While 80% of Americans say they are Christian, 45% call themselves “Born Again Christians” according to Barna Group, Ventura, California, USA
Forty-Five percent of Americans say they have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as Savior according to The Barna Group. But even survey author George Barna agrees that not all born again Christians are bearing fruit. What we’re finding is that there is still a lot of superficiality related to the fact that a lot of people have recognized that the spiritual dimension of their life is important. Barna finds that 36-percent of Americans are what he calls NOTIONAL CHRISTIANS, they describe themselves as Christians but do not meet the born again definition.
Why do we «dress up» for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week?
Jesus said that to see or to enter the Kingdom of God we must be born (gennao) again, but He didn’t say when or how we are to make this change. This is what He did say:
John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. That’s the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
He said everyone who is born of the Spirit is like the wind. The wind cannot be seen. So neither can anyone who is born again of the Spirit be seen because they are spirit and no longer flesh and blood humans, so says Jesus. Everyone born of the Spirit is spirit. A spirit can be heard but not seen, as the wind.
John 3:6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. A human is born of the flesh and is flesh, not spirit. A human can be seen, and is not like the wind. A spirit is invisible. A human is visible. Unless anyone is spirit and not flesh, he is not born again, born from above or born of God, according to Jesus.
What then did Jesus mean when He said” Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God?
1st Corinthians 15:50 “And I say this, brothers, that flesh and Blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does Corruption inherit incorruption.
what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Is that plain enough?
1Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed;
Changed how? Changed into a spirit being.
1Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed (be born again).
Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
1Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (be born again). You, as a flesh and blood human cannot see or inherit the Kingdom of God until you are born again as spirit according to Jesus.
Jesus’ statements are specific and can’t be disputed. Other scriptures are ambiguous concerning born or
Begotten again. Do you believe Jesus?
Jesus was born again. Col.1:16,18
Proof may be defined as sufficient evidence to convince the observer that a particular hypothesis is true.
Jesus did say when when he said the day of salvation is now. He also said how when he said to confess the Lord Jesus as your Savior with your mouth. Why would he tell people to be born again without telling them how?
It is done by God, not us.
With God everything is possible. With man it couls be impossible.
Ask of the Lord believing that He hears you.
Matt. 1925 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”
26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Because just as we play no part in our being born physically, we likewise play no role in our being born spiritually. That’s why it’s called being born from above. Eph CH 2 says we were dead (meaning dead spiritually, but God made us alive. God birthed us spiritually without our help.
Herbert your statement that Jesus was “born again” is completely false and erroneous. The scripture you sight tells us that He rose from the dead, not that He was “born again”. Born again, more correctly translates to “born from above”. Your error is further compounded by stating “we make spiritual changes.” We make NOTHING and God the Son makes (and has made) all things. He does the changing. He is sovereign saving those He chooses. God the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin as a first step and then opens the heart and mind to the truth of the gospel.
As I continue to scan your discourse it becomes clear that you are confused or have been misled and are in danger of heretical misconception and it’s frightening consequence. The LORD can yet redeem your soul/ spirit and you can yet be born from above.
Unless a man is born again he can not see-enter the kingdom off heaven
How can one be save unless he is first saved? He can not see to make a decision. He must be first saved.
I am not of the reformed theology but I suspect God knows exactly when someone will be saved and saves them simultaneously as they repent. OW. MY head!
We do not make this change. Being born again is a work of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps that’s the disconnect.
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
About 15 years ago I ran a study on born again Christians in America and at that time according to the source only about 15% fell into this group, if now we have 45%, then to me this would indicate that the fulfillment of all prophecies is quickly approaching. Fact is, I know of only one prophesy that has not occurred and when that happens, the time of the gentiles will be fulfilled. for those who claim to be born again it would be well with them to realize at the time of their spiritual rebirth their spirit and the Holy Spirit were joined together!
I find that the works program is taught in the churches. It is FAITH that takes you in. IT is within you.
It is done by God Himself.
It is as the wind. You do not know where it comes from, you do not know where it is going. You only see the results of where it has been.
I have found that there is a solid belief in Jesus and what He has done for me.
IT is as if an inner knowledge has been imparted to me, that I have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ and that not because of anything that I have done or will do.
That ALL my sins were forgiven—a whelming up within me.
Yes, I see the standard of what “born again” means has changed, as they included all evangelicals. This is startling to me as there is a major evangelical denomination the teaches there is no such thing as being born again. Shocking, but true. And of those who claim to be born again, many struggle with on-going, willful sin. Some churches call it “backslidden” but if you never left that mud pit you were in, you never “slid back in.” There needs to be renewed teaching of the most basic sound doctrine.
Amen accept Jesus Christ and repent of your sins and you are born again
As it was said to me.
Behold I stand at the door and knock, if you open the door, I will come in and dine with you and you with me. The experiece of my life time.
i group in born again background but did not get it .after i leave home i went to church that are cults .then 4 months before i was 60 years i ask jesus to come for give my sins askhim in my heart .
Belief and trust are quite different in all aspects. Belief would come first but what do we believe about Jesus and the salvation plan of God. Most of the world believes in Jesus, they believe He was an actual person and most I feel would say he died on a cross. Now come the faith/trust aspect of these beliefs. One is our need for salvation and a Savior and another is that Jesus was sent by the Father to rescue mankind from the hold of Satan. Then the faith of receiving Him the very Spirit of God into our lives and the final belief/trust/faith aspect is the surrender to that new life within and the true purpose of God for our lives. Those who have the Son have Life those who do not have the Son do not have Life.
Being born again is plain and simple, forgiveness isn’t possible without repentance, repentance isn’t possible without Godly sorrow, and Godly sorrow isn’t possible without fear of God. When the weight of the moral law( 10 commandmants) bring us knowledge of our sin we are helpless in front of a perfectly moral God, that’s where putting our full trust into Christ comes into play. We have sinned against God and the only way to get right with him is to turn from our sin and put our trust in Jesus Christ( God in the flesh)
John 4:16
I am the Way,the Truth and Life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through Me.
In order to see and enter Heaven you must be born again as stated in John 3:5-7
Colossians 2:8-9
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition,according to the elemental spirits of the world,and not according to Christ.
Remember Ephesians 2:8-9
For by Grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing;it is a gift of God,not a result of works,,so that no one may boast