Must You Be Born Again?

[farouk]

You want to gamble on eternity, be my guest.

Frankly it would be unrealistic to tell people that unless they are baptised they won't go to heaven, while leaving aside the vital inner work of the Holy Spirit through whom Christ offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9.14). An outward symbol may refer to an inner reality; it does not in itself produce spiritual consequences for eternity: this would otherwise be salvation by works and ritual.

 

[justbyfaith]

Frankly it would be unrealistic to tell people that unless they are baptised they won't go to heaven, while leaving aside the vital inner work of the Holy Spirit through whom Christ offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9.14). An outward symbol may refer to an inner reality; it does not in itself produce spiritual consequences for eternity: this would otherwise be salvation by works and ritual.

The inward work of being filled with the Holy Ghost is promised to those who receive baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

And, while someone may receive the Holy Spirit merely because of asking (Luke 11:9-13), the more absolute promise is found in Acts of the Apostles 2:39-39.

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). How then is there remission of sins (and there is) when we receive baptism in Jesus' Name, if the blood is not in the water?

 

[user]

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). How then is there remission of sins (and there is) when we receive baptism in Jesus' Name, if the blood is not in the water?

Yes very good point.

1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.


Keep up the good work.
God Bless!

 

[Rocky Wiley]

Frankly it would be unrealistic to tell people that unless they are baptised they won't go to heaven, while leaving aside the vital inner work of the Holy Spirit through whom Christ offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9.14). An outward symbol may refer to an inner reality; it does not in itself produce spiritual consequences for eternity: this would otherwise be salvation by works and ritual.

Baptism is about washing away past sins. I can't say that one is not going to heaven unless they are baptized, but why take the chance?
Act_22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

[Johann]

We do need to be born again but baptism isn't new birth it is a sign, something that we need to do after we have been born again.

Also-we can't "rebirth ourselves"
J.

 

[Brakelite]

Some get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and they receive the Holy Ghost as a direct result of that (see Acts of the Apostles 2:38-39)

I speak of personal experience, that I received the holy Spirit the moment I was born again. That happened in the middle of the night when I repented of my past life and asked the Lord to make my life one He could approve of. I immediately became aware of His presence, His love, His forgiveness: for great joy it was several hours before I could sleep, and I awoke a new creature. I didn't know I was born again. I had never read or owned a bible in my life, so didn't know the term. But I knew I was different. Even the physical world seemed brighter, the colours of the grass and mountains that I could see from my kitchen window were more vivid, so much so I had to go to the front door to check the view in the opposite direction toward the sea. It was the same. It was like a palpable darkness had lifted from the world and left it in a new light and life. And I realised it wasn't really the view that had changed, it was me. I was different. The person who went to bed the night before was not the same person who was walking around with joy and peace and wonder the next morning. I chose to be baptised about 3 months later after I had found a church I was happy with.
It was after that I discovered the biblical term that described my experience.