Well, if a person has not been born again, thats all he or she is but a dead nature.
One must first be quickened to life in order to call upon the Name of the Lord Ps 80:18
18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
That word quicken is the word chayah and means:
to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
One is made Alive by New Birth, so until one is born again, they cannot Call upon the Name of the Lord.
Two thoughts for an aside to your comment.
Born Again has as many different definitions as Christian does. It's become a meaningless word, a Christian cliche. In the history of the Church, the ante nicene fathers don't have any conversations about being born again that I can think of.
In fact, the "born again" that most people think of today has only been in existence for about 200 years. It started after John Wesley's time in the States, and one of his disciples noted people having this profound, earth shattering, emotional uplifting type experience. And he deemed that was what born again was like.
In all of the History of the Church, the "born again" phrase was never described like that THAT I AM AWARE OF, and even if it was, it was a person saying it, vs a movement teaching it.
I don't' disagree with enough of anything you said to make note of it. But the way born again is used, people sling it around in Christian chats like it was some Abra Cadabra word to give them validity. Again, not you here....
So, since not a one of us, really can make the call who is or isn't, or even if our own self is "born again", we shouldn't really be making that a focus of our faith. We can either trust God to get us where He wants us, or think we have to do it without Him. We can trust Him, or try to take control from Him.
Paul summarizes my thoughts here... errrr that isn't right. How cocky was that one. It's pretty funny so I'll leave it up. Second attempt. Paul makes comments that I think summarize my thoughts above. (At least that was honest... whew.)
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press onfnso that I may lay hold of that fnfor which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are fnperfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep fnliving by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us
vs 12, Paul doesn't assume to have been made spiritually mature. But he presses on/runs the race with the hope that Jesus will provide.
13, to be clear he says I DO NOT CONSIDER myself to have it yet, (note, that is not saying he IS that, it's saying he doesn't pat himself on the back or brag about his accomplishments.) He forgets the sins of his past, and runs to the goal ahead. In other words, he doesn't dwell on his sins, and focus on them, he runs ahead. PICTURE, it's like driving a race and looking over your shoulder the whole time, instead of the finish line.
vs 14. redundant.
15.So, now he admits him and others are mature, and he coaches them, keep the humble example I just described... And this example is what Paul says we are to use to identify those that are in his camp.
The message from Paul is, don't worry about claiming you are saved, or born again. Don't assume you are there. You were saved for a reason, to be instruments of His righteousness. Focus on being the best instrument you can be. Let HIM take care of the rest, after all you have to be REMADE, not remake yourself.
Because I piggy backed a quote from someone does not mean this post is picking at them. I'm using their thought, and adding to it. Do not remove tags from mattress. Do not pass go unless you have 200 dollars.
OWER and LOVE. Love to all Hoffco