Born a Christian??? WHAT!?

Prayz · Sep 25, 2014

I'm not sure I understand what people mean when they say I was "born a Christian" Um, no. I've never seen ANYTHING like that in the bible. You can be born into a Christian family, sure, but that doesn't save you. We can pray for people to be saved but our prayers will not get them to Heaven if they do not do their part by simply surrendering to Jesus and accepting Him (Simply? Easier said sometimes, I know) You are not born into Christianity. You, yourself, have to ask Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, that is the ONLY way. He is the ONLY way. Care to input? Feel free.

Ugly · Sep 25, 2014

I've seen this often on this site, never understood it either. There's some scripture people use to support the concept, but i don't see it as being used properly. Really i've never heard a valid, viable explanation of this with genuine, strong biblical support.

Prayz · Sep 25, 2014

Ugly said:

I'd love to see biblical support of it. If you can recall what scripture you're referring to, I'd love to read it! Maybe I could understand more. I don't know

Blain · Sep 25, 2014

Born a Christian? umm dont think that's possible for two reasons 1 we are born sinners and 2 and forgive me if I am wrong but im pretty sure Jesus says we need to be Born again

dcontroversal · Sep 25, 2014

Well, only two examples found that might go to this theory....

1. Jesus was born the SON of God
2. John the BAPTIST had the SPIRIT from HIS mother's womb....

Other than these two examples, I agree with you........as far as we know!

Prayz · Sep 25, 2014

dcontroversal said:

Yes, I understand how someone could conclude that we are born Christians by something like that but I'm going with what Blain said. I'm pretty sure God (His Holy Spirit) touches babies inside the womb and even works in people's lives that aren't Christian (Only because of His mercy, He is not even obligated to work in ours. He just does it because of Love)... that doesn't make them a Christian though.

dcontroversal · Sep 25, 2014

Prayz said:

Key words to my statement are...(might) and I agree with you.........Being Christ Like makes one a Christian for sure....many believers who are not what they should be for sure......!

The natural man cannot know, discern, understand the word of the God...so one must be born again in order to begin a Christ like walk for sure....

Prayz · Sep 25, 2014

Yes, I'm aware of what your key words were

I understood completely what you were saying. I was just sort of disagreeing with people taking those scriptures and using them as being "Born Christian"

Joidevivre · Sep 25, 2014

I believe that Christ has to be accepted as your Savior to have salvation, but I am probably the closest example of what people mean when they say "born a Christian". My first word was probably "Jesus". I was always in church, my family was Christian. I always knew He was REAL and living in my heart. I sang about "Jesus loves me". You could have called me a Christian because my faith was SO strong about Jesus and what his death on the cross meant for me. From the moment I understood words. Who can tell when my faith was a saving faith?

However, it wasn't until years later when I went from "believing" to "surrendering" - that was probably the moment I was born again. Dying to my own purposes, and surrendering to whatever He wanted to do with my life. To use it or take it away. My life just didn't and still doesn't belong to me anymore.

There are progressions in the life of a Christian. But I think I had saving faith way back then.....

JesusIsAll · Sep 25, 2014

All being born into corruptible flesh, with the exception of Jesus Christ (who is Christ, not a Christian, the latter a follower of Christ), we aren't born saved, unless the Lord has ordained one's service from birth, which He can and has done. To not muddy things, those of us regular people are born blank slates of corruptible flesh, are not born Christians, required of a Christian that one receives the word of God, with repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ, thereby being spiritually born again, receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. This process does not happen at physical birth, clearly.

That was to your comments and concerns, but, if I may, what I really wanted to say is there's a pernicious aspect of this concept, people who really think they're Christian because they are born into a Christian family. I've known people like this, especially among denominations I'd rather not name, but of that generational nature. They have no inclination to study God's word, no inclination to put away their sin, other than attending some church, you could never convict them in a court of law for being a Christian: in short, they think they're Christian, but they're not. They are members of a family or group they were raised in, and they often do say, "Yes, I come from a Christian family," or they attend some church or the like.

It's a big question, how many people are lost in churches who think being associated with a group has saved them, and I fear very many who need to realize they are none of God's, without being born again of the Holy Spirit, which can only come as a result of personally receiving Jesus Christ: people who need somebody to approach them if they've ever really personally received Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

oldthennew · Sep 25, 2014

Joidevivre said:

I believe that Christ has to be accepted as your Savior to have salvation, but I am probably the closest example of what people mean when they say "born a Christian". My first word was probably "Jesus". I was always in church, my family was Christian. I always knew He was REAL and living in my heart. I sang about "Jesus loves me". You could have called me a Christian because my faith was SO strong about Jesus and what his death on the cross meant for me. From the moment I understood words. Who can tell when my faith was a saving faith?

However, it wasn't until years later when I went from "believing" to "surrendering" - that was probably the moment I was born again. Dying to my own purposes, and surrendering to whatever He wanted to do with my life. To use it or take it away. My life just didn't and still doesn't belong to me anymore.

There are progressions in the life of a Christian. But I think I had saving faith way back then.....[/QUOTE
=============================================================
Joi,

thank you sweetheart, such a precious witness.
what a wonderful world this could be if there were
more families like yours who love our Lord and bring
up their children to love Him as they do.

GB

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

First, we have to be careful when we speak about Christ being born into this world in relation to Him versus us. The Spirit of Christ was not created. Jesus was a physical man and had a physical birth... yes, but Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead had always existed as God or Spirit. For Micah 5:2 says that a ruler that comes out of Bethlehem is from everlasting. This is Christ, the Son of God. For in Daniel 3, we see king Nebuchadnezzar saying the fourth man in the fire with Daniel's friends was like the "Son of God" (Not "son of the Gods" as Modern Translations like to put it). Also, in John chapter 8: Jesus said to the Pharisees that he existed before Abraham by declaring He was the " I AM " from Exodus chapter 3. For it's why the crowd went ape crazy mad and wanted to stone Jesus for Him declaring He was the " I AM ."

Second, as for being born again: This is a spiritual regeneration of one's heart and sprit by the Spirit of God (Whereby Christ (God) then lives within them). Yes, this transformation can happen early as the womb for some people like John the Baptist. This is because God is aware of everyone's heart and life. God can see a person's birth and death before they are even conceived in the womb. God knows what a person is going to be like. God sees that other people do better with a spiritual regeneration later in life. But God did not force John the Baptist to be saved. God simply was aware of John the Baptist's entire life and how he would respond to Him.

Anyways, what is being born again mean? Well, being "born again" is when you repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Sometimes, certain believers need to renew their faith because they have gotten caught into sin again and or the cares of this life and are living for themselves and not God. So they need to renew their faith in the Lord in this case by confessing their sin so as to be cleansed of their sin or unrighteousness (1 John 2:1; 1 John 1:9). As for Scripture in support of being born again spiritually: I will provide that in one of my upcoming posts.

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

If anyone reading this has never repented of their sins and accepted Christ, and or if you are a believer that is abiding in unrepentant sin (Who needs to get their heart right with God), I would encourage you to check out these tacts here:

For Men:

This Was Your Life Mini Comic Book Tract

For Women:

You Have A Date Mini Comic Book Tract

...

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

Born Again & the Righteousness of God:

When a person repents of their sins or asks Jesus Christ to save them from their sin, whereby they accept Christ as their personal Savior (Believing that He died on the cross, was buried 3 days, and was risen from the grave), they are born again spiritually and Christ imputes His righteousness or the righteousness of God to you and you are saved.

We Are Not Righteous:

Isaiah 64:6
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Romans 3:9-12
"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Repentance & Acceptance of Jesus Christ:

Repentance is a part of believing in Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ preached people to repent. For He said,

"Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
(Luke 13:5)

For Jesus taught about repentance in the Parable of the Tax Collector (Publican) and the Pharisee:

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14)

Matthew 4:17 – “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This was His message from the beginning of His ministry.

Mark 1:14-15 – “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Jesus taught that repentance is not only to forgive us of our sins but it is also to sin no more, too.

John 8:10-11
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?' She said, 'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'

Matthew 27:3 KJV says that Judas “repented”, when he returned the 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. He said: “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.”

However, was that "true repentance"?
What did Judas do next?
Well, he went out and hanged himself!

Why?
He was sorry … but it was not a "Godly Sorrow."
He was "sorry" he did wrong …
"sorry" he got caught …
"sorry" it turned out the way it did.
But … "Repentance" is when you bring your sins to Jesus. Judas never did that.

For the Bible says, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" (1 John 2:1). "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:6-8).

After Repentance & Accepting Jesus - God Imputes His Righteousness to us:
(Then we continue to abide in His righteousness):

Philippians 3:9
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

2 Corinthians 5:21
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

1 Peter 2:24
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed"

Romans 3:22
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"

Romans 5:19
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Romans 10:3-4
"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Jeremiah 33:16
"In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness."

Isaiah 45:24
"Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed."

Isaiah 61:10
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

Born Again:
(After Repentance & Acceptance of Jesus we are Born Again or Saved):
(This Salvation or Entrance into the Kingdom is a quick event):
(Note: While this involved baptism, others had the Spirit (salvation) without baptism and Jesus forgave sins on the spot):

Acts 2:41
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

The New Birth:
(The spiritual regeneration of believers):

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

John 3:3
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:6
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

John 3:9-10
"Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?"

John 3:14-15
"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."

John 1:12-13
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Matthew 18:3
"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall NOT ENTER into the kingdom of heaven."

Ezekiel 36:26-27
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

John 6:60-61,63-64a
"Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? ...It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not...."

1 Peter 1:23
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

WASHING:

John 3:5
"…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

A. Born of the Spirit:

Titus 3:4-6
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"

B. Born of Water:

Ephesians 5:25-26
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth
(The word “sanctify” and “water” is mentioned in Numbers 27:14).

John 15:3
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you"

Additional Verses on Washing:

John 9:11
"He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight."

Revelation 1:5
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

This new birth leads a person in:

Keeping All of God’s Words:

John 14:23-24
" Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep [ALL] my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Luke 9:26
"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

For without the new birth, you can't do it.
Jesus said you need to be born again. This is a quick event that many have partaken in.

Anyways, may God bless you all; And I hope these verses were helpful for you.

Source Used:
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons...ings-63454.asp

Joidevivre · Sep 25, 2014

I read all the above comments on those who are raised in a church and call themselves Christians, and then those who need to repent in order to be Christians.

To add just a little to my previous words, as a little child I was constantly repenting - going down to the altar every Sunday to "rededicate myself" trying to live right and finding out that I was always missing the mark. I think I was repenting more than really enjoying His love. It was a Baptist church way back then. I always felt I disappointed Jesus. And that every time I did, He sort of moved out of my heart.

Until that moment of truth when He told me that I was never out of His heart. Not even when I blew it. That I was there to stay. Ah! That was when I realized what Grace and mercy was. Actually, that was probably when I quit focusing so much on myself and how I was measuring up, and enjoying His presence more. And the more I just focused on Him, the more I began changing. Focusing on His love was what began to change me. I found that His nature was more or less finding a home in me.

Yes, I still struggle with my "flesh", but usually all it takes is spending time with Him and meditating on His great understanding love for me to calm the battle.

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

In fact, Jesus relates that which is spiritual with our physical world so as to illustrate the truth to us. Think. How long does the actual process of birth take? Is being born (i.e. a woman giving birth to a child) a long and dragged out event always? Or do babies become born into this world quickly? For Jesus said, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Meaning there was a one time event when you were born into this world physically, just as there needs to be a one time event where you need to be born again spiritually. Does that mean we can just turn around and live however we like? No, no. Most certainly not. David cried out to God in Psalm 51 not to take the Holy Spirit from him. Repenting of your sins and accepting Christ is being born again spiritually. Then it becomes a walk with God. A relationship. The walk is not being born again. One is born again, enters the kingdom of God thru accepting Christ. That's the first step.

Side Note:

Oh, and being in the womb for approximately 9 months is not the process of being born, either. That is a different process. Being born is when a person comes out from their mother's womb and enters this world. Your birth certificate testifies to this fact when it provides the time when you were born and not how long you been in your mother's womb.

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

Joidevivre said:

A Christian still needs to confess of their sin so as to be cleansed of all unrighteous (i.e. sin), though.

1 John 2:1
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

For all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).

In other words,

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:6-8).

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

In fact, the very chapter in the gospel of John that talks about being born again also talks about the "Condemnation" mentioned in Scripture, too. No one can come to God with the thinking that they abide in unrepentant sin. The following passage refutes that type of false belief.

John 3:19-21
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

If you are not repenting or confessing of your sins as a believer, it means you love darkness rather than the Light because your deeds are evil. For Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. For you will hate the one and love the other. Being "born again" spiritually does not mean we can just serve God and ignore our sins. True repentance must follow, as well. A broken and humble heart that is quick to confess to God must follow, too. For one has to repent of their sins and forsake them with God's help. Sowing and walking after the Spirit will help to stop this... yes, but one also has to repent, too. For Judas repented of his sin; But it was not towards God, though. He felt sorry for what he did, but he did not want to feel sorry before God, though.

Jason0047 · Sep 25, 2014

In fact, even the Old Testament saint was "born again" spiritually. In the Old Testament, this was called "circumcised in heart", instead. For it's why Jesus acted surprised that Nicodemus did not know about being born again. Here is that discussion in John chapter 3,

"How can this be?" asked Nicodemus.

Jesus answered, "You are a great teacher in Israel, and you don't know this?"

Circumcision of the Heart in the Old Testament.
(Which is obviously a spiritual renewal of one's heart):

Deuteronomy 10:16

"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked."

Deuteronomy 30:6

"And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."

Jeremiah 4:4

"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings."

Ezekiel 44:9

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel."

Leviticus 26:41

"And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:"

Jeremiah 9:26

"Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart."

Having A New Heart in the Old Testament:

Ezekiel 11:19

"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their
flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh"

Ezekiel 18:31

"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

Ezekiel 36:26

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

Circumcision of the Heart in the New Testament:

Acts 7:51

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

Spiritual Circumcision in the New Testament:

Philippians 3:3

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

Romans 2:28-29

28 "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Colossians 2:11

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ"

Source:
The John 3 reference in the beginning is taken from the good news translation.

sassylady · Sep 25, 2014

We are all born with a sin nature that needs to be born again by the Blood of Jesus. Nobody is born a Christian, no scripture to back that one. Hopefully there are no churches out there teaching that false statement.

Born a Christian??? WHAT!?

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