BORN AGAIN - How intimate is your relationship with Jesus Christ as LORD?

[VCO]

I would like this discussion to focus on just HOW REAL BORN AGAIN, really is.

Also Please describe how intimate your personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your LORD,
(which means MASTER), really is.

The reason I started this Thread, is over the past several years, I have noticed that there is an ever increasing number of people who claim to be Christian, who cannot explain Born Again, because it remains a mystery to them. This is happening, not by accident either, as I believe it is all part of the Lukewarmness of the final Church age. An age when they settle for an easy believism false gospel, which is far less than becoming BORN AGAIN, as our LORD stated:

John 3:3-7 (HCSB)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again,he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
[SUP]4 [/SUP] “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
[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.

Perhaps it is our own fault for not sharing our personal BORN AGAIN testimony often enough. If we do not demonstrate just how extremely real BORN AGAIN really is, how are they ever going to know it is REAL? I know our relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal LORD and MASTER, is an intimate relationship, that we seldom talk about because it is so deeply personal. But have we forgotten that we are commanded to "Go and Tell" others what JESUS has really done for us?


Luke 8:30-32 (HCSB)
[SUP]30 [/SUP] “What is your name?” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he said—because many demons had entered him.
[SUP]31 [/SUP] And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss.
[SUP]32 [/SUP] A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

Luke 8:38-39 (HCSB)
[SUP]38 [/SUP] The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said,
[SUP]39 [/SUP] “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.

That PROOF TEXT for the Deity of Jesus Christ, just jumped off the page at me. I have read that dozens of times and never before saw it a PROOF that JESUS is GOD before.

I believe that command applies to every born again Christian. But have we really been telling ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US? I will post my personal testimony here later, but I do not want to make the opening post too long.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Take a look at the Testimony forum?

 

[VCO]

WHAT IS BORN AGAIN?

My understanding is it is the very moment that the Holy Spirit enters out hearts giving us the gift of FAITH and pours out the LOVE of GOD in our hearts:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
[SUP]9 [/SUP] not from works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

And it is the moment that the Holy Spirit brings our once dead human spirit to ETERNAL LIFE:

John 3:6 (NKJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:36 (ESV)
[SUP]36 [/SUP] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Yes it includes receiving HIM as LORD which means MASTER, but even that is a work of the Holy Spirit, NOT WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS as some will claim. THAT LOVE OF GOD, that the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts has a permanent effect on out human spirit. AND out of that LOVE OF GOD, several things will be produced by the Holy Spirit:

A sincere mourning over our sinfulness, and a desire to confess and repent of those sins.

A desire to receive and surrender control of our lives to Jesus Christ as LORD and Master.

A desire to always strive to follow HIM in obedience.

A Hunger for HIS WORD and a desire to Understand how it applies to our lives.

An understanding of spiritual truths in the Bible as taught to us by the Holy Spirit.

A longing to be with our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven, yet a desire to be about HIS work here on earth.

An inner JOY and PEACE with GOD that surpasses all understanding.

A sincere sense of anticipation for the DAY our Bridegroom Jesus Christ will come to take us to the Wedding of the LAMB.


NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE OF OUR OWN WORKS, but in reality are the HOLY SPIRIT working in out hearts.

 

[Jason0047]

My reply to this would be here:

http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/99195-born-again-righteousness-god.html

 

[Joidevivre]

Born again - A receiving of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. A new Spirit within you = the Holy Spirit.

Intimacy - An honest new communication between you and the Lord. Real heartfelt talking to him and listening for His voice personally to you. A desire to worship and follow His guidance.

 

[Blain]

How to describe my intimacy with him.... I love him with a love that has no limit, the deepness and richness of the love he and I have together goes on a level that is beyond understanding. The beauty of the love we have and how it enriches and envelopes the soul is enough to make a man cry, I crave him and long for him so badly and so deeply that I actually feel my soul groaning for him, How I long to hold him in my arms and for him to be mine. He and I are like a small child and a loving father, it is the nature of my faith and relationship with him. I am a small child and he is my father and my precious Jesus.

I have sought after something since the beginning, hungered for it, saw it but could never reach it-His heart. I have seen this heart of his, even if it was just a quick glimps. But that alone makes you fall so madly in love with him, I mean falling head over heels with such a wonderful beautiful and loving Lord is amazing. And I found that just as I am after his heart he has been after mine and longs for me to be by his side as much as I do.

Intimacy doesnt even begin to describe or explain the love he and I have and whats amazing is that it is going to be far greater than even this. If even the most evil and corrupted heart was touched with his love that persons heart would melt for him.

 

[Jason0047]

My reply to this would be here:

http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/99195-born-again-righteousness-god.html

Well, I say this because many are not born again and have no idea what this relationship with Christ is all about is like (Even self professing Christians who say they know Him). So I provided a link (With Scripture) so that folks understand how to be truly born again (So they can truly know Him).

Anyways, to answer the question: How intimate is my relationship with Jesus Christ? Well, in my walk with God, the depths of His love and understanding have been amazing. His love has been indescribeable. To give you an example: God would confirm or talk to me with His Word by using various life situations. One time, God talked to me and my fiance about forgiveness. Everywhere we went, God was showing us forgiveness. When we walked in the grocery store, we opened a Christian book, and the chapter was titled: "Forgiveness." The sermon we heard during that week was on "forgiveness." I think there was one or two other things, too (That happened that week). But this was all leading to God talking to us about something that we needed to hear involving an upcoming situation that involved one of us needing to forgive the other. God has done this several times in my life. Many times, my fiance (Who lives on the other side of the globe, i.e. Brazil) will be studying the same exact thing I am studying (And well, I do not believe in coincidences).

 

[djness]

How to describe my intimacy with him.... I love him with a love that has no limit, the deepness and richness of the love he and I have together goes on a level that is beyond understanding. The beauty of the love we have and how it enriches and envelopes the soul is enough to make a man cry, I crave him and long for him so badly and so deeply that I actually feel my soul groaning for him, How I long to hold him in my arms and for him to be mine. He and I are like a small child and a loving father, it is the nature of my faith and relationship with him. I am a small child and he is my father and my precious Jesus.

I have sought after something since the beginning, hungered for it, saw it but could never reach it-His heart. I have seen this heart of his, even if it was just a quick glimps. But that alone makes you fall so madly in love with him, I mean falling head over heels with such a wonderful beautiful and loving Lord is amazing. And I found that just as I am after his heart he has been after mine and longs for me to be by his side as much as I do.

Intimacy doesnt even begin to describe or explain the love he and I have and whats amazing is that it is going to be far greater than even this. If even the most evil and corrupted heart was touched with his love that persons heart would melt for him.

You and Fireheart should met. You guys say the exact same things. In fact you are both twenty two and from oklahoma. Two guys in the same state the same age who love God like a real father! What are the odds?

 

[Blain]

You and Fireheart should met. You guys say the exact same things. In fact you are both twenty two and from oklahoma. Two guys in the same state the same age who love God like a real father! What are the odds?

I am Fireheart, its a complex situation I would rather not go into details but I had to use FireHeart for a while until I could get my username Blain back. I had been gone a long time and saw I couldnt use my original account so I had to use a new one till I could get Blain back

 

[VCO]

You and Fireheart should met. You guys say the exact same things. In fact you are both twenty two and from oklahoma. Two guys in the same state the same age who love God like a real father! What are the odds?

Greater than you think, Oklahoma is in the Bible Belt of the USA. So is Nebraska where I was raised, only we had a better football team, LOL.

 

[elf3]

Well I am in Pittsburgh Pa and we have the Best football team! Lol

Seriously though, you can tell the Holy Spirit is working in you when you cannot start the day without prayer and reading the Bible. That is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
When you realize it's nothing you are doing but Christ in you that causes all this. When you realize that you have actually given your Whole life to God. That God saved you, you didn't save yourself. When you realize no matter how hard you worked you could not climb the ladder. When you realize it is the Holy Spirit pulling you up the ladder on His back.
We'll at least that's how I know I am justified in Christ.

 

[dcontroversal]

Well, I say this because many are not born again and have no idea what this relationship with Christ is all about is like (Even self professing Christians who say they know Him). So I provided a link (With Scripture) so that folks understand how to be truly born again (So they can truly know Him).

Anyways, to answer the question: How intimate is my relationship with Jesus Christ? Well, in my walk with God, the depths of His love and understanding have been amazing. His love has been indescribeable. To give you an example: God would confirm or talk to me with His Word by using various life situations. One time, God talked to me and my fiance about forgiveness. Everywhere we went, God was showing us forgiveness. When we walked in the grocery store, we opened a Christian book, and the chapter was titled: "Forgiveness." The sermon we heard during that week was on "forgiveness." I think there was one or two other things, too (That happened that week). But this was all leading to God talking to us about something that we needed to hear involving an upcoming situation that involved one of us needing to forgive the other. God has done this several times in my life. Many times, my fiance (Who lives on the other side of the globe, i.e. Brazil) will be studying the same exact thing I am studying (And well, I do not believe in coincidences).

Everywhere means everywhere......so you only went to two maybe three or four places the whole week? What about work, TV, bathroom, etc.......

Kind of like ALL means ALL......EVERYWHERE means EVERYWHERE and your story doesn't jive with everywhere, but rather two maybe three/four places......So only ONE sermon that week......THE sermon we heard that week.....

Can we make something a lie when we stretch the facts and use words that are not applicable?

See the difference.....

A few places I went this week I heard and seen messages that pointed me at forgiveness

EVERYWHERE I went this week I heard and seen messages that pointed me at forgiveness

TO EMBELLISH is to LIE...........AND to USE WORDS that ARE MISLEADING is to lie, to be deceptive is to LIE....

SO was it EVERYWHERE or NOT? JUST ASKING THAT IS!

 

[Blain]

Everywhere means everywhere......so you only went to two maybe three or four places the whole week? What about work, TV, bathroom, etc.......

Kind of like ALL means ALL......EVERYWHERE means EVERYWHERE and your story doesn't jive with everywhere, but rather two maybe three/four places......So only ONE sermon that week......THE sermon we heard that week.....

Can we make something a lie when we stretch the facts and use words that are not applicable?

See the difference.....

A few places I went this week I heard and seen messages that pointed me at forgiveness

EVERYWHERE I went this week I heard and seen messages that pointed me at forgiveness

TO EMBELLISH is to LIE...........AND to USE WORDS that ARE MISLEADING is to lie, to be deceptive is to LIE....

SO was it EVERYWHERE or NOT? JUST ASKING THAT IS!

?? Was that Necessary? Seems like a bit much....

 

[dcontroversal]

?? Was that Necessary? Seems like a bit much....

Words mean everything and I was just asking.....no heat or attitude and was it necessary for you to question my motive for trying to understand how someone can use words that are misleading to try and make a point about Jesus?...especially when many consistently use words that make things false or misleading......SO......LIKE I SAID...WAS JUST ASKING.....

Now...maybe when you have matured a bit, and have seen all kinds of this from people who mislead others all the time by twisting words and or the meaning of particular words you might ask yourself one day....oh wait let me guess you are above it.....

 

[crossnote]

How intimate?

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(Joh 15:4-5)

At least ideally so...but not always

 

[VCO]

My born again Christian Life began, the hard way. I had to hit BOTTOM Face first before I learned to look up. On Christmas Eve 1977, my wife of only six months, Demanded a divorce; because "You are never going to earn enough money to buy me what I want in life." I had a good job, working the night shift at the Post Office, so her excuse hit me HARD. The following week I spiraled into deep depression and attempted suicide three times.

The first two times I had a pistol against my head with the trigger half pulled, when a TERROR overwhelmed me, NOT fear of dying, because that is exactly what I wanted to do; specifically I wanted to cease to exist. But this was a TERROR that was way beyond what man holding a knife to my throat could ever cause. And it was that TERROR of KNOWING that HELL was for real and forever, and I was about to walk in, that caused me to drop that pistol both times. The third time I got as drunk as I could get without passing out, and went out to arrange a fatal motorcycle accident for myself. That afternoon I saw them pouring lots of gravel on a previously non-graveled dirt road. I knew the most dangerous thing to ride a bike on was loose gravel. I am extremely ashamed of what happened next, and frequently just leave this part out of my testimony.

Even though I knew the Bible said, "Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy God", I actually taunted HIM. As I approached that mile of loose gravel with NO HELMET on; I looked up at the sky and taunted HIM, "If you want me, you can take my life anywhere that you want on this mile! I don't want to live to see another day!" I leaned out over the handle bars, making sure the throttle was wide open, because I wanted to hit head first at full speed when I lost control. The whole mile the bike never even wobbled a bit, it ran as smooth as if I was on pavement. I hit the end of that mile, and came out on the black top road. Backing my throttle off, I slowly went home and and sat up the rest of the night trying to figure out what happened.

After I had sobered up, I was walking into my bedroom about 5:00 AM, when it hit me. I cannot ride a bike like that even sober. A wave of GUILT washed over me, dropping me to my knees. Guilt for not only attempting suicide, but also for my utterly sinful lifestyle. I found myself on my knees weeping uncontrollably, and crying out to the Lord my GOD: "Lord forgive me! If you have a purpose for my life, then you are going to have to come into my heart and run my life, because I can't do it! I am making a total mess of it!" I knew in my heart that I was surrendering total control to Jesus Christ forever, as my Lord and MASTER.

I continued sobbing and crying uncontrollably for at least another half hour or so, as I was now laying face down on the floor. Early during that half hour of time I had a dream or vision that changed everything in me. I was kneeling at the foot of the cross looking up at HIM sobbing continuous tears, knowing that my sins put HIM there. It was like each sin added another one pound weight on Him, pulling down on those nails in HIS HANDS. That dream or vision was unbelievably VIVID. As I looked up begging HIM to forgive me, I saw blood fall from both of his wrists, and it landed on both of my forearms. I could even feel the warmth of that blood. I instantly knew that it was that blood that had forgiven me, all of my sins.

YES that same night, the HOLY SPIRIT came into my heart, and HE certainly poured LOVE for GOD into my heart. IT WAS NEVER REALLY THERE BEFORE, even though I was a church goer all of my life. I soon discovered an intense HUNGER to hear the word of GOD taught, and thankfully one night at work I got extremely bored with my COUNTRY music station on my headset radio, and changed the station. I discovered a program by Dr. John MacArthur called "GRACE TO YOU", and I could not get enough of that style of Bible Teaching. I also discovered that the more of that good sound Bible Teaching that I took in, the MORE IT CHANGED ME FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

HOW REAL and INTIMATE is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ as LORD and MASTER? I never could have imagined anything this REAL and Intimate, and my heart bubbles over with Joy, just thinking about it. I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that HE is in me and that I am in him. I LOVE HIM more that anyone or anything on this earth. And our conversations through my thoughts come from the heart, and are frequently several times a day. PLUS He has blessed me with a wife that Loves HIM more than me! We have been married 35 years now, and Jesus Christ always come first and our spouse always comes second. Yes it is hard to find the suitable words to describe the intense relationship between me and my LORD, Jesus Christ. But Soon and Very Soon, we are going to see our KING!


[video=youtube;lmGiu9JfbIs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmGiu9JfbIs[/video]

 

[Blain]

Words mean everything and I was just asking.....no heat or attitude and was it necessary for you to question my motive for trying to understand how someone can use words that are misleading to try and make a point about Jesus?...especially when many consistently use words that make things false or misleading......SO......LIKE I SAID...WAS JUST ASKING.....

Now...maybe when you have matured a bit, and have seen all kinds of this from people who mislead others all the time by twisting words and or the meaning of particular words you might ask yourself one day....oh wait let me guess you are above it.....

Above it? you barely know me how could you say that? I was saying what I said because of the way you quoted your words. See when you cap your words its generally seen as yelling and you have a sarcastic or irritated tone in the way your speaking.

 

[gzusfrk]

Born again is to start over, put of the old and walk in newness of life. To begin again

 

[Jason0047]

Everywhere means everywhere......so you only went to two maybe three or four places the whole week? What about work, TV, bathroom, etc.......

Kind of like ALL means ALL......EVERYWHERE means EVERYWHERE and your story doesn't jive with everywhere, but rather two maybe three/four places......So only ONE sermon that week......THE sermon we heard that week.....

Can we make something a lie when we stretch the facts and use words that are not applicable?

See the difference.....

A few places I went this week I heard and seen messages that pointed me at forgiveness

EVERYWHERE I went this week I heard and seen messages that pointed me at forgiveness

TO EMBELLISH is to LIE...........AND to USE WORDS that ARE MISLEADING is to lie, to be deceptive is to LIE....

SO was it EVERYWHERE or NOT? JUST ASKING THAT IS!

The Bible and this present day world is filled with figures of speech (or metaphorical language). Surely, you know that. So my attempt to explain that would be a useless excercise. Hey, look. I get it. You don't like me. That is what this is really about. But if you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ for real and seek to truly love Him and to love all other people (As He commands us to do; Thereby proving He lives within you), then what you are saying right now should not exist whatsoever. I am talking about your words of hate towards another believer (And not a correction on doctrine or a truth within the Scriptures). I am talking about love. For Jesus says it is what comes out of a man that defiles him. Meaning a person's words can defile a person. For we are to do good towards our enemies and we are to pray for them. We are not to render evil for evil. We are comanded to love, my friend. Do you want a love like that in your life? A love whereby you only want to love all other people? Well, you can have that kind of love. His name is Jesus Christ and He loves you. I am not talking about the version of Jesus that you have been taught (That would allow you to speak in the manner that you do). No, no. Most certainly not. I am talking about the real living Word, my friend. Jesus Christ (Who is God Almighty in the flesh) loves you very much and wants for you to spread that love onto all other people; And it begins by being humble before Him (See Luke 18:9-14).

Anyways, may God bless you.
And please be well.
I do really hope that you will see where I am coming from.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

I have to admit to being surprised at the animosity that exists here on a Christian site - generally. We are brothers and sisters of the Lord and as Jason says we are called to love one another.