The admonition from Jesus was ‘to be Born Again’. What follows after that in the way of doctrinal methodology used to ‘walk the walk’ is where variation in Christian sects derives. With Mormonism, being born again is something that occurs ‘after all that you can do’ thus it contradicts the most fundamental tenent of Christianity. The other vagaries of Mormonism are the dross which cannot ‘unsave’ someone, but which will not save one either.
Ah, the ‘Born Again’ subject...I disagree with you, about what you have said...and for this reason...
I have noted on various religion threads, that there is a very distinct differing of opinions, as to how this ‘born again’ experience comes about...I have noted that those supporting Calvinism, have said that one is ‘born again’ first, regenerated first by God, and then after that comes repentance...in other Christian religions it is turned the other way around...first one repents, and then comes regeneration, of being ‘born again’...
These are two very different views as to how becoming ‘born again’ comes about...is it regeneration first, and repentance afterwards, or is it repentance first, and regeneration afterwards...
The Calvinist, from what I have gleaned off of FR, maintains, that man in his state, simply cannot repent, because he is unable, because he is as if ‘dead’...only regeneration, coming first from God, can enliven someone to the point where they can ask for forgiveness....the other Christians, maintain, that man, can recognize his need for forgiveness and is fully capable of asking for true forgiveness, and if he is sincere, than the regeneration will come about...so from I have been able to gather, according to the Calvinists, God will cause a regeneration in whoever he wishes to, regardless of that persons wishes...in fact the very act of being regenerated may come clear out of the blue, occur in an instant, and virtually this person is transformed or is ‘born again’...then and only then can he even begin to repent, because the very act of being born again, has allowed that person to actually see, how very rotten and unpleasing to God he is...with other Christian religions, it seems to be, that man, as he is, can recognize how rotten and unpleasing to God he is, and can ask for forgiveness for that and then be born again...
The two orders are completely reversed....
I think these very different perspectives on this ‘born again’ or regeneration subject need to be addressed...it truly is not just after being ‘born again’ that differences in doctrinal methodology pop up...those differences pop up, before the born again occurence ever takes place...
You have mentioned the Mormon response to being being ‘born again’ and I was noted, by another poster, I have watched Arnold Murray, and his take on this ‘born again’, is completely different...Murray contends, that the phrase ‘born again’ actually means, born from water, or in other words, born of woman...to distinguish those humans born of human mothers, as opposed to say spirits coming down and inhabiting human form...a view, quite out of mainstream Christianity, but there you have Murrays teachings on this subject..
So I really am in disagreement with you here...the differences that members of many different Christian religions have with one another, occur before and after ‘born again’, and for many Christian churches, these very differences, minute as some of them may be, are important enough for them to believe, that upon these very minute differences, their salvation is at stake...