what does it mean to be a born again christian ?

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oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
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#61
Born again of water
We are not born again of water.
We are born again of Spirit.

Have you been water baptized?
We have all been born of water.
I was baptized in a tub after salvation as a sacrament of remembrance. I was completely saved by the blood of Jesus prior to this.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#62
Man must make the decision to accept before being born again.
Accept what? The un-regenerant man, as described in 1 Cor 2:14, will never accept anything that is of a spiritual nature. Before a person is born again, he does not have "spiritual faith" which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that indwells a person at the time of the new birth. The only faith that the un-regenerant person has is his faith in mankind and his accomplishments.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
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#63
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
The bible is the inspired word of God, given as instructions as to how God wants his adopted children to live their lives as they sojourn here in this world. The "life" God is asking them to choose, is not eternal life, but that good and peaceable life they can live here in this world, if they follow his instructions. God gives his adopted children the freedom to choose how he wants to live here on earth, but his eternal inheritance is by God's choice, in that he quickens them to the new spiritual birth, while they were, yet, spiritual dead, (1 Cor 2:14), unable to respond to things of the Spirit. (Eph 2:1-5).
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#64
Salvation.
We have been talking about salvation.

Hebrews 2:3

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#65
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
Saved, according to Greek interpretation means "delivered". The gospel informs his adopted children as to how they "WERE" delivered (saved) eternally, by Jesus paying for their sins on the cross and securing their eternal inheritance. The gospel can not deliver you eternally, but it can be responsible for delivering (saving) his adopted children as they sojourn here on earth. We have only one eternal deliverance that is accomplished by God's sovereign grace, but his adopted children have many deliverances while they live here on earth.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#66
Salvation.
We have been talking about salvation.

Hebrews 2:3

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”
Salvation, according to Greek interpretation means "a deliverance". There is an eternal deliverance, and there are many deliverances that his adopted receive as they sojourn here on earth.

Heb 1:14 - Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for "THEM WHO SHALL BE HEIRS OF SALVATION". Who are the heirs of Salvation? Ref Rom 8:1 - Them which are in Christ, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Who are the "we" in Heb 2:3? It is not the carnal, un-regenerated man, because the carnal man (Rom 8:7) is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. The "we" are those who walk after the Spirit.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#67
It means that you have accepted God's free Graced gift of becoming a New person in Christ by and through your Faith in Jesus Christ -
You must be interpreting Eph 2:1-5 much differently than myself.

To me, an un-regenerant person, as described in 1 Cor 2:14 is spiritually dead, as stated in Eph 2:1, and unable to accept a spiritual gift.

I am open to explanations.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,747
609
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#68
You must be interpreting Eph 2:1-5 much differently than myself.

To me, an un-regenerant person, as described in 1 Cor 2:14 is spiritually dead, as stated in Eph 2:1, and unable to accept a spiritual gift.

I am open to explanations.

I Agree with your statement here of the un-regenerated person is Spiritually disconnected from God ---and they are not a Christ--ian ------

Only people who have received Jesus in their hearts are Christ--ians ------

Title of Thread is ---
what does it mean to be a born again christian ?
studentoftheword said:
It means that you have accepted God's free Graced gift of becoming a New person in Christ by and through your Faith in Jesus Christ -

Maybe I should have said --- God's free Graced gift of Salvation -----of becoming a New person in Christ by and through your Faith in Jesus Christ ---

Does this help you ? -----your only a Christ-ian if you become an new person in Christ ------unbelievers remain away from God ----