what does it mean to be a born again christian ?

[studentoftheword]

I think understanding what Baptism in the Holy Spirit actually means is very important in understanding these Scripture ----

My view


Acts 1:5

Amplified Bible

5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.”

So what does this baptised with the Holy Spirit mean here in this scripture ------

From strong's ---
Acts 1:5;------to imbue richly with the Holy Spirit (just as its large bestowment is called an outpouring):

So what does this word ------- mean ------it is used here as a VERB ------from dictionary
imbue
verb (used with object), im·bued, im·bu·ing.

to saturate or impregnate with moisture

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1 Corinthians 12:13

Amplified Bible

13 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life

From Strong's ---

to unite together into one body by baptism, 1 Corinthians 12:13; εἰς Χριστόν, εἰς τόν θάνατον αὐτοῦ, to bring by baptism into fellowship with Christ, into fellowship in his death, by which fellowship we have died to sin,

Folks -----Water Baptism does not unite you together into one Body ----only the Holy Spirit can due that -----The Holy Spirit is likened unto Water -------

Teaching that water Baptism will save you is False Doctrine -------and will send you to Hell -------

Water Baptism today is just a profession of your Faith -------you need to be ------
saturate or impregnate with moisture on the inside -----The Holy Spirit is that moisture ----by and through Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a person SAVED -------

 

[ForestGreenCook]

Man must make the decision to accept before being born again. All who neglect to yield their lives to Jesus will go to Hell. All must come to the light to receive salvation.

John 3

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3 is referencing the un-regenerant man as described in 1 Cor 2:14. in comparison to the regenerant man. The un-regenerant man will not accept the things of the Spirit until he has been born again. He thinks the things of the Spirit are foolishness.

 

[Magenta]

Water is never used as a metaphor for the gospel in the Bible.

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He
spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for
the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Do you have rivers of water flowing out of your heart?

 

[Runningman]

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He
spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for
the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Do you have rivers of water flowing out of your heart?

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He
spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for
the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This passage says that the rivers of living water is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

If you want to apply that to John 3:5 where Jesus said “you must be born of water and Spirit” then Jesus would have effectually said “You must be born of Spirit and Spirit” which isn’t what He said. So the water in John 3:5 is still water baptism.

 

[ForestGreenCook]

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:

and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:31-36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he that believeth the son

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63, 68-69‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he that won’t accept his word

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:48-50‬

ultimately God has fulfilled this prophecy

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he’s done that this way

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:14‬

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬


He has set eternal life in his kingdom before us and has set eternal damnation before us and has said “ hear the truth and choose life “

The scriptures that you have quoted are showing the difference between the un-regenerant man, and the regenerant man.

1 Cor 2:14 describes the un-regenerant man as not being able to understand the things of the Spirit, and thinks them to be foolishness.

The generated man has been born again with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which reveals the things of the Spirit, enabling them to understand, and believe in the things of the Spirit.

The only way that the un-regenerant person can believe in the things of the Spirit is after God has quickened him to a new spiritual life, while he is yet dead (spiritually) in his sins having no ability to respond to the things of the Spirit (Eph 2:1-5).

 

[ResidentAlien]

Now we have denominations everywhere saying water baptism is an “outward sign of an inward grace” a sentence that exists nowhere in the Bible.

I agree with this to a certain extent. If a person gets baptized without inward grace they're just getting wet. They must have faith in their heart or it's a useless ritual.

But it's more than simply an outward sign. It's a profound miracle that the Holy Spirit performs. Through it we "put on Christ" and die to the old man. If baptism is relegated to a corner as unimportant, we're really saying to the Holy Spirit: "Thanks anyway, but I've got this."

People also think water baptism is a work, but that comes from not understanding the difference between works of the law and good works.

Yes, exactly. And if you think about it, if a person doesn't submit to baptism, he's the ones relying on works—his own.

 

[Webers.Home]

.
Is regeneration:

1» A convenience?

2» An option?

2» A necessity?

4» A limited opportunity?

5» Only for Christians?

6» Only for Jews?

FAQ: Does John 3:3-8 apply to Old Testament personages, e.g. Abel, Noah, Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Joseph, Samuel, and/or David?

FAQ: Does John 3:3-7 apply to minor children not yet attained to an age of reasoning
and/or accountability?

FAQ: Does John 3:3-7 apply to still births, abortions, and/or miscarriages?
_

 

[ForestGreenCook]

Well, the devil goes to church and has done a good job making people see water baptism as unimportant. Now we have denominations everywhere saying water baptism is an “outward sign of an inward grace” a sentence that exists nowhere in the Bible.

People also think water baptism is a work, but that comes from not understanding the difference between works of the law and good works.

When these converts about water baptism come up and people oppose it intensely they probably think they are defending the truth, but I finely believe Jesus would be appalled because all of the disciples of Jesus were water baptized and Jesus commanded water baptism.

1 Pet 3:20-21, When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ask was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved (Greek = delivered) by water, (not saved eternally, but were delivered from drowning).. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save (deliver) us. (Not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism does not deliver us eternally, but it does deliver us, here on earth, from a burdened conscience.

Water baptism is a work. Repentance, accepting Jesus, praying, believing in spiritual things, caring for one another, etc. These are all good works, and if we do them, they will save (deliver) us as we sojourn here in this world.

The inspired word of God was not written to instruct us as to how we get eternal life, although it does tell us how God has given us an eternal inheritance, but they are instructions, written to God's born again children, as to how God wants them to live their daily lives while they sojourn here in this world.

Those who teach and preach the word, should be directed to "the lost sheep of the household of Jacob/Israel".(Rom 10;1-3). There are far more of God's born again children that are teaching that it is by their obedience of keeping the law to save themselves eternally.

If you pitch all of the salvation scriptures into the eternal basket, and do not recognise that most of them are referencing a deliverance that the born again child of God receives here in this world, by doing good works in following the instructions God has given them through the inspired words of the bible.

 

[Runningman]

1 Pet 3:20-21, When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ask was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved (Greek = delivered) by water, (not saved eternally, but were delivered from drowning).. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save (deliver) us. (Not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism does not deliver us eternally, but it does deliver us, here on earth, from a burdened conscience.

Water baptism is a work. Repentance, accepting Jesus, praying, believing in spiritual things, caring for one another, etc. These are all good works, and if we do them, they will save (deliver) us as we sojourn here in this world.

The inspired word of God was not written to instruct us as to how we get eternal life, although it does tell us how God has given us an eternal inheritance, but they are instructions, written to God's born again children, as to how God wants them to live their daily lives while they sojourn here in this world.

Those who teach and preach the word, should be directed to "the lost sheep of the household of Jacob/Israel".(Rom 10;1-3). There are far more of God's born again children that are teaching that it is by their obedience of keeping the law to save themselves eternally.

If you pitch all of the salvation scriptures into the eternal basket, and do not recognise that most of them are referencing a deliverance that the born again child of God receives here in this world, by doing good works in following the instructions God has given them through the inspired words of the bible.

Interesting. Thanks for they perspective. Definitely something for me to think about.

 

[studentoftheword]

Thread Title
what does it mean to be a born again christian ?

It means that you have accepted God's free Graced gift of becoming a New person in Christ by and through your Faith in Jesus Christ ---Who is the Word -------- you have inside you the Living Water which is your Baptism in the Holy Spirit and you are to now go from being a person feeding on the Milk of the Word to a person feeding on the Meat of the Word and by doing this you are building your Character to be Christ like and allow the Holy Spirit to fully guide and direct you in this New found Life -------you are to lay down self ---(ego) and all the desires of the Flesh ------and follow God's Will for your life of Service to Him ------you are to show by example that you are actually set apart form this world and that God is now your source of direction -------your Fruit of the Spirit needs to be front and center so that people will notice and by seeing your good fruit that comes from your heart -----they will be amazed and will want to have this same Fruit ------

Once we were slaves to Sin-----We are free from that -------We are now Slaves to Righteousness -----

Being a Born Again Christian is very hard and trying on the person who accepts this wonderful Free Gift -

-Many people think that OH OK --I have received Christ and I am Heaven bound so now I can just relax and live my life the way I want to -----this concept is so wrong and selfish ------you can't relax and live as you want to -----you have a Spiritual obligation to Serve God and to enhance His Kingdom and save souls ------to bring Glory to Him --------that is what the True Committed Born Again Christ--ian is to do ----
So what does it mean to be a Slave of Righteousness

["Righteous" relates to conformity to God's standard (justice).

1342 /díkaios ("righteous, just") describes what is in conformity to God's own being (His will, standard of rightness); hence "upright.

preeminently, of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in heart or life

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a True Born Again Person is a feat in itself ------it takes stamina ---commitment -----and much Practice upon Practice to be Christ Like in your Character --to show that peace that is beyond all understanding ----to fully forgive all that has been done to you personally by others ------to have complete control over your emotions -----to keep the joy of the Lord in your heart when bad situations come your way -----to keep the fleshy temptations at bay ------to keep your faith strong and not doubt ---to show kindness to a person who has just called you a raft of unrighteous names -----this all takes much practice and commitment to stay the course ------

Being a True Born Again Christian is a life long endeavor ----- going from Carnal Man to the Spiritual Man is the goal ---

Scripture describes # types of man ---

Natural Man ---worldly --lives and thinks and does what they world does ---

Carnal Man ---Born Again ----heaven bound ---- but still has the fleshy appetite and still has the mind set of the world -----Satan still has great influence over this man -----

Spiritual Man ----total dependence on the Holy Spirit to do God's Will -------Spirit and Mind are in sync ---Satan knows he is very limited in gaining access into this person'r mind as the mind is so reflected on God and His Will that Satan has to flee ------

Most will die in their Carnal State in my view ----- the Road to the Spiritual Man is very NARROW -----not many will ever get there -----as they will cave in and quit the hard process -----

 

[ForestGreenCook]

.
Is regeneration:

1» A convenience?

2» An option?

2» A necessity?

4» A limited opportunity?

5» Only for Christians?

6» Only for Jews?

FAQ: Does John 3:3-8 apply to Old Testament personages, e.g. Abel, Noah, Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Joseph, Samuel, and/or David?

FAQ: Does John 3:3-7 apply to minor children not yet attained to an age of reasoning
and/or accountability?

FAQ: Does John 3:3-7 apply to still births, abortions, and/or miscarriages?
_

Numbers 1-6 are all answered with a "NO". John 3:3-8 "YES", to all three questions.

 

[oyster67]

To literally be born again of “water and Spirit” it would require physically dying then being reincarnated into a new body and birthed a second time.

Read scripture carefully. We are only born again of Spirit. We are not born again of flesh. As you stated above, we are not physically reincarnated into a new body and physically birthed a second time. We agree on this.

John 3:5

“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.”


Note that this does not say "born again of water".

 

[HatedForNoReason]

Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and separately caused by baptism in the Holy Spirit, it is not caused by baptism in water. It is a core doctrine of the denominations of the Anabaptist, Moravian, Methodist, Quaker, Baptist, Plymouth Brethren and Pentecostal Churches along with all other evangelical Christian denominations. All of these Churches strongly believe Jesus' words in the Gospels: "You must be born again before you can see, or enter, the Kingdom of Heaven." Their doctrines also mandate that to be both "born again" and "saved", one must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

John 3:3

King James Version

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.


John 3:7

King James Version

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

If you are interested in freedom from sin and how do we receive the Holy Spirit? read below.
After God gave me the Holy Spirit, I found proof that TV, movies, novels, music, video games and computer games are all sins, except Christian stuff that don’t have sins like sermons and Christian music words that gives messages. I found out that in them there is lying, stealing, adultery (Matthew 5:28 looking at someone with lust is adultery), fornication which is sex before marriage, revenge, murder, jealousy, pride=self-pity, hypocrisy, using God’s name in vain as a curse word, they are all idols (breaks 2nd Commandment) because most people can’t live without them and they love them more than God and more. Just read the 10 commandments for a list.

1 John 2:15 King James Version (KJV)


15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 New King James Version

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.


Now I will be preaching about how to receive the Holy Spirit and be 100% going to Heaven.

First, it’s only by the grace of God that he gives you faith in Jesus Christ in order to give up your sins. It’s only by the grace of God that he leads you to pray to him to destroy all your evil desires of watching TV or any sinful desires. When you pray to God to destroy all your evil desires of watching TV or sinful desires (Romans 6:6-7 and Galatians 5:24), Satan will intervene and extremely tempt you in watching the TV. But if it’s God’s will and if you are one of God’s elects, you will overcome it and God will destroy all your evil desires of watching TV. After God has destroyed all your evil desires of watching TV and if you are one of God’s elects, you receive the joy of the Holy Spirit for about 40 minutes. After the joy wears off, all existence of boredom no longer exists and you no longer burn out (psychology) anymore. That is when you have received the Holy Spirit.

Then it’s by the grace of God that he forgives you of your sins, as you confess and repent of your sins throughout your life which is called sanctification. But you can watch Christian stuff that don’t have sins (Like sermons) because that helps you grow more mature as a Christian spiritually and for more information about this sermon, go to spreadthegospel59.wordpress.com then go to
The short version of “To be free from sin (sin deceives and hurts everyone) and how do we receive the Holy Spirit?”

Why does God hate sin? | GotQuestions.org
What does it mean that “you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23)? | GotQuestions.org
Sin Will Never Make You Happy
(What does the Bible say about hypocrisy? | GotQuestions.org)
Gives thanks to God, that you are free from sin (sin deceives=never satisfied no matter how many times you do it,
gives pain, makes you guilty, go from bad to worse)
if you are one of God’s elect, to fight off self-pity is to give thanks to God for everything. What does the Bible say about self-pity? | GotQuestions.org
Is eternal security a “license” to sin? | GotQuestions.org

The reason why am hated for no reason since I were physically born and never fit in is because am one of God’s elects. (John 15:18-19)


Just so you know Jesus had to carry all of God’s elects sins and endure the punishment for God’s elects sins which is Hellfire spiritually, which is extreme love and mercy.
Go to the bottom website, for better explanation.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jesus-eternal-punishment-hours/

Genesis 2:17
New King James Version

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[a] shall surely die.”

Spiritual death/sinful nature=Separation from God.

Being given the Holy Spirit means being born again.

 

[Magenta]

But it's more than simply an outward sign. It's a profound miracle that the Holy Spirit performs. Through it we "put on Christ"

Why would anyone who has not already "put on Christ" get baptized?

As you have said, "If a person gets baptized without inward grace they're just getting wet."

 

[oyster67]

If you are interested in freedom from sin and how do we receive the Holy Spirit? read below.
After God gave me the Holy Spirit, I found proof that TV, movies, novels, music, video games and computer games are all sins, except Christian stuff that don’t have sins like sermons and Christian music words that gives messages. I found out that in them there is lying, stealing, adultery (Matthew 5:28 looking at someone with lust is adultery), fornication which is sex before marriage, revenge, murder, jealousy, pride=self-pity, hypocrisy, using God’s name in vain as a curse word, they are all idols (breaks 2nd Commandment) because most people can’t live without them and they love them more than God and more. Just read the 10 commandments for a list.

The root of all sin is rebellion against God, His ways, and His plan. Fruit and good works follow. Focusing on salvation is our job. Ranting about every little sinful act is not productive. We must lay the axe to the root, not swat at the leaves all day.

If you are interested in freedom from sin and how do we receive the Holy Spirit?

We become free and receive the Holy Spirit the moment we yield our lives to Jesus.

We do not achieve instant perfection, but the Father views us thru the precious Blood of His dear Son.

 

[Magenta]

you can't relax and live as you want to

God gives us new desires

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

[Lafftur]

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He
spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for
the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This passage says that the rivers of living water is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

If you want to apply that to John 3:5 where Jesus said “you must be born of water and Spirit” then Jesus would have effectually said “You must be born of Spirit and Spirit” which isn’t what He said. So the water in John 3:5 is still water baptism.

Like you, I do believe in John 3:5 Jesus is referring to water baptism AND Holy Spirit baptism.... BOTH. Peter made sure to still water baptize the new Gentile believers of Cornelius and his household even after they had evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.

I'm realizing more and more that both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism are important to Jesus Christ and He told us to do BOTH.

There must be some kind of spiritual law and spiritual significance to the water baptism because Jesus did tell us to do it. It's obvious that the Holy Spirit baptism is VERY significant but, it's easy to not put much importance on water baptism; however, water baptism is important, too.

 

[fredoheaven]

Water is never used as a metaphor for the gospel in the Bible. I can prove it, too, so there’s no clear reason to accept your interpretation as valid. Water is always associated with cleansing, purification, or water baptism in the Bible.

Ephesians 5:26 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextThat he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

 

[Runningman]

Read scripture carefully. We are only born again of Spirit. We are not born again of flesh. As you stated above, we are not physically reincarnated into a new body and physically birthed a second time. We agree on this.

John 3:5

“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.”


Note that this does not say "born again of water".

Born again of water is the only time this appears in the New Testament. Many other places where where water is mentioned it refers to water baptism. That seems clear to me. I guess roll the dice and see where you end up. As for me I have been water baptized because it was commanded by God. I don’t know what else to say. I tired to show you and anyone who reads this.

Have you been water baptized?

 

[Evmur]

This definition is rather odd. Jesus told his disciples that they were forgiven, that they had eternal life, that their names were written down in heaven, and He even breathed upon them to receive the Holy Spirit all before the day of Pentecost which He said was specifically for power to be a witness and not to make them born again.

I think whoever wrote that definition is confused about the difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and being born again. But that is why we have so many denominations I suppose.

I was born again and several months later after reading the book of Acts I prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I also became a powerful witness and preached in the prison chapel and several hundred came forward to receive Christ. This was a result of the power from on high and not from my natural gifts or abilities. This is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit will produce. It makes you a witness operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, it does not make you born again which happens prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I think the Assemblies of God has gotten closer to the truth on how to explain this.

https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/Baptism-in-the-Holy-Spirit

Corrie ten Boom was a beautiful Christian all her life but when she was 68 she slipped and fell on ice and was hurt. She asked for prayer. When she was prayed for she was healed and also filled [baptised] with the Holy Spirit.

She claims this empowered her for her trip to Moscow in the darkest days of Communism.