Good testimony. Basically, a person will be born again when the Holy Spirit convicts him, and your conviction/conversion came as a result of that particular passage in John. It’s always interesting to hear how people realize that salvation is by grace alone — not “vain repetitions”, i.e., “Hail Marys”, and adhering to extreme legalism.
Our good friends are R.C., and live a frantic lifestyle being over involved in charitable events; they truly believe that doing good deeds will make Heaven more likely for them. When I mentioned Isaiah 64:6, that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” in God’s sight, their eyes glazed over.
You’re right that it’s good to be free to fellowship where the Lord leads, and not be connected to a denomination. I’m basically Baptist (Baptist P.K.), but if a non-Baptist church in our area preaches The Word better than a foar-out Baptist church in the area, I’ll attend that other church. Being a born-again Christian is what’s important, not being part of a particular denomination.
Something that is simply beyond the comprehension of those who think that religion saves.
Actually, that type would be more of an exception, as what i see being fostered is faith that the power of Rome and one’s own good deeds outweighing the bad ones will gain even the most nominal Catholics eternal life in the mercy of God, and thus Catholics typically are equal to institutionalized mainline Protestants in works, in contrast to evangelicals.
Moreover, the kind of faith that appropriates justification is one out of a poor and contrite heart that will effect the “obedience of faith” toward its Object, the Lord Jesus, and thus did Reformers preach so: http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Reformation_faith_works.html
“not “vain repetitions”, i.e., “Hail Marys”, and adhering to extreme legalism.
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Hi,
There are verses in Scripture, God asks for “repetitious”
prayer, He is pleased with it.
You misinterpret, the term means pray so people can see you, just to look holy, which amounts to insincere prayer.
Matt. 6:7 - Jesus teaches, “do not heap up empty phrases” in prayer. Protestants use this verse to criticize various Catholic forms of prayer which repeat phrases, such as litanies and the Rosary. But Jesus’ focus in this instruction is on the “vain,” and not on the “repetition.”
Matt. 26:44 - for example, Jesus prayed a third time in the garden of Gethsemane, saying the exact same words again. It is not the repetition that is the issue. It’s the vanity. God looks into our heart, not solely at our words.
Luke 18:13 - the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” This repetitive prayer was pleasing to God because it was offered with a sincere and repentant heart.
Acts 10:2,4 - Cornelius prayed constantly to the Lord and his prayers ascended as a memorial before God.
Rom. 1:9 - Paul says that he always mentions the Romans in his prayers without ceasing.
Rom. 12:12 - Paul commands us to be constant in prayer. God looks at what is in our heart, not necessarily how we choose our words.
1 Thess. 5:17 - Paul commands us to pray constantly. Good repetition is different than vain repetition.
Rev. 4:8 - the angels pray day and night without cessation the same words “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” This is repetitious prayer that is pleasing to God.
Psalm 136 - in this Psalm, the phrase “For His steadfast love endures forever” is more repetitious than any Catholic prayer, and it is God’s divine Word.
Dan. 3:35-66 - the phrase “Bless the Lord” is similarly offered repeatedly, and mirrors Catholic litanies.
It’s so difficult to get through.
Believing Martin Luther’s “faith alone” and not seeing it’s God’s action, His rules, the rituals He has decided saves us plus our “actions”, our cooperation to receive God’s grace. 3 things, this is what saves us.
It was posted, the term, a rejection calling something required “extreme legalism.”
Denial that we must follow God’s set down holy “rituals” which are the greatest means to receive His grace. God uses physical things to impart His grace.
Where is the physical used in the new Protestant teaching
of “born again?” Where is the water as Jesus states is required in John chapter 3, in His explaining the meaning of “born again” to Nicodemus?
Acts Of Apostles 2:38
But Peter said to them: DO penance, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.