How to be Born Again

jimmyjimmy

Pardoned Rebel
Supporter
Jan 2, 2015
11,556
5,728
USA
✟234,973.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
I will preface my response by saying that I am not Pentecostal nor do I believe that Pentecostalism is biblically sound.

That said, I know of several medically validated cases of divine healing by God, not through faith healers. This past year I met a young lady who was born with autism. She was unable to attend school. Her very successful parents took her to all of the top medical specialists in her country (China). These men had been trained in the top medical schools in the United States. They all agreed that she had autism and that there is no cure for it. As a result, they told her parents to institutionalize her and have another child in her place. Neither parent was a Christian. Some Christians learned of the problem and volunteered to pray for her healing. God completely healed her. When I first met her I would never have guessed that she had ever been remotely autistic.

You can say and believe what you will, but don't tell people that God does not heal medically impossible cases.

These cases are impossible to prove, and we should not form theological views based on things other than God's Word. Veering from it to look for signs and wonders has lead many a soul into all sorts odd places.
 
Upvote 0

Waggles

Acts 2:38
Supporter
Feb 7, 2017
768
476
69
South Oz
Visit site
✟112,244.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Widowed
"How can a man be born when he is old?. . ." what answer would you have given him?
But Jesus through the gospel of John, Mark 16 and then the Day of Pentecost and the Acts of the apostles,
followed by the epistles are the answer to Nicodemus and every other person who asks "how can I
be born again?" (what does this mean?)
 
Upvote 0

jimmyjimmy

Pardoned Rebel
Supporter
Jan 2, 2015
11,556
5,728
USA
✟234,973.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
But Jesus through the gospel of John, Mark 16 and then the Day of Pentecost and the Acts of the apostles,
followed by the epistles are the answer to Nicodemus and every other person who asks "how can I
be born again?" (what does this mean?)

Jesus did answer him. We need look no further than the immediate text for the answer.

Here's what He didn't say:

Say this ("sinners") prayer after me.
With all heads bowed. . .
Use your freewill to choose right.
Obey the law

In fact, He did not instruct Nicodemus to *do* anything, did he? And, that makes perfect sense. A child has nothing to do with getting himself born.
 
Upvote 0

bbbbbbb

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2015
27,803
13,115
72
✟362,269.00
Faith
Non-Denom
These cases are impossible to prove, and we should not form theological views based on things other than God's Word. Veering from it to look for signs and wonders has lead many a soul into all sorts odd places.

You are quite mistaken. The medical records of the young lady in question are still archived in the various medical offices in China. The conclusion of all of the specialists was that she suffered from incurable autism. Autism is relatively easy to diagnose, but humanly impossible to cure. Even effective palliative treatment is minimally effective.

Neither she nor her parents had the slightest belief or interest in "signs or wonders" and were not Christians at the time of her diagnosis, although they are now, of course.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Waggles
Upvote 0

jimmyjimmy

Pardoned Rebel
Supporter
Jan 2, 2015
11,556
5,728
USA
✟234,973.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
You are quite mistaken. The medical records of the young lady in question are still archived in the various medical offices in China. The conclusion of all of the specialists was that she suffered from incurable autism. Autism is relatively easy to diagnose, but humanly impossible to cure. Even effective palliative treatment is minimally effective.

Neither she nor her parents had the slightest belief or interest in "signs or wonders" and were not Christians at the time of her diagnosis, although they are now, of course.

Autism is not a broken bone. It's can't be seen on an X-Ray. The explanation could be as simple as a misdiagnosis. It happens all of the time. I'm not saying that a healing didn't take place, but many other things could account for this, which is why it's dangerous, in a world in which Satan seeks to deceive us, that we hold firmly to God's written Word.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Waggles

Acts 2:38
Supporter
Feb 7, 2017
768
476
69
South Oz
Visit site
✟112,244.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Widowed
Do you believe that if you died today you would be eternally in the grave? If not, why not?
No one remains in the grave for an eternity.
The grave is 1) the repository for dead bodies - both the earth and the sea; decomposition
The grave or 'the unseen world of the dead' - a place referred to as Hades in the Greek and Sheol in
the Hebrew.
2) A realm where souls sleep until the call of resurrection.

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Daniel 12:13
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psalms 17:15
For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:25-26
4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalms 6:4-5
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Psalms 49:15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Revelation 20:11-13
hell > the grave
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Waggles

Acts 2:38
Supporter
Feb 7, 2017
768
476
69
South Oz
Visit site
✟112,244.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Widowed
In fact, He did not instruct Nicodemus to *do* anything, did he? And, that makes perfect sense. A child has nothing to do with getting himself born.
Wrong. Very wrong. Jesus did give instructions to Nicodemus.

5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into 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 Wonder not that I said to thee: You must be born again.
8 The Spirit breathes where he will and thou hear his voice: but thou know not whence he comes and whither he goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:5-8
 
Upvote 0

jimmyjimmy

Pardoned Rebel
Supporter
Jan 2, 2015
11,556
5,728
USA
✟234,973.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
Wrong. Very wrong. jesus did give instructions to Nicodemus.

5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into 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 Wonder not that I said to thee: You must be born again.
8 The Spirit breathes where he will and thou hear his voice: but thou know not whence he comes and whither he goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:5-8

Which of those instructions are direction on how to become born again?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Apex

Radical Centrist & Ethicist
Jan 1, 2017
824
404
the South
✟40,394.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I will preface my response by saying that I am not Pentecostal nor do I believe that Pentecostalism is biblically sound.

That said, I know of several medically validated cases of divine healing by God, not through faith healers. This past year I met a young lady who was born with autism. She was unable to attend school. Her very successful parents took her to all of the top medical specialists in her country (China). These men had been trained in the top medical schools in the United States. They all agreed that she had autism and that there is no cure for it. As a result, they told her parents to institutionalize her and have another child in her place. Neither parent was a Christian. Some Christians learned of the problem and volunteered to pray for her healing. God completely healed her. When I first met her I would never have guessed that she had ever been remotely autistic.

You can say and believe what you will, but don't tell people that God does not heal medically impossible cases.

I asked specifically about the healing of amputees for a reason.
 
Upvote 0

PeaceB

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2017
1,592
662
Arlington
✟37,717.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Engaged
If you were asked what Jesus was asked by Nicodemus, what would your reply be? If Nicodemus had asked you, "How can a man be born when he is old?. . ." what answer would you have given him?
Water baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
 
Upvote 0

Anguspure

Kaitiaki Peacemakers NZ
Supporter
Jun 28, 2011
3,865
1,769
New Zealand
✟125,935.00
Country
New Zealand
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
When I was standing out in a public shopping mall after having read a short testimony stuck
on a painted door (along with others) a man named, Bob, came over to me, and I asked him,
"Is this true?"
After saying yes, Bob opened up his rather battered dog-eared KJV Bible and read out the scriptures
to me - starting with John 3 he took me through the later chapters of John where Jesus preaches the
sending of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, the holy Ghost.
And then the pièce de résistance Mark 16:15-20 this blew me away.
He went on through all the pertinent verses in Acts and then read through the epistles.
For the first time in my life the scriptures came of the pages and entered my heart. I was troubled
by what I had heard and went home asking myself "what if this is all true?"

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto me.
John 6:44-45
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him
of my Father.
John 6:65
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let
him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 7:37-39

And yes I obeyed the scriptures and got water baptized by full immersion, and one month later I was
baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke out in a new tongue according to scripture.
Then I became born from above or born again in the vernacular.
But that's the funny thing...we speak but healing is rare and power is weak. Why?
 
Upvote 0

JESUS=G.O.A.T

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2016
2,681
659
26
Houston
✟60,941.00
Country
United States
Faith
Apostolic
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
If you were asked what Jesus was asked by Nicodemus, what would your reply be? If Nicodemus had asked you, "How can a man be born when he is old?. . ." what answer would you have given him?
I would say this

born of water=baptized in JESUS name

born of spirit=infilling of the holy spirit/holy ghost


gonna be different answers through out though
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Colter

Member
Nov 9, 2004
8,711
1,406
60
✟92,791.00
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Married
If you were asked what Jesus was asked by Nicodemus, what would your reply be? If Nicodemus had asked you, "How can a man be born when he is old?. . ." what answer would you have given him?
Jesus could tell that Nicodemus was religious but not spirit born. But I would say, surrender your life to God, search for God with all of your heart and soul. While the body may be old the spirit is just beginning the eternal journey to find God.
 
Upvote 0

disciple1

Newbie
Aug 1, 2012
2,168
546
✟61,978.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
If you were asked what Jesus was asked by Nicodemus, what would your reply be? If Nicodemus had asked you, "How can a man be born when he is old?. . ." what answer would you have given him?
In 1 John chapter 4 verse 7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
And love is the only thing that matters to God.
 
Upvote 0

sdowney717

Newbie
Apr 20, 2013
8,712
2,021
✟102,588.00
Faith
Christian
Jesus did answer him. We need look no further than the immediate text for the answer.

Here's what He didn't say:

Say this ("sinners") prayer after me.
With all heads bowed. . .
Use your freewill to choose right.
Obey the law

In fact, He did not instruct Nicodemus to *do* anything, did he? And, that makes perfect sense. A child has nothing to do with getting himself born.

Yes, exactly so.
Jesus says you must be born again, born from above. And that is not dependent on you, for those being born of God this comes from the Holy Spirit, not of the will of the flesh.
Those who are born of God, will come to Christ and be sealed in the Holy Spirit after they believe.
All those born of God overcome the world by their faith, and that faith is God's gift.

1 Peter 1:20-22New King James Version (NKJV)
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Notice the above points out why we believe, it is because of Christ's work, for we are His workmanship.
And we purify our souls in obeying the truth through the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work inside of us.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Waggles
Upvote 0

Tsquared

Active Member
Supporter
Jun 16, 2017
244
220
Canada
✟64,433.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
If asked this question, I would respond with the wonderful words of Peter when he was asked by a crowd "What must we do to be saved?", " Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." It even says that in that one day 3000 souls were added to the Kingdom. :) Must have been a great sermon! God Bless.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Waggles
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Waggles

Acts 2:38
Supporter
Feb 7, 2017
768
476
69
South Oz
Visit site
✟112,244.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Widowed
we speak but healing is rare and power is weak. Why?
Because if you are not living Mark 16:15-18 then you do not believe the gospel preached by Jesus
and upheld by the apostles and Christians of the first century church.
This is why Pentecost enjoys healings, miracles and the diplay of God's power in our lives.
 
Upvote 0