Born again, a “real” birth.

[Mike Mclees]

13 hours ago, Gideon said:

I  am sure that plays a part, Mike. However, I think it may be as simple as “they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Isn’t that why Jesus came and died, because in the flesh, there is none good, no, not one. That is why we are told that nothing profits but a new creature.

If we are in the flesh and do something we think is good, even if our motive might have been good, the result as you said is that pride will creep in, it is simply the human condition of our old natures. We will give Jesus all the glory, or so we say, LOL, but pride always likes ‘just a little’of the glory for ourselves. Look what I did with God’s help. Right?

One thing I have consistently seen in those who have come to the place where they are broken and desperate and who clothe themselves with their new man and humility comes to the forefront.... immediately.  As one begins to walk in their new nature, there is such an awareness that it is actually God who does EVERYTHING, and yes, even the things you actually do. He has simply done them through you and you would rather died than steal any glory from God who alone is worthy. 

Blessings, brother

Gideon

 

You talked about being a new creature and the old man with his sinful nature passes away. This is a process of time not instant. The flesh dies hard. However jesus knows the heart of a man

Romans 8:5-9 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

Getting back now to my original point. How many to day  in the organized church are of the belief and taught this belief that if they come to Christ that they are Born again of the spirit. 

We all know the term "prayer closet" Jesus spoke of it much in light of the Pharisees who did all kinds of things so to be seen of men. The Pharisees were proud and show offs, but Jesus said if you want to please The Father  go to Him in you private place where know sees you except God. How many in the church to day only have a Sunday relationship and not once visits the Father in the Spirit to pray, yet they are taught that they are born again of the Spirit. How is that possible. Was what Jesus told Nicodemus just idol talk?

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

 

Edited May 9, 2018 by Mike Mclees

[JTC]

1 hour ago, Mike Mclees said:

You talked about being a new creature and the old man with his sinful nature passes away. This is a process of time not instant.

Hey Mike, I think you're the only person that ever agreed with me. Thanks much.

[1to3]

3 hours ago, JTC said:

I know I'm unusual in many ways, my relationship with God is no different. I don't feel like I was Born Again and then changed. After some 35 yrs I know I've been Born Again, my life attests to it. A little personal history first. I was born & raised Catholic but I wasn't a good Catholic. However, even at 5 yrs old I was asking my father questions about Jesus, questions he couldn't answer. After being confirmed I quit going to church, the mass was in Latin and I didn't get anything from it. At 18 I quit believing God was real, I was an intellectual type and I wanted a god that made sense. A few yrs later, the only girl who I ever loved went to a church and got saved. She then spent another 3 yrs trying to convince me God is real. At the same time, very strange things started to happen in my life. Anyone remember those Tracts about getting saved? All of a sudden I was finding them wherever I went. I tried reading a KJV Bible but me and old English don't get along. I made it worse by starting with Revelation. More weird things happened. I went in a bar 1 night and some girl asked me where I'm from, I didn't want to tell her. So smart guy I thought I was, I said Babylon. (this is a town called Babylon near me) Well, this girl who worked for the bar and made money by getting customers to buy her a drink said to me, "aren't you glad you're not from the original Babylon". She knew more about God than me. That was very unexpected. Then on another night, while doing a good deed but also very drunk, I was in a mall. A very odd looking fellow came up to me and handed me something with writing on it, another Tract? No, it was the Gospel According to John, in the NIV which was brand new. Did this mean God is real and He wants me to read His book? Naw, I rejected that. Nevertheless, sober on Monday morning I started reading it. Please realize I didn't even know translations other than KJ even existed. But I didn't want to give up my scientific beliefs and believe in a God I couldn't see. I was very stubborn. I then bought the rest of the NIV Bible, to my shock I was enjoying it. I wanted to be very sure if I was going to believe in this so-called God. 

I prayed 1 of my first prayers. I told God He had to prove to me He's real, beyond any doubts. (I always He heard He can't do that so I figured I trapped Him) About a week later I was in a bar again, and it wasn't a nice bar. I had a beer in my hand when I noticed some girl bowed down to a $1 dollar bill she was given. Immediately I heard in my head, Because she bowed down to that dollar it will rip in her hands. And then it did. I never saw money rip like that. I put my beer down and ran 6 blocks to the train that took me home. I kept thinking, "I almost don't believe it but God was in there with me. Then I got scared as I realized God is not going to leave me alone. I can't even go out drinking in peace. What did I get myself into? So then I read the Bible and articles about the Bible, on the train. I expected someone to mock me but no one did. That too was strange. I guess a year went by, during that year I became Born Again. I had changed.

I then searched for a church and finally I found one. Of course my family didn't like all this, they wanted me Catholic again. I couldn't do it. That's my story, thank you for reading it.

Hi JTC;

Thanks for your testimony. It was a great read.

Yes God sometimes works in mysterious ways  to get our attention.

It reminds me of the story of the man who is drowning and asks God if he is real to please come and save him from drowning. And so a rescue helicopter comes and the man refuses, a rescue boat comes and still the man  refuses as he is waiting for a direct help from God, and so then he drowns.

For sure God when He calls us, we will hear His calling ,  and when we speak to Him, He answers us in His ways, ways that will make us grow if we pay attention , just its up to us to keep His free gift of Mercy and Grace, and cultivated our faith in the good soil, so it may grow and produce good fruit.

Best wishes in Christ Jesus;

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