I know many Christians believe that when we are born again it is because they have "accepted Jesus as their personal Savior". This is a common teaching in nearly every denomination. I know my denomination doesn't teach this and I want to hear your thoughts on it. Is it Biblical to believe that we "accept Jesus" and that He is our "personal" Savior?
Very interesting. Umm... well crud. I'm not really sure. I've heard that phrase a lot in Baptist churches when I was younger, but I'm not EXACTLY sure what the deal is behind it. If I had to make an educated guess... I'd have to say they use the words "personal" savior because of God's love for each one of his children. It's not necessarily "God loves humans", but it's more "God loves Thunder AND Garrett AND Ole Cattle AND Gary AND Jude, etc. As for "accepted"... that's a good question. That doesn't sound very good, does it... to simply "accept" God. Never quite thought about that before. I like to think of it as more of an "embrace". Coming back together with God. That's just me, personally... pun intended. :laugh:
...became fashionable as a way to seperate the Protestants from the Catholics. The Protestants point out that there is no one between them and God (Jesus). That they do not have to answer to anyone but God (Jesus). Everything is between them and God (Jesus)...thus the "Personal Savior" tag.
Unlike The Catholic Church, where you have a Physical person and a Physical Church that you have to answer to and has Authority and The Church(and Her Priests) can be a mediator for God's Sacraments.
Protestantism is a simpler and much easier way to worship God. It is just "me and you...Lord" No need for anything thing else.
Just you and your personal Savior...Jesus.
As for "Accepting" Jesus into your Heart. There had to be some way that you could (by your own volition) join "The Body of Christ". A way that was nothing like The Catholic Church's method. And asking Jesus into your Heart was once again a simple and easy way to do that. No need of any ritual or another person...nada...just "you and me Lord".
Thunder, regardless of what denominations teach regarding personal salvation, I will tell you what God's word teaches.
John 3:1 �There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 �The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 �Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 �Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 �Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 �That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 �Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Many denominations teach that being born of water is referring to water baptism but if you read it closely Nicodemus understood it as regarding a physical birth.
In essence Christ explained a person is born first physically then he has to be born again of spirit. More proof is found in the next verses. Thus comes the phrase being born again.
1 Peter 1:23 �Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
This verse said we have to be born again by the word of God and that includes having a personal relationship with Christ where He hears your prayers and He will supply all your needs.
Philippians 4:19 �But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
When we are born again, we become a new creature in Christ that is non denominational and is neither Jew or Gentile.
2 Corinthians 5:17 �Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15 �For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
The only way we can become a new creature in Christ is to receive God's promise for eternal life by sealing us with His Holy spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:22 �Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13 �In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Some of the advantages of being a new creature in Christ is having the spirit of truth and error so we can understand God's word and also to be able to know a false doctrine when we are confronted with one of which there are many.
1 John 4:6 �We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
John 7:24 �Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
The only way we can judge with righteous judgment is with God's Holy Sprint dwells within our bodies that teaches us the things of God according to His word. Our judgment needs to be based on God's word only.
1 Corinthians 2:12 �Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13 �Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
All the above is about having a personal relationship with Christ. This relationship is an eternal love affair that will never end. I can tell you from my own experiences with my own relationship with Christ that this relationship is very real and it is very intimate because the Lord knows our most inner most thoughts, good or bad and he reveals His word and His holy wisdom through His Holy Spirit to us when we put our complete trust in Christ for our salvation. Salvation has nothing to do with our own good works or being water baptized as that is a works of the flesh. Eternal life is a free gift just for excepting it with out any doubt.
Romans 5:15 �But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Romans 5:16 �And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Romans 5:18 �Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
I hope that is a help to you Thunder.
Gary
1 Corinthians 6:17 �But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
we are born again by the 'renewing of our minds' [Romans 12:2]. to renew you mind you must 'prove what is that good, and acceptable will of God'.
to be saved we must believe that Jesus is the son of God [Acts 16:31], the implications of this are tremendous. i believe to accept Jesus however, is to walk his talk. accepting (after the proof) the principles he taught by living them... and constant renewal. i believe him to be my 'personal savior' based on those things. he is there through every step and decision, every thought.
When adam and eve were created god walked on the earth with his creation and talked to them personally, but adam gave his dominion over to satan so the earth became satan's kindom. The earth became so horrible then god had to kill every single human being, and even after it was repopulated god was still forced to destroy entire civilizations an races of people like sodam.
God sent jesus christ into the world so that man could have a path back to him. When christ died the temple veil was torn which represented the seperation from god. Now anybody whom believes Jesus was the son of god the messiah and that he died on the cross as a sacraficial lamb for humanity, will not be seperated from god but have everlasting life.
Now since we still live in satans kingdom we must have a personal relationship with god , and he must be your savior. Each person has his own free will and emotions and must make a choice to come to him.God works with every individaul personally, and christianity is all about self correction, this is where the personal savior part comes in. When you have problems with people god gets you to correct yourself. Each and everyone of us have to have him as a personal savior, your mother, father, or your church's relationship with god can't get you into heaven, you have to know him for yourself.
When adam and eve were created god walked on the earth with his creation and talked to them personally, but adam gave his dominion over to satan so the earth became satan's kindom. The earth became so horrible then god had to kill every single human being, and even after it was repopulated god was still forced to destroy entire civilizations an races of people like sodam.
God sent jesus christ into the world so that man could have a path back to him. When christ died the temple veil was torn which represented the seperation from god. Now anybody whom believes Jesus was the son of god the messiah and that he died on the cross as a sacraficial lamb for humanity, will not be seperated from god but have everlasting life.
Now since we still live in satans kingdom we must have a personal relationship with god , and he must be your savior. Each person has his own free will and emotions and must make a choice to come to him.God works with every individaul personally, and christianity is all about self correction, this is where the personal savior part comes in. When you have problems with people god gets you to correct yourself. Each and everyone of us have to have him as a personal savior, your mother, father, or your church's relationship with god can't get you into heaven, you have to know him for yourself.
