GOD is very specific about what makes one a true Child of GOD.
John 3:5-7 (HCSB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.
John 1:12-13 (HCSB)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,
[SUP]13 [/SUP] who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. (born again)
Okay, but receive HIM as WHAT?
Colossians 2:6 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
The Word LORD means MASTER, but can I verify that is exactly what the Word of GOD teaches?
Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
[SUP]10 [/SUP] for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
NOTE: IT IS NOT A CONFESSION IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED IN YOUR HEART . It would only be a profession of Jesus as LORD, if you have never actually surrendered to Him in your heart as LORD and Master. A profession of who Jesus is, DOES NOT SAVE, even the Demons professed who Jesus was.
Where else does it describe that submission is HIS Lordship is linked to Salvation.
John 14:15 (HCSB)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] “If you love Me, you will keepMy commands. (That is submitting to His Lordship.)
1 John 2:4-5 (HCSB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn't keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: (That is submitting to His Lordship.)
Yes the Greek perfect tense of "KEEP" implies a lifestyle of striving to "KEEP". It is talking about the direction of one's Christian WALK, not the PERFECTION of it. NO desire to KEEP His commands, is a clear indication that the person does not even "KNOW HIM" as LORD yet.
What does it mean by spirit must be born of SPIRIT?
Man is make up of three distinct parts just like GOD. We are body, soul, and spirit. Because of Adam's sin, we all inherit a human spirit that is Dead to the will of GOD at natural birth (born in sin). ONLY the Holy Spirit can bring that Dead to the will of GOD human spirit to become Eternally ALIVE to the Will of GOD, (born again). That happens the moment we were first given that Gift of FAITH by HIS GRACE. That Eternally ALIVE to the Will of GOD human spirit thinks too, and desires to do the Will of GOD, starting with receiving JESUS as LORD which means Master. NO we are not perfect at it, and NO we will not become spiritually mature for some time, but as we feed that new Eternally Alive human spirit the Word of GOD it will mature to become more and more like CHRIST. NO I am NOT describing working to earn one's Salvation, that happened the very moment we first believed and is PURELY a Work of the Holy Spirit, and so is receiving Jesus as LORD, purely a work of the HOLY SPIRIT. But like Jesus said, one who has legitimately established that inner person LOVE relationship with HIM as LORD, will want to keep striving to KEEP His commands. It is a lifestyle characteristic of true believers; AND when we fail, we are also characterized as those who willingly confess each new sin as we become aware of it, 1 John 1:9.
So how do I know recognizing that the Spirit in the Human body of Jesus is GOD HIMSELF, AND that fact is a critical part of that Saving Faith?
It says JESUS is the Creator:
Colossians 1:16-19 (HCSB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] For God was pleased ⌊to have⌋ all His fullness dwell in Him,
What does GOD have to say about those who deny the Creator is GOD?
Romans 1:18-22 (HCSB)
[SUP]18 [/SUP] For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,
[SUP]19 [/SUP] since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Claiming to be wise, they became fools
2 Corinthians 5:19 (ASV)
[SUP]19 [/SUP] to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
So how do I know that if they believe a different gospel, or different Jesus, they are not born again?
2 Corinthians 11:4 (NKJV)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!
Galatians 1:6-7 (HCSB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ ⌊and are turning⌋ to a different gospel—
[SUP]7 [/SUP] not that there is another ⌊gospel⌋, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah.
Galatians 1:8 (ASV)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
1 Corinthians 16:22 (ASV)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.