God knows what He is doing in your life to bring you into His kingdom.

Acts 16:14
Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

KJ21
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and every one that loveth Him that begot, loveth Him also that is begotten by Him.

ESV
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

GW
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God. Everyone who loves the Father also loves his children.

YLT
Every one who is believing that Jesus is the Christ, of God he hath been begotten, and every one who is loving Him who did beget, doth love also him who is begotten of Him:

Philippians 1
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but [f]to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

 

[SavedInHim]

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

The ignore button is your friend.