Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Born Again - Mind Change - Repentance | John 3:3 | Searcher56 | 101688 | ||
This is a new thread ... off of post 101654. seeking4truth, I don't know the original very well either. I do use http://bible.crosswalk.com/ to aid my study. You ask, "As I understand it, repentance also means 'to change one's mind.' So what is the difference between repentance and being born-again?" That is a very good observation. Metanoia ( Strong's 3341) is the word for repentance ... from Metanoeo (3340) repent. Both are to changing one's mind. -- You then write ... "Also, could you clarify this concept a little concerning who does what? In other words, I could change my mind or God could change my mind. But is it proper to say that I can cause myself to be born-again or is it something that God does for and in me? What is my role in the event?" 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 may show His part and ours ... "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death". Luke 5:32 says He calls sinners to repentance. We know the kindness of God leads you to repentance (Rom 2:4) ... Though some disagree, we have the choice (free will) to choose Him, else we would be robots. Joshua asked the people to choose who they will serve (Jos 24:15). Luke 13:3 does tell us we must repent. We cannot make ourselves born-again ... God has already sent His Son to die for our sins, and then He arose. Romans 10:13-15 shows the process is reverse order. -- Finally, you ask ... "Do you think that being born-again is merely a non-substantive change in the way one thinks or do you think that there is actually a substantive (although not physical) change in the nature or spirit or soul? In other words, is being born-again really being a 'new creation' in Christ or is it just a new-improved creation or is it just the same old creation who tries to think and act differently?" There is a change ... Romans 7:14-25 is an excellent passage that may answer your question. I encourage you to study further yourself ... look at the context of the passages cited and look up related passages. Always check our what people say, to see if it is true (Acts 17:11). Searcher Do you think that being born-again is merely a non-substantive change in the way one thinks or do you think that there is actually a substantive (although not physical) change in the nature or spirit or soul? In other words, is being born-again really being a "new creation" in Christ or is it just a new-improved creation or is it just the same old creation who tries to think and act differently? |
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2 | Born Again - Mind Change - Repentance | John 3:3 | Ken hepting | 101709 | ||
Consider this: [and I don't necessarily think I'm correct, but I don't think I'm all wrong if, at all] "Many are called, but few are chosen" Who are the called but the "saved", i.e., those who believe Christ as savior, for eternal life, because of the cross and the blood that was shed for everyone. They are now called up to something. That something is to become a "son unto the Father" ergo, a "son brought into glory". [Jn 17] Freewill, being an unchanging factor, in the thing must still be considered when God, in His wisdom God chooses those who He reveals Himself to to become a son since they have chosen Him; They want to KNOW Him. But, "Let him who builds, count the cost...." Jn. 3.3,5. These are they that want to know Christ as more than just savior. The Beatittudes are now the thing that come into focus especially the one "Those who hunger and thirst...". Do you want to know God? Enter the great commandment. Learn how to. |
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3 | Born again. Giving or receiving? | John 3:3 | seeking4truth | 101722 | ||
Ken, I appreciate your exhortion to "grow up" in Christ. And I see some of the distinction you have made between being a child and being a son. At the same time, I think that we might need to consider that growing up does not make us more or less of a son. Sons (and daughters) are born, not made. I have two sons. Both of them were born to me as sons though one is now a man and the other is 4 years old. It is their birth, not their performance or maturity, that makes them related as sons to me. To me, being born again entails a few similarities to natural birth. But it is only different. I did not have a choice as to my natural birth. But I seemed to have some type of choice in my new birth (if indeed I have been born again). No matter what you want to call it, I somehow acknowledged it. But what I struggle with is that, it seems to me, new birth is new life and I think we have, in many cases, missing that point. I hear almost every week in my church that we need to give our lives to God. Why? As I understand it, according to Ephesians, we have NO life to give. Jesus didn't say that He came to get OUR lives FROM us, but to give HIS life TO us (John 10:10). Granted, Jesus did say that we must lose our life if we want to save it. But I think that perhaps it is more important to understand that, in being born again, we receive NEW life from God, not just make a bunch of commitments to improve our old lives. I can't help but wonder if we don't often come to God asking Him to wash or improve our dirty rags instead of letting Him cloth us with Himself. seeking4truth |
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4 | Born again. Giving or receiving? | John 3:3 | Ken hepting | 101725 | ||
[At the same time, I think that we might need to consider that growing up does not make us more or less of a son. Sons (and daughters) are born, not made.] No....tutored unto it. It's patterned after the Roman example of adoption. Jesus is our example in all this. Isaiah 9:6 (NASB) For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; We are born children to be tutored by the Holy Spirit and then be presented to the Father as "sons".. |
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