How can we know if we are born again?

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I only handle snakes when I have to. We shouldn't temp the Lord

Well, that's one thing I don't have to worry about. We don't have snakes in New Zealand! I do have Herman, the very large black spider that lives up in the top of my Venetian blind. I leave it there because it is a good fly-catcher!

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Mines did too, and I didn't even know or expect it to happen upon having faith.

But I can't feel the supernatural things anymore. How can I know if God is there without the supernatural feelings I once had?

Faith is not a feeling. You believe in Jesus and you surrender your life to Him. There will be times God will talk to you, but seek to please God by obeying His commands by loving God and loving others.

 

[Shempster]

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?

By being like Jesus by doing what he says.
Over time, you realize that the "way" he showed us to live works better than any other belief system.
Love God with all that's within you, Love everyone else, and Love yourself.

 

[1213]

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?

How can we know that you or Descartes are/were really rationalists?

I think many things, maybe all, are matters of belief.

How do we know things in the dictionary are changed? I think the best way is to look the evidence. If there is no reason to think they have been changed, then we don’t have any reason to think they have been changed.

 

[bling]

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?

New Christians may not tap into everything that is available to them to help them experience the transformation:


I know that I needed everything God could provide to assure me of my conversion, both outwardly and mentally. God wants you to physically feel the experience of what is going on spiritually.

You need to add to your conversion a definite time place and physical experience, which God has provided for you. We talk about being “Born again”, which comes from Nicodemus encounter with Christ (John 3 :1-21):


Being “born again” is what Jesus told Nicodemus he need to do. This requires some thinking, because Jesus does not address the questions or comments that are verbalized, but directs his comments to the persons next step in their personal spiritual development (what is on their heart spiritually). Jesus is not making some general philosophical statement (like Buddha might make) but is always addressing the audience He is talking to. We have to get into the context.

What did Nicodemus need to do next in his spiritual development?

What does Nicodemus need to be doing next? (study the Old Testament, become one of the followers of Jesus right then and there, Confess, repent, etc.)

The first thing Nicodemus might do at least is what he already knows he should do? Is that not where you would start? So what is that?

Since Nicodemus is still part of the Sanhedrin, he would not have been immersed baptized by John’s baptism. That would have got him thrown out of the Sanhedrin, but being smart Nicodemus would know he should be baptized.

John’s baptism would have been a hot topic among the religious scholars, yet the answer was obvious and they all know it (remember Jesus using it against them and causing them to quit asking him questions?)

Jesus is not going to hand out the answer to Nicodemus, since Nicodemus knows the answer, but he will make Nicodemus think about it hard, since it would already be on his mind.



Christian water baptism as seen in scripture seems to fit the “born again” scenario Christ was talking about since it: Is always adult (there are only two examples that “might include infants” but nothing definite, all the others are adult believers) water immersion to be a physical outward representation of what had or is happening spiritually in the person being baptized. It is mainly to help the individual being baptized to better grasp what is going on, but it can “witness” to others observing the baptism. It has the elements of going down under the water (burying the old man), placing your dependence in another; the person baptizing you (surrendering your life to God), being washed (having your sins washed away), rising out of the water (rising from the old dead body), and stepping forth out onto the earth (a new person). The person is walking out into the hugs of his new family. It is also a sign of your humility, since it is a humbling act anyone can simple allow someone to do it to them (so not a work) and since humility has been shown in the accept of charity (God’s free gift of undeserving forgiveness) it should just support and add to the memory of that acceptance. To refuse Christian water baptism when it is readily available might mean you are not ready to handle other responsibility like having the indwelling Holy Spirit and you are hurting yourself.

Why not be baptized again (there is no rule against this) to experience all you can from being baptized?

 

[CaspianSails]

The point is if you believe in Christ, follow His teachings, follow His way you are a Christian. You will be given power through the Holy Spirit who will indwell you, lead you to truth, provide whatever you need to do His work, lead you through sanctification. Being a Christian is an act of faith not of intellect. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

 

[CaspianSails]

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.

This is the beginning, yes.

 

[CaspianSails]

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

Please don't confuse intellect or philosophy with faith and belief. They are at the core contradictory.

 

[HatGuy]

Please don't confuse intellect or philosophy with faith and belief. They are at the core contradictory.

No they're not. You just need to get the order right.

 

[devin553344]

Please don't confuse intellect or philosophy with faith and belief. They are at the core contradictory.

Your faith then is dead?

 

[Aaron112]

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

Well, as written, do not trust yourself, nor rene.

 

[Aaron112]

How do I know if I believe?

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

It may well be impossible until The Creator Reveals His Word Directly to you. Most people never know, and do not even seek to know.

Perhaps 1 John 1 - 5 , The Creator's Own Word, is meant for you.

 

[Aaron112]

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

Jesus' disciples, the Apostles, asked in dismay the same question. They did not know. Jesus Told Them.

 

[Aaron112]

How do I know who is giving the correct one?

If the Creator removes the veil, if He Graciously Opens the mind to understand/to see/, then you may know the truth as He Says, and not trust men.

 

[Joseph G]

Romans 8:16 NIV

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."

It really is that simple.

God bless!

Bible Gateway passage: Romans 8 - New International Version

Life Through the Spirit - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God...

www.biblegateway.com

 

[Zceptre]

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?

Yes, how horrible it is! You horrible rational person! lol - NO... That is a good thing.

It is not bad to be rational. Over analyzing can get painful, but God will use it for good. I've been there. He is a good Father.

The fact that you care for one is evidence, because without the Holy Spirit you would not care.

Secondly, just this:

1 John 4:7-16
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

This is the validity test.

It tells us flat out whether we know God by giving us the gauge for if we do or if we do not know Him.

The Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God. The Scriptures are what He speaks to us with. It is what He reminds us of and often it is what He uses to answer many of our pressing questions.

Child-like faith is not blind faith, but it is whole-hearted belief in the person you are trusting.

Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

If He says He is with you, He is with you. God does not, and cannot, lie. Whether we trust what He said is what matters.

If you have doubts, ask Him to show you and He will. PUSH - Pray Until Something Happens. If you ask and stick with it, He will answer you. He might want you to ask more than once. Often our level of devotion to a question or request to God is measured by how seriously we engage Him in prayer.
Matthew 7:7
Luke 18:5
Daniel 10:12-13

---------------------------------

While I understand your concerns about the dictionaries and meanings of words, validity of scripture, etc...

After much research of my own I have learned that God will only allow so much and we can trust the Bible because it has been scrutinized and preserved by Him.

If you need to study up on this, I do encourage it. Gary Habermas has a minimal facts resurrection theory for faith in Lord Jesus' resurrection.

Daniel B. Wallace is a good resource to follow up on for accuracy of the original manuscripts.

Lee Strobel has did digging into textual criticism as well, and at that, mostly of the New Testament.

The Old Testament is pretty solid, and we have it in Greek form in the Septuagint version written by 70 scholars before Christ.

The Dead Sea Scrolls have also increased the verifiable accuracy of the text as a whole.

You can also look into brother Chuck Missler's presentation titled "Knowing God - An Extraterrestrial Message."

It covers how the message of the Bible is cohesive to such a great extent that it could absolutely only have one author, and that author being from outside of time.

While I have an issue with brother Voddie Baucham on his calvinism lol, He does do a great presentation on why we can trust the scriptures / text.

It is titled "Why you can believe the Bible - Voddie Baucham" - But don't let him snag you into thinking God hates some people. Just refer back to John 3:17 and 1 John 4:8 if calvinism starts to get to you. lol... It says "God is love" - Not hate.

These are great starting points.

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The ultimate test though in trusting God, is praying and talking to Him about things that are going on.

Asking Him to help you. Asking Him for guidance. Taking the guidance you know in your heart He is giving you. And then seeing that He really is truly working in your life and helping, guiding, holding you by the hand.

Without an active prayer life, and without reading the Bible (He often answers my prayers WHILE I'm reading), we give Him less opportunity to help us and show us that He is faithful and really truly there and trustworthy.

The relationship we have with Him must start with us believing what He has told us. He loves us, and sent His Son to die in our place.

If we will give Him belief in that, He will show Himself faithful in our relationship with Him from there graciously.

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To know it is Him will take more praying than getting answers from others, but isn't too hard.

Being patient, and listening intently in your heart without interjecting helps a lot.

He speaks to our hearts, not our heads.

If it is scripture that comes to mind when you ask Him a question, then you know it is Him.

I heard Him just now for example as I asked Him what to say here, and I got this immediately.

Psalm 46:10
1 Kings 19:12

 

[Aaron112]

But I can't feel the supernatural things anymore. How can I know if God is there without the supernatural feelings I once had?

Caution Flag; feelings are not reliable, and may have been of the flesh or worsee.

 

[Zceptre]

Caution Flag; feelings are not reliable, and may have been of the flesh or worsee.

I have to strongly second this. God tells me (and has for a long time now) that feelings are liars.

Beware them.

Not all of them are, but all can be.

Flesh is a deceiver and so is this world.

You can manage, direct, shape and control feelings.

Feelings follow what you focus on which is a choice, or are by distracted by which often is someone else's choice.

Happy movie / music - Happy Feelings --- Sad movie / music - Sad Feelings --- Switch between them rapidly and suddenly you are bipolar. lol

 

[Aaron112]

It is not bad to be rational.

Reason is one of the most powerful enemies of simple truth, faith in Jesus.

 

[Zceptre]

Touche.

But to be irrational is wholly worse.

And to boot...

I submit:

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.