There are words I have never heard in the bible

[Marathoner]

1 minute ago, Willa said:

No-one is doubting your salvation or how you were saved.  There are two views as to how this happened--your's and God's.  From  God's perspective, It was God Who opened your ears and understanding to perceive and believe the the Gospel.  Faith is a gift.  Salvation is a gift.  it is GOD Who calls you, enlightens you, convicts you of sin, saves you, sanctifies you and conforms you to the image of His Son.  From your perspective you made the choice to repent and follow through in receiving Christ and perhaps being baptized.  Neither of you is wrong.  

So very well said, dear sister. I can disagree with a brother or sister but this doesn't affect my esteem for them in any way, not in the least. I might cease discussing an issue with them for the sake of peace but this isn't a judgment upon them. No, I judge myself and perceive the fruitlessness of my conduct, something which the Spirit of God cultivates in us all. He is faithful to cultivate this in me and I know that I'm not alone. 

Let us judge ourselves and not our neighbor. Whomever confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and proclaims Him as Lord, and seeks to do the will of our Father in heaven, this is my brother, sister, and mother. I'm in agreement with Josh that our unity in Christ will be realized upon that day when He raises up, and we exchange the corruptible for the incorruptible. 

Until that day we see darkly and know only in part; each of us are His work in progress. Yes, I see this unity for I will never forget the prayer of the Lord in the Gospel of John. During my walk with the Lord I have witnessed the fulfillment of His word and so I know that everything God says comes to pass.   

[Willa]

40 minutes ago, Josheb said:

Such a realization is not possible without first being regenerate. Jesus, speaking to a Jewish leader about everyone said, "You must be born anew from above to see the kingdom of God.

I call this being enlightened by the Holy Spirit.  Being regenerate means that the Holy Spirit lives in them and they are saved.  The Spirit cries out Abba with their spirits.  They are born of God upon receiving Christ.  

To see the Kingdom of God means to be with Jesus in heaven in my mind.  But it also means to come under Christ's authority seeing Him as our King and Lord.  

You sound like a good Calvinist.  I am not, nor have I studied these things in Bible School or seminary, as I suspect you have.  However, I am definitely not strongly arminian.  Actually, both Calvin and Luther believed we are born again at our infant baptism, which I definitely don't believe.  We all carry a lot of baggage from our denominations, some which is helpful but some is not.

[Sparks]

1 hour ago, Willa said:

No-one is doubting your salvation or how you were saved.

Yeah they were.

1 hour ago, Willa said:

There are two views as to how this happened--your's and God's.  From  God's perspective, It was God Who opened your ears and understanding to perceive and believe the the Gospel.  Faith is a gift.  Salvation is a gift.  it is GOD Who calls you, enlightens you, convicts you of sin, saves you, sanctifies you and conforms you to the image of His Son.  From your perspective you made the choice to repent and follow through in receiving Christ and perhaps being baptized.  Neither of you is wrong.

I am not a Calvinist, Fatalist, or the New Reformed.  I have freewill.  But thanks for your comment.

Oh, and it looks like a nice Indigo Bunt on your avatar, unless I am mistaken.  I have seen one in person, and they are so vividly blue, it's shocking.

[Guest clancy]

6 hours ago, leah777 said:

before we are saved - we are unregenerate sinners

then we are saved

there must be something which changed the first into the second, a change of heart, desire, focus. something happens to make that change of direction.

It did indeed,..only it can’t be explained, God did it all, how I will never know, that’s why I have called it my miracle saving.

It was the most amazing time of my life when God saved me....nothing on the planet can come anywhere near it.

This is my testimony and I won’t be answering any questions about it...,

But I also won’t deny the gift of my Salvation ,from the Holy Spirit ...which has always been an Honour and Privilege...all the Glory goes to God...in everything....I get “ Zero” Glory.....as I’m nothing without him, just a dead and empty vessel.i was alienated from God .then he saved me......it’s a long story looking back on how he drew me to Jesus, can you imagine “ GOD” drawing you to Jesus ,How BIG is that!.....I still at times can’t believe he saved little old me.

Being Born Again...I am am a new creation because of Christ, not because of me..I have the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers me for “ HIS SERVICE PURPOSE AND PLAN!!!

Edited April 7, 2021 by clancy

[Willa]

1 hour ago, Sparks said:

Yeah they were.

I am not a Calvinist, Fatalist, or the New Reformed.  I have freewill.  But thanks for your comment.

Oh, and it looks like a nice Indigo Bunt on your avatar, unless I am mistaken.  I have seen one in person, and they are so vividly blue, it's shocking.

 

It is actually a Mountain Bluebird in fresh molt.   I envy you your Indigo Bunting.  The closest I came was a Blue Grosbeak. We had been seeing Lazuli Buntings up till then so that was what I expected till I saw the hurky beak.  My eyes just bugged.  Hubby had turned to get the camera and didn't see its bill.  It flew.

[Guest clancy]

3 minutes ago, Willa said:

 

It is actually a Mountain Bluebird in fresh molt.   I envy you your Indigo Bunting.  The closest I came was a Blue Grosbeak. We had been seeing Lazuli Buntings up till then so that was what I expected till I saw the hurky beak.  My eyes just bugged.  Hubby had turned to get the camera and didn't see its bill.  It flew.

You should see our beautiful Swans in the UK....???

[Willa]

We have some European swans here as well as Tundra and Trumpeter Swans.  I love Trumpeters.  They are huge, elegant and graceful.   Most migrate on the west side of the state.  Some have a stop over in migration about 10 miles from here.  Our European swans are usually purchased for parks.  

[David1701]

9 hours ago, Willa said:

I call this being enlightened by the Holy Spirit.  

Being born again means being given new life - a kind of resurrection of the human spirit.  It is not enlightenment, although that is one consequence.

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Being regenerate means that the Holy Spirit lives in them and they are saved.  The Spirit cries out Abba with their spirits.  They are born of God upon receiving Christ.  

The Holy Spirit's indwelling happens after being born again, repenting and believing in Jesus Christ.

Quote

To see the Kingdom of God means to be with Jesus in heaven in my mind.  But it also means to come under Christ's authority seeing Him as our King and Lord.  

Jesus told Nicodemus that you (plural) must be born again, in order to see and enter the kingdom of God.  Jesus also said that the kingdom of God is "within you".  This is the realm of God's kingdom, in the heart of one who who has been born of God, repented and believed in the Messiah.

Quote

You sound like a good Calvinist.  I am not, nor have I studied these things in Bible School or seminary, as I suspect you have.  However, I am definitely not strongly arminian.  Actually, both Calvin and Luther believed we are born again at our infant baptism, which I definitely don't believe.  We all carry a lot of baggage from our denominations, some which is helpful but some is not.

Infant "baptism" (it's not really baptism at all) is a hang-over from Roman Catholicism; but, there are many who accept the Bible's teaching about God's sovereignty in salvation (what many erroneously call "Calvinism"), who also believe in biblical, believer's baptism.

[Whyme]

Religion freaks me out too. I keep things simple.  No denomination 

[Starise]

46 minutes ago, Whyme said:

Religion freaks me out too. I keep things simple.  No denomination 

The only issue with this is many 'non-denominational' churches have stances on secondary doctrines.

In effect a non denomination is still a denomination most of the time. This is often dictated by the leader or leaders. 

I like to think of myself a non-denominational person who attends a denominational church.