The born again experience
 

ARE YOU BORN AGAIN?

“Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born again he cannot SEE
the kingdom of God.”

I was “born again” in a jail cell; it was the “HOLE” in a sheriff’s substation,
actually. I was arrested on an seven years old warrant. It was for a very minor
traffic violation. So why was I in the “HOLE”? Well, the warrant read, “DO NOT
RELEASE!”: so it was solitary confinement for me. No, I was not running from
the law: I was running from God and didn’t know it.

Yep. God definitely got my attention. But it wasn’t the jail cell that did it: I was an
obstinate old mule intent on sinning, and jail was God’s way of dealing with me:
getting me alone. God took me aside, and showed me that I was a sinner: I
was
as unrighteous on my extreme, as He was righteous and holy on his. But He
also allowed me to SEE the extent of my sins. I confessed to Him that I was
wrong and He was right: and I knew that I was on my way to hell. But that
didn’t worry me. You see, I deserved to go straight to hell that very night, and I
told God that. But as I spoke to God, I felt a stirring in my soul: and I told
God that I repented of my sins: but not just because of the sins I had committed,
but because my sins had OFFENDED the ONE who had created me for Himself!
I was then “born again”.

So, was I saved? Of course not! Had I repented? YES! Listen: “…except a man
be born (genao) again (anothen) he cannot SEE (understand, perceive, discern)
the kingdom of God.” In order for anyone to make a godly decision, it must of
a truth be genao (begotten) anothen (from above): it must come from God. No
man can repent on his own: it must be a calling from God. It is HE that calls us,
and shows us whom we really are: sinners in need of a Savior. God does with us just
as He did with the Israelites, He first took them out of Egypt and brought them
to the edge of the Jordan River. They SAW the Promise Land, but “…did not enter
in because of their unbelief.” They made a choice to believe the ten unfaithful
witnesses, and that decision took them BACK to wander in the wilderness for forty
years…and to die there!

The “born again” experience is simply a valley of decision. It is where a person can
agree with God and REPENTS, or stays on the wrong side of the Jordan River!

Brother Villa

Re: The born again experience
 

Looks like a bit of confusion going on here.

Re: The born again experience
 

His NAME is Jesus!

Depends on whose "gospel" one espouses.
I lean to the FULFILLED gospel of the apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul.
As for being "saved" at that particular phase of my life: I had not heard the gospel
because the church was no where in sight...because I was still blind! But when God
caused me to see, He led me from forgiveness (mercy), to remission of my sins,
and on to receiving a portion of His [Holy] Spirit. Once the gospel was fulfilled in me,
I was able to "...enter into the kingdom of God."

Am I saved now? I can say that the gospel and doctrines that the Lord Jesus gave
to his apostles and prophets still operate in me today!

Brother Villa

Re: The born again experience
 

:thumbsup

Re: The born again experience
 

His NAME is Jesus!

Beloved, what is your thoughts, interpretation of "born again"?

Brother Villa

Re: The born again experience
 

In my opinion, based on the scriptures, the born again experience occurs at the moment that Jesus, the Christ of God, baptizes you with the Holy Ghost.

Re: The born again experience
 

His NAME is Jesus!

"Except a man be born of water and of the SPIRIT, he cannot ENTER into
the kingdom of God."

Is that the scripture to which you refer? There definitely is an "entering into", but
NOT without the Holy Spirit. After being led out of Egypt, the Israelites SAW the
Promise Land that side of the Jordan River; however, they did not enter in because
of their unbelief. Their unbelief only allowed the Israelites see SEE the Promise Land.
According to my reading of John 3:3, they had a choice to make after hearing
the spies' testimony, and they made the wrong one!

But please feel free to show me the scriptures to point out my confusion.

Brother Villa

Re: The born again experience
 

As I said, my opinion is based on the scriptures, and not a single scripture as your response seems to suppose. The born again experience is scripture wide. It seems that you are trying really hard to make the exodus experience match the new birth verbatim. Perhaps a truer old testament picture is found at the base of mount Sinai where acts 2:38 was first preached. Here, the first covenant had been delivered, just as the second covenant was delivered at the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Following the delivery of that first covenant, my Lord says:

"An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee."

Re: The born again experience
 

His NAME is Jesus

I understand where you would use types, shadows, and figures of things that
would come afterward. I am using just the actual wording of my Lord, Jesus.
"Except a man be born again (begotten from above), he cannot SEE the
kingdom of God."

I came to the bank of the Jordan (so to speak), and the Spirit of the Lord had
me make a choice: it was between godly sorrow (as Peter experienced), or just
remorse (that Judas Iscariot felt).

Brother Villa

Re: The born again experience
 

First let me say that I celebrate your intimate experience in the Lord with you. Everyone's personal testimony is precious. That being said, I could never teach, nor do I believe you should teach, that the born again experience happens until Jesus, the Christ of God, baptizes you with the Holy Ghost. Certainly He deals with different hearts in different ways prior to this final stamp of approval. But it is not until His Spirit gives birth to your dead spirit, that a man is born again. My opinion anyway.:tiphat