The Calvinists misunderstanding of the New Birth as taught by Jesus to Nicodemus

[Jim]

God is the judge, not religious man, in my understanding While it is true all men, except Jesus, have sinned, it is not true that a man cannot be obedient to God, as the Scriptures teach us about David, Noah, Abraham, Caleb, Joshua, Zacharias, Simeon, Anna, the Wise Men, and so on.

Perfection, as defined by God and commanded by Jesus is the goal. Yes, there will be "other voices" in the garden God placed us in, who "profess to know God" and who "call Jesus Lord, Lord", who will try and convince us God lied to us and commanded a "way of the Lord" that is not possible to follow. "Many" even call God's instruction in righteousness a "Yoke of Bondage" and beggarly elements of this world, twisting Scriptures to deceive the simple. But Jesus Himself warned us to "Take Heed" we are not deceived by these "many" who come in His Name.

It is written that God knows we need to know what to eat, what to drink, what knowledge to clothe ourselves in. Jesus said to "Seek ye First the Kingdom of God and HIS Righteousness", and all these things will be added to us.

In my experience there is no "what is next" my friend. It is a lifetime commitment, a "Way of Life" to grow in the wisdom, righteousness and knowledge of God. To remove the beams in our own eyes. As Paul teaches;

Romans 2: 7 To them who by "patient continuance" in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

For me, everything changed when I followed the Christs instruction to not adopt this world's religious traditions and teaching. And after studying apart from their influence, the Scriptures came alive for me.

One thing that helped with the question you asked, was the reality of my existence in this world God placed me in. I am given power by God in this world to choose and do things, but only in the moment. I cannot go back even ten minutes into the past and "do" anything. Nor can I go into the future and "do" anything. I only have power today, right now. And right now, I doubt that either you or I are transgressing God's Commandments. I have sinned in the past, and may sin in the future, but in the moment, right now I can choose not to transgress God's Commandments. I have many "nows" throughout the day in which to make this choice. If I keep God's Word in my mind and in my heart, or as it is called in the bible, "The mind that was in Christ", this is how we can endure to the end, as Jesus speaks to. This is God's definition of "Faith".

This is how Paul lived.

Phil. 3: 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, "if that I may apprehend" that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count "not" myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (My next "Now") 14 I "press toward the mark" for the prize of the high calling of God (That is) in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

This world religions, or as it was in Eve's time, "The other voice" in the garden, are there to prove us, in my view, whether we will walk in the "Good works" God before ordained that we should walk in them, or not. Jesus warns about them and tells us not to be like unto them.

But religion is big money, and they have a lot of influence, and they promote very seductive philosophies which creates a broad path followed by the masses and have been around since before the Tower of Babel.

I don't believe a man should go to them for instruction in righteousness, or adopt their religious traditions, high days and judgments, or their images of God they have created, based on what the Jesus of the Bible actually teaches, given we have the Oracles of God in our own homes now and have been instructed by Jesus Himself to "Live by" the Words of God contained therein.

But this would mean that mankind doesn't need all these religious businesses to be known of Jesus. This, of course, is not an acceptable marketing strategy to grow their religious business which can only survive and grow by converting contributing members to it.

Certainly, not a popular understanding with the promoters of these religious sects. But something for men seeking God's Truth should consider, in my view.

Thanks for you thoughts on that.

 

[charismaticlady]

@Kampioen



Because God had regenerated him, quickened him to life, he now had a new hunger, thirst for righteousness.

I am thinking back to when I was born again of the Spirit. Are you saying that is regeneration? Is there no need to repent of your sins? For me I tried repenting as I had heard taught - turn away. But by myself it didn't work. I still had the same desire to sin I always had. That is when I learned of true repentance - recognizing that without having Jesus inside me and cleansing me of all DESIRE to sin, I would always sin. Do you believe that Jesus takes away our sin out of our sin nature, making it clean? I even recall the heaviness that was lifted out of me and then being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. And all desire to commit a sin against the Ten Commandments was gone, and never returned. That is called righteousness. Does any of this line up with what you believe?

Then Jesus started maturing the fruit of the Spirit. That is a long process, but He is able to finish this process. That is holiness.

Revelation 22:11b "he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

 

[Jim]

I am thinking back to when I was born again of the Spirit. Are you saying that is regeneration? Is there no need to repent of your sins? For me I tried repenting as I had heard taught - turn away. But by myself it didn't work. I still had the same desire to sin I always had. That is when I learned of true repentance - recognizing that without having Jesus inside me and cleansing me of all DESIRE to sin, I would always sin. Do you believe that Jesus takes away our sin out of our sin nature, making it clean? I even recall the heaviness that was lifted out of me and then being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. And all desire to commit a sin against the Ten Commandments was gone, and never returned. That is called righteousness. Does any of this line up with what you believe?

Then Jesus started maturing the fruit of the Spirit. That is a long process, but He is able to finish this process. That is holiness.

Revelation 22:11b "he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

What made you think you were "born again of the Spirit"?

 

[charismaticlady]

What made you think you were "born again of the Spirit"?

First I saw a vision. Then I asked a question and He spoke one word to me. I was shocked, but just knew He was going to continue and He did for eight sentences. I repented again, and felt a heaviness lift out of me, and then I was engulfed by His presence from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. And He has never stopped talking to me and for the past 47 years 100 % of my prayers are answered. For the 30 years before that not one prayer was answered. Answered pray is one of the signs of being born again of the Spirit besides having no desire to commit a sin unto death.

I have also been given all but two of the gifts of the Spirit, and in 2000 He spoke to me while I was driving through the Arizona desert and said He was giving me the office of Teacher. He has wiped my mind of all doctrines of man that are false, and retaught me what He taught the apostles.

 

[charismaticlady]

What made you think you were "born again of the Spirit"?

I answered this post. Did it satisfy your question? #184.

 

[Jim]

I answered this post. Did it satisfy your question? #184.

You answered my question.

 

[charismaticlady]

You answered my question.

Have you been born again too? What was your experience.

 

[charismaticlady]

You answered my question.

Why are you ignoring me? #187

 

[Jim]

Why are you ignoring me? #187

I am not ignoring you. I am just not sure what you are asking. I am a baptized believer in the gospel. I am justified, regenerated and sanctified. I have been since I was 10 years old. I have had a lot of experiences since becoming justified, regenerated and sanctified, most of which I can't remember.

 

[charismaticlady]

I am not ignoring you. I am just not sure what you are asking. I am a baptized believer in the gospel. I am justified, regenerated and sanctified. I have been since I was 10 years old. I have had a lot of experiences since becoming justified, regenerated and sanctified, most of which I can't remember.

I am just asking you the same thing you asked me Its important. How do you know you are born again of the Spirit? You see, for the first 30 years of my life I had been baptized 3 times, but I never received an answer to prayer. That really bothered me to the point I questioned if God really existed. I ended up just choosing to believe He existed, but I had no proof.

After I was really born again of the Spirit, God spoke to me and said, "Now be baptized in water." And then I was immersed again.

So what experiences have you had that have been supernatural?

 

[Jim]

I am just asking you the same thing you asked me Its important. How do you know you are born again of the Spirit? You see, for the first 30 years of my life I had been baptized 3 times, but I never received an answer to prayer. That really bothered me to the point I questioned if God really existed. I ended up just choosing to believe He existed, but I had no proof.

After I was really born again of the Spirit, God spoke to me and said, "Now be baptized in water." And then I was immersed again.

So what experiences have you had that have been supernatural?

I was justified, regenerated and sanctified. I need no other.

 

[MTMattie]

I am just asking you the same thing you asked me Its important. How do you know you are born again of the Spirit? You see, for the first 30 years of my life I had been baptized 3 times, but I never received an answer to prayer. That really bothered me to the point I questioned if God really existed. I ended up just choosing to believe He existed, but I had no proof.

After I was really born again of the Spirit, God spoke to me and said, "Now be baptized in water." And then I was immersed again.

So what experiences have you had that have been supernatural?

Interesting and I believe this should be a stand alone thread. One on How do you know you are born of the Spirit, if you are born of the Spirit.

 

[charismaticlady]

I was justified, regenerated and sanctified. I need no other.

How do you know you were regenerated? What evidence do you have besides being told you are?

 

[charismaticlady]

Interesting and I believe this should be a stand alone thread. One on How do you know you are born of the Spirit, if you are born of the Spirit.

Knowing whether you are born again or not is in line with the title of this post. So, how do you know whether or not you are born again of the Spirit? After the fact is when I realized to my horror that I went to church for 30 years, was baptized by immersion, but not SAVED! Yikes! This is an important question inside this subject.

 

[praise_yeshua]

How do you know you were regenerated? What evidence do you have besides being told you are?

The only tangible way to know you're born again is through experience. Others will tell you different but I believe the Scriptures teach just that.

I too was baptized multiple times. Yet, when I was actually "born again" I knew it. It was an entirely different experience than before. There is a thirst for God that exists in my life from that day to this day that I can't explain rationally in the words of men. I can't accurate express to you what happened sole with the words of men, but such attempts often become meaningless in description without the emotional experience that accompanies a real relationship with Jesus Christ.

That emotional connection I have with Jesus Christ is an anchor of our very soul. Those that are born again "Hear His voice" through a very real and tangible emotional connection with our Master Jesus Christ.

 

[MTMattie]

Knowing whether you are born again or not is in line with the title of this post. So, how do you know whether or not you are born again of the Spirit? After the fact is when I realized to my horror that I went to church for 30 years, was baptized by immersion, but not SAVED! Yikes! This is an important question inside this subject.

I can only say that I know. My know, knows.

I went though life that is not for revelation on here and there was one specific point in my life that I got convicted by the Holy Spirit, and I knew.

I had a hunger and thirst for all things God. And this was after, He had truly answered prayer three times for me of something that was so profound and necessary and He said yes, and made it happen.

BTW... You have multiple gifts? I only have tongues but for me that is enough.

 

[charismaticlady]

I can only say that I know. My know, knows.

I went though life that is not for revelation on here and there was one specific point in my life that I got convicted by the Holy Spirit, and I knew.

I had a hunger and thirst for all things God. And this was after, He had truly answered prayer three times for me of something that was so profound and necessary and He said yes, and made it happen.

BTW... You have multiple gifts? I only have tongues but for me that is enough.

Yes, I have multiple gifts, but then again my love for Him is very strong. He spoke to me and told me He was giving me the office of teacher. That is why He's given me the gifts to go with it.

I read the Bible every day and teach a little to everyone I meet. But He wiped my mind of all doctrines of man I learned in the past, and retaught me His gospel. I now teach what the apostles taught, which seemed to disappear once the first denomination was formed, the Roman Catholic Church. Then the Reformation distorted it even further, except for John Wesley. Jesus said of someone in Sardis that he did not defile his garments and walks with Me in white. And I've seen the "white" with my own eyes. That's another gift, but more of a wonder but spoken of in 1 Cor. 2:9. "Eye has not seen nor ear heard..." I could hear His voice ever since I was born again of the Spirit in 1977. The gifts that go with supernatural hearing are Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Prophecy, and I have those. I don't have the interpretation of tongues which is also one of the supernatural hearing gifts.

 

[Jim]

How do you know you were regenerated? What evidence do you have besides being told you are?

God's promise.

 

[synergy]

I have also been given all but two of the gifts of the Spirit, and in 2000 He spoke to me while I was driving through the Arizona desert and said He was giving me the office of Teacher. He has wiped my mind of all doctrines of man that are false, and retaught me what He taught the apostles.

I'm curious to know what you were taught about the Apostles. The Apostles bequeathed to us many things. Besides the NT, there was the Lord's Supper, Baptisms, Church services and organization (Episkopos, Presbyter, and Deacon offices), and many many other things as one can visually see and read in that which remained in the Roman Catacombs. I'm just curious.

 

[Complete]

Ref:- Numbers 21:4-9

'So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.'
(Rom 10:17)

Hello there,

The dying Israelites who looked and lived, believed God sufficiently to obey what He said, and by doing so 'lived'. They had heard what God said, through Moses, and obeyed to the saving of their lives.

'And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.'
(Joh 3:14-15)

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris