What is a born again christian and can I be one?

ViaCrucis · Mar 22, 2016

ScottA said:
The meaning of the word "antitype" is "symbol" and Peter makes it clear he is not talking about the flood and ark (then), but [now].

Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days is the type, Christ in the grave for three days is the antitype. Was Christ's burial a symbol? Or is Jonah's time spent in the fish the symbol which points to the greater reality of Christ? The answer is the latter.

But if you are not convinced, here it is again...with no mention of water, but in fact of "repentance" and the "Holy Spirit" [only], leaving water baptism to the past as John's baptism:

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said,‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” Acts 11:15-18

And this baptism with the Holy Spirit happened, as promised, in Acts ch. 2.

Read Acts ch. 1.

I haven't been talking about the baptism with the Holy Spirit which took place two thousand years ago on Pentecost; I'm talking about Christian baptism, i.e. what Peter talks about in Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, what Paul administers to the disciples of John in Acts 19:1-13, what Paul talks about in Romans ch. 6, and in Galatians 3:27.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit, as described in Scripture, is what happened when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. It is never described as an individual experience, it is always the corporate outpouring of the Spirit. On Pentecost, and later on the house of Cornelius as a sign of God's acceptance of the Gentiles.

What always happens in surrounding these unique, historical outpourings of the Spirit--however--is the administration of normative Christian baptism.

-CryptoLutheran

ScottA · Mar 23, 2016

ViaCrucis said:
Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days is the type, Christ in the grave for three days is the antitype. Was Christ's burial a symbol? Or is Jonah's time spent in the fish the symbol which points to the greater reality of Christ? The answer is the latter.

And this baptism with the Holy Spirit happened, as promised, in Acts ch. 2.

Read Acts ch. 1.

I haven't been talking about the baptism with the Holy Spirit which took place two thousand years ago on Pentecost; I'm talking about Christian baptism, i.e. what Peter talks about in Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, what Paul administers to the disciples of John in Acts 19:1-13, what Paul talks about in Romans ch. 6, and in Galatians 3:27.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit, as described in Scripture, is what happened when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. It is never described as an individual experience, it is always the corporate outpouring of the Spirit. On Pentecost, and later on the house of Cornelius as a sign of God's acceptance of the Gentiles.

What always happens in surrounding these unique, historical outpourings of the Spirit--however--is the administration of normative Christian baptism.

-CryptoLutheran

You speak of the waters below, which have no power, and of ordinances and rituals which are in name only. While there is no antitype except that which is from above.

ViaCrucis · Mar 23, 2016

ScottA said:
You speak of the waters below, which have no power, and of ordinances and rituals which are in name only. While there is no antitype except that which is from above.

I'm simply attempting to properly exegete Scripture and hold fast to the teachings of the Christian Church.

-CryptoLutheran

ScottA · Mar 23, 2016

ViaCrucis said:
I'm simply attempting to properly exegete Scripture and hold fast to the teachings of the Christian Church.

-CryptoLutheran

But you have apparently done so without spiritual discernment, and have arrived at a less than holy and worldly perspective: There is nothing holy of this fallen world that can be included in salvation, no such thing as "holy" water.

ViaCrucis · Mar 23, 2016

ScottA said:
But you have apparently done so without spiritual discernment, and have arrived at a less than holy and worldly perspective: There is nothing holy of this fallen world that can be included in salvation, no such thing as "holy" water.

What God has made holy shouldn't be called profane. It was upon the cross, that you recall, that the Son of God gave His life for ours.

-CryptoLutheran

ScottA · Mar 24, 2016

ViaCrucis said:
What God has made holy shouldn't be called profane. It was upon the cross, that you recall, that the Son of God gave His life for ours.

-CryptoLutheran

If you are saying that God made water holy...you are wrong.

ViaCrucis · Mar 25, 2016

ScottA said:
If you are saying that God made water holy...you are wrong.

Whatever God uses for His purposes is holy on account of His purposes.

No, the water of baptism is not some sort of inherently special water; but as water connected to God's word to accomplish God's purposes--to bring about new birth--makes it holy for that purpose. The wholesale rejection of external and material means is little more than a kind of Gnosticism-lite, insisting upon a duality of matter and spirit, with the material as inferior, lesser, and/or irrelevent and only that which is immaterial and so-called "spiritual" being relevant. This is the error of the ancient Gnostics and Manichaeans. Christianity, as the religion of the Incarnation, rejects this error and insists on the reality of the God who has sanctified created means by the Incarnation of the Logos; for God has become man.

-CryptoLutheran

Alithis · Mar 25, 2016

Chgz said:
I watched a Louis Theroux episode, where he went to go find out what born again Christians in America are like. The episode didn't fully explain what one is, and I was left a little confused. Before watching this I had never even heard of a born again Christian and I think it expected me to have already heard about them. To be honest I don't think it was serious and probably aimed to take the Mickey out out of how crazy they can come across.
I was left rather impressed by how these people came across though, they seemed like the most happy and peaceful people ever. I was amazed at how sincere and devoted to Jesus they where. I can't help but want to share the same passion they have for Jesus and life!
One thing that really sticks in my head was seeing people "accepting Jesus" and then start having some kind of mad fit after a priest touched their heads.
I was baptised and raised Christian until I was about 12, then I converted to wiccan until I was about 17 when I started following the bible again. Dose this make me a born again Christian or do I have to go through some kind of ritual? I don't go to church but I feel very spiritual and try to find the time each day to pray to god and thank him for everything he made.
If I am not a born again Christian, then how to I become one? Do I have to go to church or anything special?

watch this -
https://thelastreformation.com/

believe on the Lord Jesus -Repent from sin and turn to God - be baptized for the remission of your sin - recieve the holy Spirit , -there is no short cut .. we meet God on Gods terms according to his word ..not ours .

Shempster · Mar 25, 2016

IMO, the term "born again" is just a term to describe a person taking on the very nature of Christ and shunning the old evil nature of flesh. I am quite sure it is possible for one to be born again even if they have all sorts of misinformation about the origin, name or meaning of the creator.
I also think that there are a huge number of folks who know the terminologies of religion and outwardly appear to be holy but inside they are still ruled by the sin nature.Meaning they could be part of a group called apostate or heretical by the going school of thought in Christendom.
Once Christ appears it will be evident to all who His people are and there will be many many people who will be very angry when the see a member of a church group who they consider a false church being lifted up and clothed in white while they, thinking they are so "christian" are not.
When that day happens it will be very confusing for most people. It will seem as though all of their theology was dashed to pieces.

ScottA · Mar 25, 2016

ViaCrucis said:
Whatever God uses for His purposes is holy on account of His purposes.

No, the water of baptism is not some sort of inherently special water; but as water connected to God's word to accomplish God's purposes--to bring about new birth--makes it holy for that purpose. The wholesale rejection of external and material means is little more than a kind of Gnosticism-lite, insisting upon a duality of matter and spirit, with the material as inferior, lesser, and/or irrelevent and only that which is immaterial and so-called "spiritual" being relevant. This is the error of the ancient Gnostics and Manichaeans. Christianity, as the religion of the Incarnation, rejects this error and insists on the reality of the God who has sanctified created means by the Incarnation of the Logos; for God has become man.

-CryptoLutheran

It is that [your] premise that is in error:

God did NOT JUST become a man...but lowered himself, became a man, and then was raised back up to be as he was and as God the Father is...whom is spirit.

Evil does not beget righteous God.

ViaCrucis · Mar 25, 2016

ScottA said:
It is that [your] premise that is in error:

God did NOT JUST become a man...but lowered himself, became a man, and then was raised back up to be as he was and as God the Father is...whom is spirit.

Evil does not beget righteous God.

In becoming man the Son never ceased to be all that He was from all eternity, and He has never ceased to be man. Jesus Christ, eternal Son of the Father, is both God and man.

My point remains. The Incarnation means the union of God and humanity, and Christianity maintains that God uses material means to accomplish His purposes.

To insist otherwise is to promote a form of Gnosticism.

-CryptoLutheran

SkyWriting · Mar 26, 2016

LizzyMae said:
As a born again Christian, or for any Christian really, going to church is VERY important. It is there you hear God's Word led by a more experienced Christian (a pastor). It is God's house; His church, as Christian's it is very important for us to go.

Going to any particular building is not all that important.
But it is easier to learn about God from other Christians
and where they may gather.

SkyWriting · Mar 26, 2016

Light of the East said:
But who will tell her what the Word means? She has to have a faithful interpreter of that Word to properly understand it.

Scripture interprets itself over time.

SkyWriting · Mar 26, 2016

SpiritRehab said:
As a former Wiccan, the Truth of what Jesus meant by being Born Again, should be easier for you to understand than for most Christians.

Being Born Again, means receiving the Spirit of God.
Just as in all other forms of Spiritualism, the Human takes on an indwelling Spiritual Master, so those who God chooses, receive His Spirit, to live in them and guide them.

A lot of Christians mistake being Born Again with how one becomes Born Again.
Being Born Again is receiving the Spirit of God, as your indwelling master.
One becomes Born Again by confessing the Truth to God:

1. I am a sinner
2. I deserve punishment for my sins
3. I cannot stop myself from sinning
4. I deserve to be destroyed
5. I need to be healed
6. God is loving
7. God doesn't want to punish me nor destroy me
8. God wants to heal me
9. So God became Human: Yahoshua Messiah of Ysarel aka Jesus Christ
10. Lived a sin free life; to show us the way
11. Then took on Himself my sins (everyone's)
12. Then surrendered Himself to be punished & executed for my sins (everyone's)
13. Then rose from the Dead, to prove His word trustworthy
14. And promised to return to resurrect us as well

If you consider these statements and desire Love, Righteousness & Truth, and to know God, with a tiny bit of faith, He will give you His own Spirit; who will give you perfect Faith.

You just have to confess points 1 to 5, if you really believe it, and ask for forgiveness, not by your merits, nor by any promise to live right, but by a tiny bit of faith in Jesus life & death & resurrection on your behalf. Faith just enough to ask & hope; and He will perfect your faith and you will know that He is God and that you are forgiven, saved & born again.

#1. Accept God into your Heart.

Those other steps are what sometimes follow the one needed step.

ScottA · Mar 26, 2016

ViaCrucis said:
In becoming man the Son never ceased to be all that He was from all eternity, and He has never ceased to be man. Jesus Christ, eternal Son of the Father, is both God and man.

My point remains. The Incarnation means the union of God and humanity, and Christianity maintains that God uses material means to accomplish His purposes.

To insist otherwise is to promote a form of Gnosticism.

-CryptoLutheran

Call it what you like, but laying down His humanity (His life) is not glory to humanity, but glory to God, whom is Spirit. He [was] brought low, but now [is] risen. Amen.

And why you would hate the Spirit so as to call names and refer to heresies, is more than telling.

Yeshua HaDerekh · Mar 29, 2016

Do none of you understand? You are all like Nakdimon....

ScottA · Mar 29, 2016

Yeshua HaDerekh said:
Do none of you understand? You are all like Nakdimon....

Not "all."

Yeshua HaDerekh · Mar 29, 2016

ScottA said:
Not "all."

Please explain your view then...

ScottA · Mar 29, 2016

Yeshua HaDerekh said:
Please explain your view then...

Jesus/Yeshua explained it: In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, one must also be born [again] of the spirit of God.

Yeshua HaDerekh · Mar 30, 2016

ScottA said:
Jesus/Yeshua explained it: In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, one must also be born [again] of the spirit of God.

Yes, He DID explain it but you did not...

What is a born again christian and can I be one?

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