When Jesus spoke the words, to Nicodemus, "..you must be born again", it was before Jesus made his sacrifice. The purpose of Jesus' sacrifice was for all mens' salvation, if they come to him, because he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Once his sacrifice was made, we all were washed in the Holy Spirit.
I honestly, genuinely feel, put into context, telling someone to be "born again" discounts, no less discredits Jesus' sacrifice. This is the power of Satan in the modern church. The statement, "You must accept Jesus sacrifice", is exactly the same as "You must not deny Jesus' sacrifice", for that is the spirit of anti-christ. There is no in-between. There is no, "well, now I know this happened, but I really don't know", as that is denial.
Therefore, all people, from the moment they are "people" have received Jesus' gift, his salvation by his sacrifice. The only way to lose this is by choice, to have heard the News and categorically reject it, to say you don't want it. Then you are lost, because you choose to be lost, but you can return if you accept it!
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Read: not from yourselves, or, not from some conscious decision made later in life... so that no one can boast, or, so that no "sect" or "interpreter" can say he does it "better".
People who push the issue of "born again" are as bickering cousins arguing over the Father's inheritance, perhaps indeed their inheritance to them is the most important aspect ever of the Father. They are wrong. If you love God only, or even mostly, for your salvation, you are not loving God, you are more loving "you". This is how you fall victim to the many false preachers who imply "they can sell you salvation if you only mail them money". NO. Jesus did this, not they.
Thanks for reading.
I honestly, genuinely feel, put into context, telling someone to be "born again" discounts, no less discredits Jesus' sacrifice. This is the power of Satan in the modern church. The statement, "You must accept Jesus sacrifice", is exactly the same as "You must not deny Jesus' sacrifice", for that is the spirit of anti-christ. There is no in-between. There is no, "well, now I know this happened, but I really don't know", as that is denial.
Therefore, all people, from the moment they are "people" have received Jesus' gift, his salvation by his sacrifice. The only way to lose this is by choice, to have heard the News and categorically reject it, to say you don't want it. Then you are lost, because you choose to be lost, but you can return if you accept it!
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Read: not from yourselves, or, not from some conscious decision made later in life... so that no one can boast, or, so that no "sect" or "interpreter" can say he does it "better".
People who push the issue of "born again" are as bickering cousins arguing over the Father's inheritance, perhaps indeed their inheritance to them is the most important aspect ever of the Father. They are wrong. If you love God only, or even mostly, for your salvation, you are not loving God, you are more loving "you". This is how you fall victim to the many false preachers who imply "they can sell you salvation if you only mail them money". NO. Jesus did this, not they.
Thanks for reading.
