Fundamentalist and Born Again Christians ? (beliefs, dogma, Jesus Christ, Bible)
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Thanks freedom, I think you gave me much more than I was asking for.
That last verse ( John 3.8 ) is Christ's way of describing the spiritual nature of being born of the Spirit. I am afraid I do not really comprehend what He is saying, unless it is that we cannot see visibly the being born of the Spirit.
My concept of being born again, is what takes place when we obey the gospel.
Sorry, i can get carried away.
It is a saying that even nicodemus had trouble with, he could not believe that one could come and go as the wind when they were born of the spirit. Yet he knew that Jesus could levitate, disappear and reappear from those that wished to harm Him.
What about being born of God. How one can not sin when they are born of God, because the seed of God remains in them. Even that they are righteous.
Jesus is a person. How would you like it if many people claimed to be one of your followers, but never spoke to you or better yet never listened to you. Jesus is God but he is also a person that wants to be loved. He wants to have a relationship with the people he died for. I write this not because of what I've read in the scripture, but because I know him. He not only saved me from an eternal Hell, but has delivered me out of the worst kinds of circumstances. He has never failed or forsaken me. I love him. In his presence is fullness of joy. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He is my portion. He is the light of the world.
Jesus truly does not need our love. He does know that we need to learn to give it, so He allows himself to be the receiver of this love, that we might learn to love as He loves.
THen it is returned to us a hundred fold ye more, that we will have more to give, and so on and so on....
I guess there is a difference between need and want or desire( not lust), He is returning to receive a perfect bride without spot or blemish. God is love. A bride and bridgroom love each other.
How does Jesus "talk to" you? The only way He talks to me is through the written word. As for "talking to" Him, I pray to the Heavenly Father, as directed by all the scriptures. Jesus intercedes for me.
I do not know why you are kind of surprised that I am questioning this. I speak as the oracles of God when speaking of the word of God. I don't make up expressions that are not in the word of God.
The word "oracles' is in the KJV. The Greek word is translated that way in all 4 of the KJV verses that it is found in.
1st Peter 4.11 in the NASB says : whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God;
The first use of the word is in Acts 7.38 and is speaking of Moses.
The next is in Romans 3.2 and is talking about the Jews.
The third is in Hebrews 5.12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for some one to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. NASB
There are many many scriptures on the importance of the word of God. I take them very seriously. They are what we will be judged by in the end.
Our song leader leads that song frequently, but I always wonder about it being scriptural. Many songs are not scriptural, and none of them are inspired unless they are based on words found in the scriptures.
The song " Tell it to Jesus " is in our songbook. My DH and I do not sing it when it is lead. It is not scriptural.
Okay, now I know I will really be flamed for saying all this. I can just imagine what is being thought. But I refuse to make up my own terms for obedience to the word of God.
The primary way Jesus speaks to me is through His Word, but it's not the only way, He speaks to me and others through the Holy Spirit, Godly people, and through circumstances. I was surprised you questioned this because from other posts you've made, I thought you had a personal relationship with Jesus.
I do believe In the Garden is scriptural. It was written about Mary after she sees Jesus in the garden for the first time after He arose from the grave. I've never heard the song Tell It To Jesus, but I like the title because I do that.
Jesus is a person. How would you like it if many people claimed to be one of your followers, but never spoke to you or better yet never listened to you. Jesus is God but he is also a person that wants to be loved. He wants to have a relationship with the people he died for. I write this not because of what I've read in the scripture, but because I know him. He not only saved me from an eternal Hell, but has delivered me out of the worst kinds of circumstances. He has never failed or forsaken me. I love him. In his presence is fullness of joy. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He is my portion. He is the light of the world.
Wonderful post! Oh so true!!!!!! He does want to spend time with us and He does want us to talk to Him!!! arguy is right, this is the post I've read all day too.
Usually the only time i hear the term "born again Christian" is when its used in a derogatory way, such as in the news, when someone has either stood out against something, or is shed in a bad light. To say Im a born-again Christian is redundant, imho
Having worked in the 'church' world for 30+ years (till last April) I think the deal is that 'born again' is a badge worn with honor for those who have had a life transforming encounter with Jesus as opposed to someone who was just raised 'Christian' and just 'believes' (so to speak).
So, I would say it has been used to differentiate between a nominal Christian and an extreme hardcore Christian. The negativity would come from nominal Christians or non-believers recognizing that 'born again' transformed Christians tend to be much more aggressive in evangelizing ect. A 'born again' Christian is more apt to be considered fanatical.
blessings,
- Byron
Last edited by firstborn888; 07-02-2008 at 07:28 PM..
Reason: re-wording
I guess there is a difference between need and want or desire( not lust).
The difference between needing things and wanting things is that when you need things it is necessary for your survival (like air, food and water). The things you want or desire are not necessarily for your survival. So when people claim that God needs our love, they are actually saying that He cannot survive without our love.
Originally Posted by findawayThe difference between needing things and wanting things is that when you need things it is necessary for your survival (like air, food and water). The things you want or desire are not necessarily for your survival. So when people claim that God needs our love, they are actually saying that He cannot survive without our love.
I don't think He needs our love, but He desires it because He loves us so much.
One more thing, I do not believe that going around announcing how much I love Jesus is any sign of how much I really do love Him. I think that can be considered lip-service. And saying a person is not 'born again' because they have not had some sort of outstanding experience that they attribute to coming from Jesus, does not prove anything to me. I could go into great detail and describe all the good experiences I have had in life, ( and one out of the body experience), and say that they were all signs that I am a born again Christian, but I rather think even those who do not know Christ has had similar experiences.( I was not a Christian when I had the out of the body experience, and certainly was not saved because of it! ).
By their fruits you shall know them, not by all the flowery speaches they make, including repeatedly quoting the scripture about the fruits of the spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, long suffering, brotherly love , etc.
Okay, it was more than "one more thing", but when I get started defending my faith, and the word of God, I have a hard time stopping.
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Thanks freedom, I think you gave me much more than I was asking for.
If Jesus who Christians also believe to be God needs our love, God cannot be omnipotent.
