(And how this UCG doctrine must exasperate the Mormons e'en more! Here they already have to deal with "becoming" God's children a second time on Planet Earth...and now the Armstrongites are telling them they've got to do it a third time in heaven! If ONLY all the cultic sects under the sun would just have one giant "cult convention" to make things a little less confusin' for their adherents!!!)
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ALL: for the rest of you, here's some of the problems in a nutshell:
The Bible: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to BECOME children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1)
If you're not "born again" (or 'born from above'), no kingdom of God for you.
The Greek word, "right" in John 1:12 is exousia...authority...right. Jesus, through John, indicates that this "childhood of God" doesn't arrive through "natural descent" -- like being born a Mormon. It's only through being "born of God." [And again, if this was talking about some pre-existence, Paul's verses about being "adopted" as His children would be ludicrous]
And that word ”become” isn't particular to the Bible, either:
...for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have BECOME his sons and his daughters. (Mosiah 5:7)
This passage talks about changed hearts through faith -- not through a pre-existence spirit-birth, which isn't even mentioned in the BoM.
"And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, BECOMING his sons and daughters; And thus they BECOME new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Mosiah 27:25-26)
The apostle Paul emphasized that we are to be adopted children
-- he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will (Eph. 1:5)
-- and not children of some pre-existence; hence, that’s why the Book of Mormon like passages from Mosiah talks about Mormons becoming children -- NOT that they always have been children).
In fact, Paul describes this adoption as future tense: we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:23)
And then...the UCG position (see post #504) on this, yields even greater confusion for those seeking to impose a certain theological perspective upon the Bible!
I'm sorry friend, I have no desire to engage in conversation when the tenor is not pleasant and courteous. Have a great night and God bless....