How to be Born Again

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Jan 31, 2021
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#21
There are so many different topics and ideas and opinions about so many things on this forum. What if someone just wants to get Born Again? Is that complicated and controversial also? Is the on-ramp to salvation hard to find and navigate? What could we say to a lost person just coming in here seeking Jesus?

Let's make at least one thread that is devoid of bickering and arguing and is seeker friendly. Just state how simple it is to come to Jesus and why (don't use it as an opportunity to criticize the previous poster.)

My thought and verse(s) on being/getting Born Again:___________________________
This OP made me think of the Philippian jailer who asked Paul, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" He obviously had heard the slave girl who followed Paul around for "many days" shouting that they were telling the way to be saved. Or he had heard about her and her shoutings.

Paul's answer couldn't be more simple. "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." This is where regeneration or being born again starts.

I will acknowledge that Paul then "spoke the word of the Lord to him and his household" in v.32.

No doubt he clarified what all this refers to. And the apostle John explained what must be believed for having eternal life in John 20:31 - these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

So, believing means trusting that Jesus is Deity, the Son of God, and that He will save those who believe in Him for it.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#22
What did Jesus say. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who disbelieves is condemned already.
So believe and be baptised.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
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#23
John
3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
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#24
John
3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
You can understand John's specific emphasis on being born again, as inextricably linked to Israel's relationship with God.

Their father, Abraham, was barren. Naturally, at his ripe old age, he could no longer have children.

God had to supernaturally intervene in his life to enable him to give birth to Issac.

Thru Issac, thru Jacob, thru his 12 sons, the nation literally came into existence.

Exodus 4:22 had a very insightful verse about this

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

This was reinforced in Jeremiah 31:9

9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

God considered Israel his first born son. They literally became a nation when God supernaturally rescued them from Egypt, separating the waters in the ocean until all of them literally cross over the water in dry land.

But as we all know, Israel broke their covenant of Law that was given at Mount Sinai. They killed or ignored all the prophets that God repeatedly sent to them when they were separated into 2 kingdoms and went into captivity under Babylon, and then under Persia.

Jesus used the parable of the tenants, one of my favorite parables to understand his first coming on Earth to Israel, in all 3 synoptic gospels. (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19) to illustrate this.

When Jesus and the 12 were preaching from Matt-John, they need to repent of rejecting God their Father in the OT, and believe in his Son is their promised King and Messiah, as foretold by their prophets.

God had mercy on them even when they killed his prophets (e.g. 2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Jeremiah 26:20-30; cf. Luke 13:34; Acts 7:52)., and is now sending his very own Son to Israel, to do a final persuasion to Israel to repent and believe in him.

If they do, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, Israel will be born again.
 

Naomi123

Active member
Mar 18, 2021
148
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#25
Telling a person to 'walk as Jesus did 'is not the good news . Neither is obedience. To be born again, God commands 1 cor 1.21 .
but you have to walk as Jesus did...scripture even says we must not listen to anyone unless they walked as Jesus did...and the good news is that if you obey God in doing so you will receive the promise.....
we can die at anytime...tomorrow is not promised to us....we make the sacrifice

jesus also warned us to beware the yeast of the Pharisees...meaning to beware of false teachings...
He always pointed to Moses and the prophets...the Word does not change to suit anyone....we either walk or we don’t

remember Jesus said wide is the gate that leads to destruction and narrow is the door that leads to life and few there will be who will find....
as long as one is alive it is never too late to turn back....but in the grave it is too late
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#26
but you have to walk as Jesus did...scripture even says we must not listen to anyone unless they walked as Jesus did...and the good news is that if you obey God in doing so you will receive the promise.....
we can die at anytime...tomorrow is not promised to us....we make the sacrifice

jesus also warned us to beware the yeast of the Pharisees...meaning to beware of false teachings...
He always pointed to Moses and the prophets...the Word does not change to suit anyone....we either walk or we don’t

remember Jesus said wide is the gate that leads to destruction and narrow is the door that leads to life and few there will be who will find....
as long as one is alive it is never too late to turn back....but in the grave it is too late
Who did he tell to beware of the pharisees?
 

Naomi123

Active member
Mar 18, 2021
148
46
28
#27
The Lord is speaking to his disciples....as it is to this very day...he constantly warned them of many things
read also Matthew 23...absolutely powerful...it is the 7 woes

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#28
There are so many different topics and ideas and opinions about so many things on this forum. What if someone just wants to get Born Again? Is that complicated and controversial also? Is the on-ramp to salvation hard to find and navigate? What could we say to a lost person just coming in here seeking Jesus?

Let's make at least one thread that is devoid of bickering and arguing and is seeker friendly. Just state how simple it is to come to Jesus and why (don't use it as an opportunity to criticize the previous poster.)

My thought and verse(s) on being/getting Born Again:___________________________
If someone really wants to be born again, chances are that that may already have occurred. Since the new birth is not a work of man, nor does it stem from man's will. Only a child of God would want to receive Jesus.

John.1

[11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
[12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Eph.2

[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by grace ye are saved ;)
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#29
If someone really wants to be born again, chances are that that may already have occurred. Since the new birth is not a work of man, nor does it stem from man's will. Only a child of God would want to receive Jesus.
So today if you are already born again ( a child of God ) you will want to be born again ( a child of God ) ??
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#30
The Lord is speaking to his disciples....as it is to this very day...he constantly warned them of many things
read also Matthew 23...absolutely powerful...it is the 7 woes

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Wow you noticed he wasn't talking to you.
 

Naomi123

Active member
Mar 18, 2021
148
46
28
#31
Actually everyone is born dead....regardless of all the rituals and strange things people do in this very strange world....
one has to make the journey....remember Paul said...I consider everything as refuse compared to the knowledge that is in Christ....
the Wisdom of God is not of this world....
as the Lord said..Matthew 15....in vain they do worship...teaching the doctrine of men...
receiving the Light of the holy Father is salvation...the risen Lord.....the infinite wisdom of God

remember the verse...hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world....
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
#32
Who among you got born into this world as a result of your own "free will choice"?
 

Naomi123

Active member
Mar 18, 2021
148
46
28
#33
Nice one....
Job 14
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
 

Naomi123

Active member
Mar 18, 2021
148
46
28
#34
Wow you noticed he wasn't talking to you.
John 8...so true

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#35
John 8...so true

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Again context, context, context . and

2 Timothy 2:15-22

King James Version



15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#36
John 8...so true

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Your not Jesus here in this narrative. Nor the people he's speaking to . Do you just take every verse and pop your self into the role..I guess like ' role-playing ' ? Are you one of those types that imagines your Samson or David perhaps when faced with those 'Giant ' obstacles in life ? Or maybe through christ you can do everything, including making that sales target, running that marathon . Are you Peter sometimes when doubt comes or maybe Thomas? Oh and are you Job when life really gets you down? We're you Paul on the road to Damascus ? Moses parting the sea of difficulties and obstacles in life ?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#37
Actually everyone is born dead....regardless of all the rituals and strange things people do in this very strange world....
one has to make the journey....remember Paul said...I consider everything as refuse compared to the knowledge that is in Christ....
the Wisdom of God is not of this world....
as the Lord said..Matthew 15....in vain they do worship...teaching the doctrine of men...
receiving the Light of the holy Father is salvation...the risen Lord.....the infinite wisdom of God

remember the verse...hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world....
Born dead ?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#38
The Lord is speaking to his disciples....as it is to this very day...he constantly warned them of many things
read also Matthew 23...absolutely powerful...it is the 7 woes

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
What is that doctrine of the Pharisees and Sad you sees ? Did you check ? Context . It catches people out everytime .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#40
Actually everyone is born dead....regardless of all the rituals and strange things people do in this very strange world....
one has to make the journey....remember Paul said...I consider everything as refuse compared to the knowledge that is in Christ....
the Wisdom of God is not of this world....
as the Lord said..Matthew 15....in vain they do worship...teaching the doctrine of men...
receiving the Light of the holy Father is salvation...the risen Lord.....the infinite wisdom of God

remember the verse...hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world....
Could you explain what you meant by ' born dead ' ? Did you mean in a Calvinist sense ?