Born Again

[alex2165]

BORN AGAIN​

What it really means, Born Again? Many explanation have been given concerning this issue, but let see what the Bible presents about this subject.


John 3.3-5
Jesus and Necodemus, the leader of Jews.
3.Jesus answered him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of GOD without being born from above.”
4.Nicodemus said to Him, “How can any one be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
5.Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of GOD without being born of water and Spirit."


So, what the definition of "Born Again". The definition is this, that it is a Spiritual Birth, or Spiritual Rebirth is another way to put it, which can be only produced from in the soul of a person who truly believe in the Lord.
But what actually triggers such action of the Spiritual Rebirth? It seems like a set of certain changes required in a person's heart (soul, spirit), and such changes can trigger Spiritual Rebirth in the soul of a person, and the verses below may explained it better than anybody else can.

RIGHTEOUSNESS​

1John 2.29
29.If you know that He (Jesus Christ) is Righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

So believing in ultimate Righteousness of Jesus Christ and to practice His Righteousness in your own life, produces your Spiritual Birth.

LOVE​

1John 4.7
7.Beloved, let us love one another, Love is from GOD, and everyone who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD.

Whoever believe that GOD is ultimate Love, and whoever implementing His Love in their own life, those are Spiritually Born of GOD and know Him.

BELIEVING IN GOD AND TO LOVE ALL HIS BELIEVERS
​

1John 5.1.4.18
1.Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of GOD, and whoever loves the Father, loves the child born of Him.

Whoever believe that Jesus born and has His beginning from GOD Father, and loves those who believe in Father and in His Son Jesus Christ, they are also Spiritually Born and also have their new beginning from the same GOD. This is similar to command of Jesus to Love one another.

But it also can be interpreted in a different way, what those who believe that Jesus Christ is Born of His GOD Father, and subsequently all those who love Father also love His Child, His Son Jesus Christ, as a result of it, they also Spiritually Born of GOD.

So no matter in which way you explain this verse, in both cases you understand it right.

FAITH​

4.Whoever is born of GOD overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our Faith.

Overcomes the world means to overcome all worldly temptations which are not compatible with the principals and ideals of GOD. And it only can be done by a very strong Faith in the Lord. Means Faith in His wisdom, power, salvation, Laws, commandments, teachings, and promises. To put all earthly desires and temptations aside, and concentrate only on GOD and His eternal Kingdom, in which all Faithful to GOD will spend their eternity. So, strong Faith in GOD here is presented as another necessary item for achieving the Spiritual Rebirth.

ABOLITION OF SIN​

18.We know that no one who is born of GOD sins, but he who was born of GOD keeps Him, and the evil one does not touch him.

This perhaps the most difficult point to explain, because despite the fact that we all born as sinners, and we sin a lot throughout our entire life, in this verse John declared that those who Spiritually Born of GOD do not sin and even the evil one does not touch such person. It is very possibly what such people existed before and exist today, a very special people who have enough power and will to do it. But what about the rest of the world? Many of us indeed Born Spiritually again from GOD and from His Word through Jesus Christ, but we still keep sinning in one way or another.
Most likely the explanation of this problem can be given in this way, that John probably talking here about sins which we can and did overcome and abolish from our life, at least some of them, but certain sin we cannot overcome and not able to get away from them due to certain circumstances, or on a part of our own weakness. In this case we still trying very hard to illuminate and remaining sins, and this process definitely will be the process of our entire life, but at least we are trying and making a great effort on our part to succeed in such endeavor, and such effort also may be counted to us as a result of our Spiritual Rebirth, beside our constant prayers to GOD to give us power and enough will to withstand and to fight against our sins and temptations in this world.

2John 3.9
9.No one who is born of GOD practices sin, because His seed (the Word and the Spirit of GOD) abides in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of GOD.

So as a conclusion on the issue of the Spiritual Rebirth (Born Again), these tools are required to be Born Again: Righteousness, Love, Faith, and Abolition of Sin.

RESULTS OF THE SPIRITUAL BIRTH​

Matthew 10.38-39
38."and whoever does not take up the cross and follow Me, is not worthy of Me.
39.Those who find their life, will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, will find it."

Matthew 16.24-26
24."Then Jesus told His disciples, "If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.

25.For those who want to save their life, will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, will find it.

26.What will it profit them if they gain the whole world, but forfeit (surrender) their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"

Matthew 19.21-29
Rich young man and Jesus.
21."Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and gave the money to the poor (Luke 14.33), and you will have treasure in Heaven, then come, follow Me."
22.When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, he had many possessions.

23.Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
24.Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of GOD."

25.When the disciples heard this they were greatly astounded and said, "Then who can be saved?"
26.But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for GOD all things are possible."

27.Then Peter said in reply, "Look, we have left everything and followed You. What then will we have?"
28.Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on the twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29.And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or fields, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. (Luke 14.26)

Mark 8.34
34.He called the crowd with His disciples and said to them, "If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me."

Luke 9.23.57-62
23."Then He said to them all, "If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily, and follow Me."

57."As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go."
58.And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

59.To another He said, "Follow Me." But He said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60.But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of GOD."

61.Another said, "I will follow You Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."
62.Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of GOD."

Luke 14.25-27.33
25."Now large crowds were traveling with Him and He turned and said to them,
26."Whoever comes to Me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be My disciple." (Matthew 19.29)

27."Whoever does not carry the cross and follow Me, cannot by My disciple.
33.So therefore, none of you can become My disciples if you do not give up all your possessions." (Matthew 19.21)

 

[Skala]

I completely disagree with your analysis of the statements in 1st John.

The phrases do not tell us how to become born of God, but rather, they tell us is the evidence and activity of a person who is born of God.

1John 2.29
29.If you know that He (Jesus Christ) is Righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

For example, regarding this verse, you said:

So believing in ultimate Righteousness of Jesus Christ and to practice His Righteousness in your own life, produces your Spiritual Birth.

This is completely false. 1 John 2:29 is not saying that we become born of God by practising righteousness. It is saying that people who are born of God practice righteousness. Or rather, it is saying the evidence that a person is born of God is that they practice righteousness.

You completely twisted this around backwards when you asserted here (and at all the other verses you quoted) that we become born of God by our own activities. This is extremely false teaching.

John 3 tells us crystal clear that regeneration (the new birth) is the action of God the Spirit alone, who goes where he pleases and cannot be programmed, like the wind blows (John 3:6-8)

 

[alex2165]

Your respond Skala make no sense.

How a person can be born from GOD first and then obtain righteousness?

Does GOD accept unrighteous people, and when without their desire to be righteous make them righteous?

Is not the Bible teaches us what we themselves have to obtain righteousness first from the commandments and statutes of GOD, and when the GOD sees our righteousness, He will consider us as His people, and He blesses us and gives us everything we need?

Genesis 15.6
6.And he (Abraham) believed the Lord, and the Lord count it to him as righteousness.

As you can see, the Lord GOD do not considered Abraham as righteous man before, but only when Abraham believe in Him. So what came first, righteousness or believe in the Lord?

Psalms 106.30-31
30.Then Phinehas stood up and interceded, and the plague was stopped.
31.And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.

And here, a man committed a good deed for the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. So what came first, righteousness or a good deed for the sake of the Lord?

I can present to you many statements like these, but I do not want waste my time, because it is obvious that faith from the teachings of GOD and good deeds as result of it produce righteousness, and only when such attitude GOD reckoned to a person as righteousness.

It means what we have to produce righteousness first, and then the Lord GOD will acknowledge it.

So it is you who twisted and put the meaning of the statement of John up side down, not me.

 

[Skala]

..

 

[Skala]

How a person can be born from GOD first and then obtain righteousness?

Because he is made new in Christ, thus Christ's righteousness is imputed to him.

Is not the Bible teaches us what we themselves have to obtain righteousness first from the commandments and statutes of GOD, and when the GOD sees our righteousness, He will consider us as His people, and He blesses us and gives us everything we need?

No, because that is heresy and works-based salvation. Not salvation by free grace.

As you can see, the Lord GOD do not considered Abraham as righteous man before, but only when Abraham believe in Him. So what came first, righteousness or believe in the Lord?

It seems you are refuting your own position now. Above you said we had to be righteous in and of ourselves by obedience, now you are saying that faith is what causes us to be righteous. Those are two contradictory statements.

It means what we have to produce righteousness first, and then the Lord GOD will acknowledge it.

Since our own righteousness is as good as filthy rags, you tell me how that works out for you.

The only righteousness that can stand before God is Christ's righteousness given to us. That's the very essence of the gospel:

Phil 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Do you see the difference between what the Apostle Paul says and what you say?

Alex: we have to obtain righteousness from the commandments of GOD // good deeds produce righteousness

Apostle Paul: not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which depends on faith

Night and day.

 

[OzSpen]

Is not the Bible teaches us what we themselves have to obtain righteousness first from the commandments and statutes of GOD, and when the GOD sees our righteousness, He will consider us as His people, and He blesses us and gives us everything we need?

Alex,

Who is teaching you that we have to obtain righteousness from the commandments and statutes of God and THEN God considers us to be His people?

From which church or persons are you obtaining this kind of information?

Oz

 

[alex2165]

To Skala

Does Righteousness given to us, or it reckoned to us for our true faith and good deeds?

You claiming that just believing in Christ is enough to receive righteousness
but far not all who believe in Christ are faithful to Him and good? So, would Christ give the righteousness and to those who are not faithful to Him?

So you want the easy way to be righteous without producing any effort on your part, and because you believe in Christ you are righteous, and absolutely for nothing Christ presented righteousness to you, how nice!

James 2.19
19.You believe that GOD is One, you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.

So, no effort on our part necessary to obtain righteousness, and even Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Gospel of Christ do not provide righteousness according to you, but it magically comes from above only because you believe in Christ.

Concerning Philippians 3.9, yes righteousness does not comes from the Law alone, and not from the works alone, and not from the faith alone, it comes from all three.

First we have to obtain faith in GOD from His statutes and commandments, and our faith in GOD will produce appropriate works of faith, and only then the righteousness will be reckoned to us, not given, as it was reckoned to Abraham and to all others like him.

So we have here an order of thing and certain priorities that follow one another in particular order. Just like we have to start from elementary school, and year after year progress into high school, and then to college, and so on, and so in the same way and steps have to be taken to be righteousness.

Same thing applies and to our righteousness, it has to be derived from something, it must has its own start and beginning which is word of GOD, and on the basis of the word of GOD comes Faith in GOD, and faith produces works of righteousness.

Paul numerous times specified all three as a necessity for righteousness, for orgiveness, and for salvation.

But you jump to college without finishing even the elementary school, claming obtaining righteousness just on believing in Christ without strong knowledge and understanding of the word of GOD and without strong Faith.

Well, if it works for you that is fine with me. GOD knows who is truly righteous and who is not, He will judge.

 

[alex2165]

What difference it makes for you?

The best teacher to all Christians is the word of GOD written in the Bible without any doctrinal and traditional dogmas, slogans, and precepts of men.

You want to be a true Christian, then do not bent and twist meaning of the scriptures, take them as they are written, and do not follow your church traditions, but follow only traditions of GOD.

Isaiah 29.13
13.The Lord said, "Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me, and their worship of Me is a human commandment learned by rote,
(Isaiah 29.13) (Matthew 15.9) (Mark 7.6-9.13) (Acts 4.19, 5.29) (Colossians 2.20-22) (Titus 1.14)

 

[Emmy]

Dear alex2165. You rightly say that the best teacher to all Christians is the Word of God, written in the Bible. The Bible tells us to "Repent," and to be
" Born Again." We all know what it is to Repent, and to be Born Again is to be born again as God wants us to be: In Matthew 5: 48: Jesus tells us:
" Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven, is Perfect."
To be as God wants us to be we have to change," Be Born Again."
God is Love and God wants loving sons and daughters. In Matthew 22: 35-40:
Jesus tells a Lawyer: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus also tells us: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law, and the Prophets." God wants our Love, freely given and NO conditions tagged on. In Matthew 7: 7-10: we are told: " ask and ye shall receive." We ask God for Love and Joy, then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We keep asking God for Love and Joy, then thanking God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve and Bless us. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring. A Christian`s great weapon is Love, and with love we will overcome all enmity and wrong behaviour.
Jesus our Saviour will help and guide us, JESUS IS THE WAY.
P.S. The Expositor`s New Testament will tell us in Matthew 22: 37: This is the foundation of all the Law and it applies to the present Day of Grace.
I say this with love, alex. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[OzSpen]

What difference it makes for you?

The best teacher to all Christians is the word of GOD written in the Bible without any doctrinal and traditional dogmas, slogans, and precepts of men.

You want to be a true Christian, then do not bent and twist meaning of the scriptures, take them as they are written, and do not follow your church traditions, but follow only traditions of GOD.

Isaiah 29.13
13.The Lord said, "Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me, and their worship of Me is a human commandment learned by rote,
(Isaiah 29.13) (Matthew 15.9) (Mark 7.6-9.13) (Acts 4.19, 5.29) (Colossians 2.20-22) (Titus 1.14)

So you say that the best teacher for Christians is the Word of God. Back at #3, you wrote:

Is not the Bible teaches us what we themselves have to obtain righteousness first from the commandments and statutes of GOD, and when the GOD sees our righteousness, He will consider us as His people, and He blesses us and gives us everything we need?

Please show me where in the Bible that it teaches that we obtain righteousness first from the commandments and statutes of God.

Oz

 

[tacdon]

OP- Is English your native language?

 

[OzSpen]

OP- Is English your native language?

I object to this kind of comment as it has nothing to do with the content of the OP.

 

[alex2165]

READ EMMY’S POST and you will find a perfect answer on you question.

 

[alex2165]

Thank you Emmy for excellent response, great post!

GOD bless you Emmy

Your brother in Christ, Alex

 

[OzSpen]

READ EMMY’S POST and you will find a perfect answer on you question.

Your statement was:

Is not the Bible teaches us what we themselves have to obtain righteousness first from the commandments and statutes of GOD, and when the GOD sees our righteousness, He will consider us as His people, and He blesses us and gives us everything we need?

What Emmy stated was not how to 'obtain righteousness' but how to pursue righteousness AFTER we have been born again.

I still await your answer as to how God says an unbeliever can 'obtain righteousness' by keeping the commandments and statutes of God. Perhaps that answer won't be coming.

 

[98cwitr]

To Skala

Does Righteousness given to us, or it reckoned to us for our true faith and good deeds?

You claiming that just believing in Christ is enough to receive righteousness
but far not all who believe in Christ are faithful to Him and good? So, would Christ give the righteousness and to those who are not faithful to Him?

So you want the easy way to be righteous without producing any effort on your part, and because you believe in Christ you are righteous, and absolutely for nothing Christ presented righteousness to you, how nice!

James 2.19
19.You believe that GOD is One, you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.

So, no effort on our part necessary to obtain righteousness, and even Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Gospel of Christ do not provide righteousness according to you, but it magically comes from above only because you believe in Christ.

Concerning Philippians 3.9, yes righteousness does not comes from the Law alone, and not from the works alone, and not from the faith alone, it comes from all three.

First we have to obtain faith in GOD from His statutes and commandments, and our faith in GOD will produce appropriate works of faith, and only then the righteousness will be reckoned to us, not given, as it was reckoned to Abraham and to all others like him.

So we have here an order of thing and certain priorities that follow one another in particular order. Just like we have to start from elementary school, and year after year progress into high school, and then to college, and so on, and so in the same way and steps have to be taken to be righteousness.

Same thing applies and to our righteousness, it has to be derived from something, it must has its own start and beginning which is word of GOD, and on the basis of the word of GOD comes Faith in GOD, and faith produces works of righteousness.

Paul numerous times specified all three as a necessity for righteousness, for orgiveness, and for salvation.

But you jump to college without finishing even the elementary school, claming obtaining righteousness just on believing in Christ without strong knowledge and understanding of the word of GOD and without strong Faith.

Well, if it works for you that is fine with me. GOD knows who is truly righteous and who is not, He will judge.

I think that what Skala is trying to say is that good works come via faith, faith is of God, for real faith [that produce fruit of the Spirit] is generated by the Spirit through us. Sinful man (flesh) cannot please God, so we must be reborn in Spirit (heart of stone removed...Ezekiel 36) in order to please Him and therefore rebirth must take place before righteousness can.

 

[OzSpen]

I think that what Skala is trying to say is that good works come via faith, faith is of God, for real faith [that produce fruit of the Spirit] is generated by the Spirit through us. Sinful man (flesh) cannot please God, so we must be reborn in Spirit (heart of stone removed...Ezekiel 36) in order to please Him and therefore rebirth must take place before righteousness can.

I recommend a read of, 'The Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to His People'. Here we learn that

“Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Yes, Abraham received righteousness by exercising belief. Paul called belief in Christ a “righteousness of faith” (Romans 10:6).
​

What does justification by faith mean? It means to be declared righteous by God and to have Christ's righteousness imputed to the believer. This justification:

• It is not by works of the Law ( (Rom 3:20; Gal 2:16);
• We are justified by God's grace (Tit 3:7);
• It is through the blood of Christ (Rom 3:24);
• It is received by faith (Rom 3:26-30).

See my article that deals with the imputation of Christ's righteousness, 'How could the holy Jesus deal with the wicked sins of humanity?'


Oz

 

[alex2165]

Hi OzSpen.
Emmy’s post has been misinterpreted by you, and as far as I understand it, she meant exactly what I meant, that the righteousness first comes from the knowledge and understanding of the Word of GOD (the Bible), but you still insisted on the answer.
OK then, I will give you an answer.

You asked “how unbeliever can obtain righteousness?” And I would like ask you also a question, “how unbeliever becomes believer in the first place?” Out nothing? Or according to you guys believing in GOD also comes from GOD out of nothing, without any knowledge and understanding of the Bible first.

How you know that GOD exists, is it not from the Bible? And how you know that GOD is righteous, is it not from the Bible? And how you know that forgiveness exists, is it not from the Bible? And how you know that salvation exists, is it not from the Bible.
So what comes first then, the knowledge of the Bible and then the rest of the GOD”S goodness, or in the opposite order as you guys believe? And really, what you will have without Bible anyway?

So everything we know about GOD comes only from the Bible, and without Bible we would not know that the true and real righteousness is, and also the rest of such things as forgiveness, salvation, and love.

You guys think that you deserve righteousness without earning it, only because you believe in Christ. And you of course ignored the statement of James 2.19, which clearly specifies that believing in Christ alone definitely is not enough to obtain not only righteousness, but and everything else.

Demons and the Satan also believe in Christ and even more, they know Who He is, and they knew Christ personally, but it does not make them any better, does it? Why not also and for them will be a chance to obtain the righteousness of Christ? Their believe in Christ even greater than yours, because they knew Him from long ago, before you was born and before first man even was created.

You are right saying that GOD is Righteous, but He does not throw His righteousness around. He has righteousness, and He recon righteousness for faith in Him and for right and good deeds before His eyes.
GOD also possesses forgiveness and salvation. Would you say again that you already deserve forgiveness and salvation just because you believe in Christ, without faith and without good and righteous works of faith?

When you need to drive a car, you need three things, Driver License, Registration, and Insurance, see, you need all three things in order to drive the car, and if one of them is missing, you cannot drive the car.

Same things applies and to righteousness. In order to have righteousness and to be righteous, first you have to obtain knowledge and understanding from the Bible, become believer in Christ, progress in faith on the basis of the knowledge and understanding of the Word of GOD, and as a result of all of it you shall also commit good and righteous deeds according to your faith, and if Christ wills, He will reckon to you such life as a righteousness, as He did to Abraham.

Below only a small part of the verses which indicate that the Word of GOD is pure righteousness, and subsequently those who study, learning, and implementing GOD’S Word in their lives, become righteous people according to the Word they keep and follow.

Proverbs 9.9
9.Give instruction to the wise and their will become wiser still, teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.

“Teach the righteous” Teach to what? To the Word of GOD. The Word of GOD is righteous, and those who learning the Word of GOD also become righteous from His Word.
The righteousness does not fall from the sky, but it comes from the teaching of the Word and from the learning the Word of GOD.

Isaiah 42. 21
21.”The Lord was pleased for the sake of His righteousness to magnify His teaching and make it glorious.”

If teachings of GOD glorious and righteous, how come righteousness can come before His teachings? Is where a righteousness besides the Word of GOD?

Psalms 19.7-11
7.The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, the decrees of the Lord are sure making wise the simple,
8.the precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes,
9.the fear of the Lord is pure enduring forever, the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10.More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and droppings of the honeycomb.
11.Moreover, by them is Your servant warned, in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 119.62
62.At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
160.The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting
164.Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
172.Let my tongue sing of Your word, all Your commandments are righteousness.

Second Timothy 3.16-17
16.All scripture is inspired by GOD and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17.so that everyone who belongs to GOD may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

As you can see, from the righteous commandments of GOD the righteousness comes.

But do you know what kind of thing truly can come directly from the Lord to those who seek Him?:

Psalm 119.73
73.Your hands made me and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.
104.From Your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.
125.I am Your servant, give understanding that I may know Your testimonies.
144.Your testimonies are righteous forever, give me understanding that I may live.
169.Let my cry come before You O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word.

If we just assume for a moment that indeed you have righteousness without Word of GOD, then how you will have eternal life? According to the verses below, eternal life comes only from the fulfilling the Word of GOD, and it also applies and to forgiveness.

Matthew 19.17
17.And He said to him, “Why do you ask Me about what is good? There is only One Who is good. If you wish to enter into life keep the Commandment.”

Luke 10.25-28
25.And a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
26.And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?"
27.And he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind (Deuteronomy 6.5, 30.2.6.10.16.20) (Matthew 22.37-40) (Mark 12.29-31) (Luke 10.27),
and your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19.18) (Matthew 5.43, 19.19, 22.39) (Mark 12.31) (Luke 10.27) (James 2.8) (Romans 13.9) (Galatians 5.14)
28.And He said to him, "You have answered correctly, do this and you will live." (Luke 10.25-28) (Matthew 19.16-19, 22.34-40) (Mark 12.28-31)

John 5.39
39.”You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is these that bear witness of Me,”

So, does the believing in Christ alone will give you eternal life, or the fulfilling of Christ’s Commandments?

1John 5.3
3."The love of GOD is this that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,"

So you believe in GOD, and you think that because of it you also have and righteousness according to you, but do you have love for GOD? If you obtain righteousness before commandments of GOD then you have no love for GOD, because according to the verse above, love for GOD comes from obedience to His commandments.

So how you can then be righteous, and even more, love the GOD, if you first did not observed any of the GOD’S commandments yet? This means that you cannot be righteous and without love for GOD, which is also comes from the learning of the Word of GOD like everything else about GOD, and about His goodness and justice.

 

[Awaken4Christ]

Let me take a stab at this...

God Made his word known in the world. We are saved by hearing this word and believing in Jesus Christ. At some point while hearing the word and praying people might REALLY Start Believing In Christ. The belief in Christ is what enables you to be born again. So what does it mean to believe? That is the question isn't it?

If you believe in Jesus, then You ought to believe in his word when you see it right? You observe how he behaves and by hearing the Word you come to believe he is king. Your Belief makes you realize that his ways are the only ways worth following. Now you didn't have to be perfect to come to this understanding or be a totally righteous person. But once you found out he was the KING, wow, you realized your whole life was in shambles. All that sin you had committed in the past, you realize it was committed against your Lord. So because of faith and believing and being born again, you become a new creature; thank God that he has made you a new creature. Now even though we become new creatures/born again, we are not perfect. We still sin, but it starts to become less and less frequent.(Look At the Doctrine of Regeneration) If we were to die after we are born again, that means we are safe and are saved. You can still be born again and sin because no one is without sin.

1 John 1:8 states "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Without God's intervention we are done, dead, and cast into outer darkness

On another note... Lets say you want to get to know God better and are not saved yet(or don't have much assurance) You are reading the bible and you think maybe by practicing what Christ did you will get closer to him. That sounds okay to me, but you have to realize no amount of righteous behavior or works that you are capable of is going to get you into heaven.
only Faith/Belief in Christ will get you there. Christ "IS" Salvation. When Christ becomes the foundation for your life then the righteousness in your life will start to pour in. (holy spirit doctrines still apply)

Ya don't forget about the Holy Spirit's involvement in all of this.

1 john is a good text to read and examine our own beliefs to see if we are truly in the faith.
Obviously someone who converted and died right after, their conversion is going to be harder to examine to see, but, just like the thief on the cross, conversions are possible right before death.

 

[OzSpen]

alex,

So that I can answer you from a knowledge base, would you please tell me approximately how many people in the world today, 30 May 2014, do not have a Bible?

How many people do not have the Bible translated into their own language?

If they don't have a Bible, how are they ever going to be able to hear about God and Jesus, based on the information from your post?

Oz

Hi OzSpen.
Emmy’s post has been misinterpreted by you, and as far as I understand it, she meant exactly what I meant, that the righteousness first comes from the knowledge and understanding of the Word of GOD (the Bible), but you still insisted on the answer.
OK then, I will give you an answer.

You asked “how unbeliever can obtain righteousness?” And I would like ask you also a question, “how unbeliever becomes believer in the first place?” Out nothing? Or according to you guys believing in GOD also comes from GOD out of nothing, without any knowledge and understanding of the Bible first.

How you know that GOD exists, is it not from the Bible? And how you know that GOD is righteous, is it not from the Bible? And how you know that forgiveness exists, is it not from the Bible? And how you know that salvation exists, is it not from the Bible.
So what comes first then, the knowledge of the Bible and then the rest of the GOD”S goodness, or in the opposite order as you guys believe? And really, what you will have without Bible anyway?

So everything we know about GOD comes only from the Bible, and without Bible we would not know that the true and real righteousness is, and also the rest of such things as forgiveness, salvation, and love.

You guys think that you deserve righteousness without earning it, only because you believe in Christ. And you of course ignored the statement of James 2.19, which clearly specifies that believing in Christ alone definitely is not enough to obtain not only righteousness, but and everything else.

Demons and the Satan also believe in Christ and even more, they know Who He is, and they knew Christ personally, but it does not make them any better, does it? Why not also and for them will be a chance to obtain the righteousness of Christ? Their believe in Christ even greater than yours, because they knew Him from long ago, before you was born and before first man even was created.

You are right saying that GOD is Righteous, but He does not throw His righteousness around. He has righteousness, and He recon righteousness for faith in Him and for right and good deeds before His eyes.
GOD also possesses forgiveness and salvation. Would you say again that you already deserve forgiveness and salvation just because you believe in Christ, without faith and without good and righteous works of faith?

When you need to drive a car, you need three things, Driver License, Registration, and Insurance, see, you need all three things in order to drive the car, and if one of them is missing, you cannot drive the car.

Same things applies and to righteousness. In order to have righteousness and to be righteous, first you have to obtain knowledge and understanding from the Bible, become believer in Christ, progress in faith on the basis of the knowledge and understanding of the Word of GOD, and as a result of all of it you shall also commit good and righteous deeds according to your faith, and if Christ wills, He will reckon to you such life as a righteousness, as He did to Abraham.

Below only a small part of the verses which indicate that the Word of GOD is pure righteousness, and subsequently those who study, learning, and implementing GOD’S Word in their lives, become righteous people according to the Word they keep and follow.

Proverbs 9.9
9.Give instruction to the wise and their will become wiser still, teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.

“Teach the righteous” Teach to what? To the Word of GOD. The Word of GOD is righteous, and those who learning the Word of GOD also become righteous from His Word.
The righteousness does not fall from the sky, but it comes from the teaching of the Word and from the learning the Word of GOD.

Isaiah 42. 21
21.”The Lord was pleased for the sake of His righteousness to magnify His teaching and make it glorious.”

If teachings of GOD glorious and righteous, how come righteousness can come before His teachings? Is where a righteousness besides the Word of GOD?

Psalms 19.7-11
7.The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, the decrees of the Lord are sure making wise the simple,
8.the precepts of the Lordare right rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes,
9.the fear of the Lord is pure enduring forever, the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10.More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and droppings of the honeycomb.
11.Moreover, by them is Your servant warned, in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 119.62
62.At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
160.The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting
164.Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
172.Let my tongue sing of Your word, all Your commandments are righteousness.

Second Timothy 3.16-17
16.All scripture is inspired by GOD and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17.so that everyone who belongs to GOD may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

As you can see, from the righteous commandments of GOD the righteousness comes.

But do you know what kind of thing truly can come directly from the Lord to those who seek Him?:

Psalm 119.73
73.Your hands made me and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.
104.From Your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.
125.I am Your servant, give understanding that I may know Your testimonies.
144.Your testimonies are righteous forever, give me understanding that I may live.
169.Let my cry come before You O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word.

If we just assume for a moment that indeed you have righteousness without Word of GOD, then how you will have eternal life? According to the verses below, eternal life comes only from the fulfilling the Word of GOD, and it also applies and to forgiveness.

Matthew 19.17
17.And He said to him, “Why do you ask Me about what is good? There is only One Who is good. If you wish to enter into life keep the Commandment.”

Luke 10.25-28
25.And a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
26.And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?"
27.And he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind (Deuteronomy 6.5, 30.2.6.10.16.20) (Matthew 22.37-40) (Mark 12.29-31) (Luke 10.27),
and your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19.18) (Matthew 5.43, 19.19, 22.39) (Mark 12.31) (Luke 10.27) (James 2.8) (Romans 13.9) (Galatians 5.14)
28.And He said to him, "You have answered correctly, do this and you will live." (Luke 10.25-28) (Matthew 19.16-19, 22.34-40) (Mark 12.28-31)

John 5.39
39.”You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is these that bear witness of Me,”

So, does the believing in Christ alone will give you eternal life, or the fulfilling of Christ’s Commandments?

1John 5.3
3."The love of GOD is this that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,"

So you believe in GOD, and you think that because of it you also have and righteousness according to you, but do you have love for GOD? If you obtain righteousness before commandments of GOD then you have no love for GOD, because according to the verse above, love for GOD comes from obedience to His commandments.

So how you can then be righteous, and even more, love the GOD, if you first did not observed any of the GOD’S commandments yet? This means that you cannot be righteous and without love for GOD, which is also comes from the learning of the Word of GOD like everything else about GOD, and about His goodness and justice.