How can we know if we are born again?

[JohnB445]

How can we know if we actually believe and it's not just a mere profession of faith held in our neurons?

How can we know we truly experienced the Holy Spirit and not our consciousness making the experience?

And how do we know if the dictionary and definitions have been changed by satan or someone?

Is it bad that I am such a fierce rationalist, like Rene Descartes?

 

[Dave-W]

1 John 5:10 KJV
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

 

[JohnB445]

1 John 5:10 KJV
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

How do I know if I believe?

And how do I know if believe means what I think it means?

 

[RaymondG]

You will be able to speak a language understood by few, lay hands on the sick and have them recover, drink poison and not be affected and cast out devils......to name a few things.

 

[JohnB445]

You will be able to speak a language understood by few, lay hands on the sick and have them recover, drink poison and not be affected and cast out devils......to name a few things.

I take that was sarcasm

 

[RaymondG]

I take that was sarcasm

Not exactly:

"17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

 

[JohnB445]

Not exactly:

"17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Alright so how can I get saved. Apparently I am not saved then

 

[RaymondG]

Alright so how can I get saved. Apparently I am not saved then

If that is the case, you are closer now than you've ever been. While you are seeking you are being sought.......while you are calling, there is One who is knocking. While you are speaking there is a small voice trying to be heard.

So it seems that in my desperation and mad search to find........I was being followed by the one I sought. Being pursued by the one I was chasing. For he is not far from us.

There comes a time when we must be still. Speak Lord, they servant heareth.

 

[devin553344]

How can we know if we actually believe and it's not just a mere profession of faith held in our neurons?

How can we know we truly experienced the Holy Spirit and not our consciousness making the experience?

And how do we know if the dictionary and definitions have been changed by satan or someone?

Is it bad that I am such a fierce rationalist, like Rene Descartes?

The Holy Spirit has fruits to it, that is how we recognize Him :Galatians 5:22-23

 

[ilovejcsog]

I take that was sarcasm

I hope so, wow

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Alright so how can I get saved. Apparently I am not saved then

To make your religion real, you need to follow these steps:
1. You need to know that you are a helpless, hopeless and condemned sinner and there is nothing you can do to keep you out of hell, because you deserve to go there; that there is absolutely nothing in you that pleases God.
2. You need to acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to give you eternal life; that in dying on the cross He took your sinfulness upon Himself and gave you, in return, His pure righteousness to make you acceptable to God.
3. You need to receive Jesus as your Saviour and Lord and give your whole life to Him, acknowledging Him in all your ways, so He can guide your steps.
4. Then you need to start reading the Bible, not as a duty to read a certain amount every day, but to read as much as you can for genuine understanding; and to talk and discuss the issues of your life with God in an open and honest, and real manner, leaving nothing out.

Once you have taken those steps of faith, and you can see that it is more than just saying, "I believe in Christ" which may be no more than just believing that He exists, you can believe the promise that "He who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out." and, "To those who receive Christ, He give them the right to be called the children of God."

Believing the promises of God is an act of the will. If you trust in a religion based on feelings, you will be up one day and down the next. It will just be a roller coaster, bipolar religion. But a religion based on God's promises, which never change, you will have a settled, stable faith, which will result in commensurate actions that will demonstrate that faith.

 

[JohnB445]

To make your religion real, you need to follow these steps:
1. You need to know that you are a helpless, hopeless and condemned sinner and there is nothing you can do to keep you out of hell, because you deserve to go there; that there is absolutely nothing in you that pleases God.
2. You need to acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to give you eternal life; that in dying on the cross He took your sinfulness upon Himself and gave you, in return, His pure righteousness to make you acceptable to God.
3. You need to receive Jesus as your Saviour and Lord and give your whole life to Him, acknowledging Him in all your ways, so He can guide your steps.
4. Then you need to start reading the Bible, not as a duty to read a certain amount every day, but to read as much as you can for genuine understanding; and to talk and discuss the issues of your life with God in an open and honest, and real manner, leaving nothing out.

Once you have taken those steps of faith, and you can see that it is more than just saying, "I believe in Christ" which may be no more than just believing that He exists, you can believe the promise that "He who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out." and, "To those who receive Christ, He give them the right to be called the children of God."

Believing the promises of God is an act of the will. If you trust in a religion based on feelings, you will be up one day and down the next. It will just be a roller coaster, bipolar religion. But a religion based on God's promises, which never change, you will have a settled, stable faith, which will result in commensurate actions that will demonstrate that faith.

But there is a contradiction

The Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Orthodox will all give a different answer.

How do I know who is giving the correct one?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

But there is a contradiction

The Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Orthodox will all give a different answer.

How do I know who is giving the correct one?

I don't care what those churches say. I am saying what the Bible says and the steps I have given are the only ones that gets you through the narrow gate of salvation. The church is not God and God is not the church. All the churches you have named are man-made organisations and do not speak for God. Only the Bible, illuminated by the Holy Spirit speaks for God and has absolute authority over every man-made religious organisation.

You can be a devout follower of any of those churches and yet be shut out of the kingdom of God.

 

[JohnB445]

I don't care what those churches say. I am saying what the Bible says and the steps I have given are the only ones that gets you through the narrow gate of salvation. The church is not God and God is not the church. All the churches you have named are man-made organisations and do not speak for God. Only the Bible, illuminated by the Holy Spirit speaks for God and has absolute authority over every man-made religious organisation.

You can be a devout follower of any of those churches and yet be shut out of the kingdom of God.

How do I know if I completed step 3?

 

[Kenny'sID]

I take that was sarcasm

It might as well be, it's certainly not a fact.

 

[RaymondG]

nvm

 

[Kenny'sID]

Are you saying that the bible contains error? As I was paraphrasing a bible verse, which I quoted later.

I'm saying just what I said, that is not a fact. I don't know how i can be any clearer.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

How do I know if I completed step 3?

Quite simple, you honestly, with your heart, tell God that you receive Christ as your Saviour and Lord, and mean it. The Scripture says, "Come let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

If you don't know how to just talk with God as a person talks with his friend, then you had better start! Just mumbling religious formal prayers out of a sense of duty won't cut it. God sees through the falsehood of that. He looks on your heart to see how honest and real you are in your religion.

I suggest a good book for you to read: J.C. Ryle: Practical Religion. The first chapter is how to make your religion real. It is very challenging and puts hairs on your spiritual chest!

 

[bèlla]

My deliverance settled the matter. As unpleasant as it was I wouldn't change a thing. The certainty I have about God and evil is profound. I have never questioned my salvation, His love or wondered about Him at all. I'm convinced and my personal experiences testify to those truths. I don't need to rely on belief. I have unshakable faith in Him.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

My deliverance settled the matter. As unpleasant as it was I wouldn't change a thing. The certainty I have about God and evil is profound. I have never questioned my salvation, His love or wondered about Him at all. I'm convinced and my personal experiences testify to those truths. I don't need to rely on belief. I have unshakable faith in Him.

This is just a question and not to question your faith, but just to satisfy my curiosity: What would you say is the foundation of your faith?