What Does Being Born Again Look Like

[Introverted1293]

I believe when we keep committing a sin its really because some part of us does not truly want to let it go. We may be saved but we are as said before, still body and soul(mind) and it wants what it wants. Don't think your struggle is any worse than any other type of sin though, it isn't. We need to label sin as sin, recognize it and repent of it but also not think we are better or worse than others. It would be a rare person who does not have some particular sin they struggle with.

I don't disagree with that at all. I know that part of me loves the pleasure of sin. But I hate where sin leads us.

God doesn't take over your thoughts and body though, you are still you.
Your body and soul can choose to not listen to the spirit and shut it down because your body or soul wants the fruit of sin more strongly than your spirit wants to reign, to be pure, to remain sinless.

I understand. Thank you

This explains so much.

Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

A fleeting thought isn't sin but dwelling on it and acting on it it is.
James 1:15

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

We are told that Jesus was tempted, yet he didn't sin.
Hebrews 4:15

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Thank you for the Bible verses. This is what I need to do is watch and pray.

While it's possible for same-sex attraction to be lifted it may not be. Every person struggles with some form of sin, they are just different ones. Struggling and overcoming sin actually helps build and grow us. 11. Twelve Steps to Conquering Habitual Sins (Genesis 20) | Bible.org

Thank you for the website on conquering habitual sin. I will check that out.

It isn't the attraction that is sinful, but allowing it in the given moment to grow and to act upon it. You can still be attracted but sinless the same way a heterosexual person is still a heterosexual but does not sin in it by remaining celibate.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Paul struggled with whatever this was and God did not remove it.

Thank you.

Sometimes I feel that I am still wrong when my temptations come. But thank you for this encouragement.

 

[Introverted1293]

Why would it scare you to become the person God made you to be? He created you to know, love and glorify Him, which you can only properly do from a born-again condition. Would you rather be cut off from your Maker, destined to an eternity apart from Him, alone in the dark torment of hell forever? It seems to me this prospect is far scarier than living according to God's design for you.

You are right. That idea is scarier.

Same-sex attraction, like all sin, is symptomatic of a life not under God's control. Being converted, saved, born-again will not in an instant eradicate all the sin from your life. But it will put you in a place where you can finally live in freedom from Self and the sin it produces. As you walk with God, coming to know Him better and better, deepening progressively in your love for Him, and submitting yourself more and more to Him, sin in all its forms - including the sin of homosexuality - will fall away from your life.

Thank you

I am just scared that once the sin of homosexuality is away from my life (which I do want it out of my life), that I will develop an attraction to women. I don't want to be attracted to women. But I hate being attracted to men. I don't want to be attracted to anyone. That's the part that scares me. I know that it's a little silly. I guess I am focusing on the wrong thing.

When a person is saved, a host of spiritual things become true of that person immediately. They are placed in Christ, clothed in his perfect righteousness, justified, sanctified, redeemed, (1 Corinthians 1:30) adopted (Romans 8:15), made a co-heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17), seated with him in heaven (Ephesians 2:6), freed from the power of the "old man" - old, fleshly, rebellious, shortsighted Self - and made a bondslave of God (Romans 6:6; Romans 6:22). It takes a lifetime to reflect all of these things in one's life, however. But, by the work of the Spirit within, one may be transformed becoming a holy, peaceful, loving, stable ambassador for Christ, living according to the truth of one's identity in the Savior rather than according to the impulses of the flesh.

That is a lot. But thank you for this.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)
9 Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NASB)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Thank you for the Bible verses. This was very encouraging.

 

[Introverted1293]

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it,then the wicked one
comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Thank you for this verse. I need to ponder this.

 

[d taylor]

Thank you for this verse. I need to ponder this.

Here is a short message on the soils.

What Type of Soil are You?, Luke 4 – Grace Evangelical Society

 

[aiki]

Thank you

I am just scared that once the sin of homosexuality is away from my life (which I do want it out of my life), that I will develop an attraction to women. I don't want to be attracted to women. But I hate being attracted to men. I don't want to be attracted to anyone. That's the part that scares me. I know that it's a little silly. I guess I am focusing on the wrong thing.

God made us sexual beings. It's His idea. Why, then, are you opposed to the sexual attraction to women God intends you should have? It goes against God's design, abstaining from and fearing the normal, healthy sexual attraction God intends you should have for women. Let God order and control you and you'll find yourself conformed to His will and way, over time becoming the man he made you to be - including in the area of your sexuality. There's nothing to fear in this.

 

[Sketcher]

Will we change our tastes in movies or completely be a different person? I mean, will everything completely change? It scares me to become a totally different person.

I have same-sex attraction. Will I end up being attracted to women if I am truly born again? Will I not struggle with same-sex attraction?

Becoming born again does not automagically relieve you of old temptations. There will be conviction and loss of desire for the old things, but there is quite a bit written in the New Testament to born-again Christians admonishing them to say "no" to temptation, acknowledging that born-again Christians do get tempted to do all kinds of things.

Your SSA does not mean that you are not born again. It simply provides you with a different type of temptation to overcome.

 

[Introverted1293]

Here is a short message on the soils.

What Type of Soil are You?, Luke 4 – Grace Evangelical Society

Thank you very much. I will listen to that.

 

[Introverted1293]

God made us sexual beings. It's His idea. Why, then, are you opposed to the sexual attraction to women God intends you should have? It goes against God's design, abstaining from and fearing the normal, healthy sexual attraction God intends you should have for women. Let God order and control you and you'll find yourself conformed to His will and way, over time becoming the man he made you to be - including in the area of your sexuality. There's nothing to fear in this.

Yes, I understand. If God changes my desire, I will know that it is good.

 

[Introverted1293]

Your SSA does not mean that you are not born again. It simply provides you with a different type of temptation to overcome.

Thank you very much.

 

[coffee4u]

I am just scared that once the sin of homosexuality is away from my life (which I do want it out of my life), that I will develop an attraction to women. I don't want to be attracted to women. But I hate being attracted to men. I don't want to be attracted to anyone. That's the part that scares me. I know that it's a little silly. I guess I am focusing on the wrong thing.

There is probably a reason for that feeling, probably something from your childhood. I know others will disagree but I believe sexual attraction is developed not simply inborn.
It's perfectly fine not to be attracted to anyone.

1 Corinthians 7
8 I’m telling those who are single and widows that it’s good for them to stay single like me.

17 Nevertheless, each person should live the kind of life that the Lord assigned when he called each one. This is what I teach in all the churches.
Meaning single and celibate or married.

25 I don’t have a command from the Lord about people who have never been married, but I’ll give you my opinion as someone you can trust because of the Lord’s mercy. 26 So I think this advice is good because of the present crisis: Stay as you are. 27 If you are married, don’t get a divorce. If you are divorced, don’t try to find a spouse. 28 But if you do marry, you haven’t sinned; and if someone who hasn’t been married gets married, they haven’t sinned. But married people will have a hard time, and I’m trying to spare you that.

32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord.

I felt called to be married but Paul suggests it is actually better to be single and celibate.

 

[Introverted1293]

There is probably a reason for that feeling, probably something from your childhood. I know others will disagree but I believe sexual attraction is developed not simply inborn.
It's perfectly fine not to be attracted to anyone.

1 Corinthians 7
8 I’m telling those who are single and widows that it’s good for them to stay single like me.

17 Nevertheless, each person should live the kind of life that the Lord assigned when he called each one. This is what I teach in all the churches.
Meaning single and celibate or married.

25 I don’t have a command from the Lord about people who have never been married, but I’ll give you my opinion as someone you can trust because of the Lord’s mercy. 26 So I think this advice is good because of the present crisis: Stay as you are. 27 If you are married, don’t get a divorce. If you are divorced, don’t try to find a spouse. 28 But if you do marry, you haven’t sinned; and if someone who hasn’t been married gets married, they haven’t sinned. But married people will have a hard time, and I’m trying to spare you that.

32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord.

I felt called to be married but Paul suggests it is actually better to be single and celibate.

This was very informative. Thank you very much.

 

[atpollard]

I am just scared that once the sin of homosexuality is away from my life (which I do want it out of my life), that I will develop an attraction to women. I don't want to be attracted to women. But I hate being attracted to men. I don't want to be attracted to anyone. That's the part that scares me. I know that it's a little silly. I guess I am focusing on the wrong thing.

I can relate to wanting to hang on to the sin you know rather than taking a chance on the UNKNOWN. Been there and done that.

Try thinking about “sin” a little differently. Forget about putting a lot of focus on naming sins (the sin of homosexuality or the sin of anger or the sin of greed). Try thinking about it like this …

God made you as an arrow.
The purpose, function, reason for existence for an arrow is to fly through the air and hit the target. Every arrow you have ever seen is a little bit bent. Some fly to the left and some fly to the right. Some shoot too high and some shoot too low. It makes no difference whether an arrow misses the target by a few inches to the upper right or by several feet to the middle left. The only thing that matters is whether the arrow hits the mark or misses the target.

“Sin” is just “missing the target”. The details are irrelevant. God wants you to be a useful arrow that flies straight and hits the mark.

So that is what all this “born again” is about. The arrow submits to the MASTER ARCHER who will steam the wood and bend it to remove some of the worst curves that cause it to miss the mark. The Archer will shave off some rough burrs that get snagged on the bow. The Archer replaces some damaged feathers and gives it a new coat of paint to make it look as good as it shoots. At its core, it is the same arrow. Now, it is an arrow that can hit the target instead of constantly missing the mark. [Bad analogy warning … God fixes from the inside, out.]

So the real question to decide is whether you TRUST the MASTER ARCHER to work on you or not. Most arrows choose to continue to shoot crooked and miss the mark. Once the MASTER starts to work on you and you feel the improvement, there is no room for doubt ever again.

Then there is that moment before He starts … do you trust Him or not? Can he really fix you or not?

The REAL question (for me at least) was “Am I hitting the mark on my own?” and if (like me) the honest answer was “Hell, no!” then what EXACTLY do you have to lose?

 

[Introverted1293]

I can relate to wanting to hang on to the sin you know rather than taking a chance on the UNKNOWN. Been there and done that.

Thank you for letting me know I am not alone in that.

Try thinking about “sin” a little differently. Forget about putting a lot of focus on naming sins (the sin of homosexuality or the sin of anger or the sin of greed). Try thinking about it like this …

God made you as an arrow.
The purpose, function, reason for existence for an arrow is to fly through the air and hit the target. Every arrow you have ever seen is a little bit bent. Some fly to the left and some fly to the right. Some shoot too high and some shoot too low. It makes no difference whether an arrow misses the target by a few inches to the upper right or by several feet to the middle left. The only thing that matters is whether the arrow hits the mark or misses the target.

“Sin” is just “missing the target”. The details are irrelevant. God wants you to be a useful arrow that flies straight and hits the mark.

So that is what all this “born again” is about. The arrow submits to the MASTER ARCHER who will steam the wood and bend it to remove some of the worst curves that cause it to miss the mark. The Archer will shave off some rough burrs that get snagged on the bow. The Archer replaces some damaged feathers and gives it a new coat of paint to make it look as good as it shoots. At its core, it is the same arrow. Now, it is an arrow that can hit the target instead of constantly missing the mark. [Bad analogy warning … God fixes from the inside, out.]

I understand what you are saying. Thank you

So the real question to decide is whether you TRUST the MASTER ARCHER to work on you or not. Most arrows choose to continue to shoot crooked and miss the mark. Once the MASTER starts to work on you and you feel the improvement, there is no room for doubt ever again.

Then there is that moment before He starts … do you trust Him or not? Can he really fix you or not?

The REAL question (for me at least) was “Am I hitting the mark on my own?” and if (like me) the honest answer was “Hell, no!” then what EXACTLY do you have to lose?

That is a good question. The answer is yes. I can trust God. I know that he is trustworthy. And he is for my good. But I just was scared of what kind of person God was going to make me into. Thank you

You gave me some things to ponder.