1 John 4:18

[JesusistheChrist]

The new birth made us clean despite our rotten-ness. Like we are rotten to the core because we are ALL sinners but Jesus covered that so that when God looks at us he doesn't see our flaws and failures. That doesn't mean I think once saved we can keep sinning. I think God knows when we are really putting our best foot forward and when we are slacking off because he KNOWS US so it all looks different for everyone because everyone is at different points in their walks of faith.

But the new birth was never meant to just "cover". IOW, the new birth is basically where God, spiritually speaking, removes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh instead upon which are written His laws. Of course, the new birth also entails being indwelt by the Holy Spirit Who gives us the enabling power or grace by which we might walk in a way which is pleasing to God.

"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." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

 

[jsr1221]

But the new birth was never meant to just "cover". IOW, the new birth is basically where God, spiritually speaking, removes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh instead upon which are written His laws. Of course, the new birth also entails being indwelt by the Holy Spirit Who gives us the enabling power or grace by which we might walk in a way which is pleasing to God.

"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." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

This may have been covered already, and if so I apologize, but how do you know when, or even if, you're born again?

 

[JesusistheChrist]

This may have been covered already, and if so I apologize, but how do you know when, or even if, you're born again?

It's been said (and rightly so, I believe) that the only evidence of the "new birth" is a new life. Paul put it this way:

Romans chapter 6

[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
[10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

This "walking in newness of life" is only possible if we've truly had our "old man crucified with Christ" and had him "buried with Christ by baptism into death" and if we've truly been indwelt by the Holy Spirit Who gives us the enabling power or grace by which we might now serve God acceptably. I mean, that's just a very raw skeletal outline, but we can certainly discuss the specifics of it much more fully if you'd like to.

P.S.

I don't want to derail this thread, though, so perhaps we should continue that particular conversation elsewhere unless the OP wants to discuss the same here, too.

 

[Mitspa]

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." -1 John 4:18

So I am confused because it says, "...fear has to do with punishment..." Well talking to many Christians they tell me that they are afraid of punishment by God. I have to admit, I am too.

I also hear many Christians say that to fear God is a lot like fearing a parent. I used to fear my parents because I didn't want to get punished. Now, since I am older, I fear their disapproval and them being "disappointed in me." So that analogy never really made sense. Then people say, "Well God is the perfect parent." I don't know what a perfect parent looks like because my parents are imperfect.

Lastly there are many non-believers who make the case, why would a loving God hold the threat of hell over your head if you don't do as he says? That always confused me because in a way they are right. How can God still be loving and that verse, mentioned above, be true if there is a threat of hell hanging over us if we are not saved?

"This is good and pleases God our savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." -1 Timothy 2:3,4 I had heard it said that God's will isn't always done, so we have to pray for it. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." -Matthew 6:10 But God is God so why not throw satan into the fiery lake right now and be done with it so everyone can see God for who he is? But would that take away our free will?

I'm confused.

My sister the promise is made to believers...and whosoever will, can come and receive the Fathers love and mercy....If they reject that, and end up in a place with no mercy...they have judged themselves.