I don't believe that being "born of God" requires anything on our part. That includes making a "conscious decision to accept Jesus Christ" OR a "cooperating" decision to be baptized into the Church. These are works and man can do nothing that pleases God prior to being born again.
Being born of God is God's act alone. God gives His elect a "new heart and spirit" as stated in Ezekial 36 solely based upon His grace and His grace alone.
Being born of God is God's act alone. God gives His elect a "new heart and spirit" as stated in Ezekial 36 solely based upon His grace and His grace alone.
Exactly. Which is why Catholics do not believe we can just declare ourselves "born again" and be done with it like some arbitrary decision. But Christ can clearly choose to bring salvation to those not of their own accord, but on accord of the faith of those around them. Being "born again" comes throught the sacrament of Baptism or the Baptism of Desire.
These are works and man can do nothing that pleases God prior to being born again.
So if Baptism is just a work, I presume you find it unnecessary? And if you DO find it necessary, and since it's just a work, why, as a Christian, do you follow something that is nothing but a tradition of man in that respect?