Then you make this comment in your next post: "How many different religions and versions of the Bible exist? Man has been doing this forever." And perhaps this is a clue from whence your error springs.
Christianity is the pause between Daniel's 69th week and the 70th week which will bring an end to sin. During this Christianity Age, the God Who created it all is placing His Holy Spirit in the spirit of those who will bow their knee with broken and contrite spirit, acknowledging their need for The Savior. They are therein born from above. Saved. Delivered from their sinful nature and born by God's Holy Spirit into the family of Jesus Christ.
This new birth is accomplished ONLY by God. You cannot strive for it to obtain it. ONLY God can cause this 'born again' phenomenon. It is outside of human capacity to bring it to pass because a human cannot command God or earn God's life. God's Life is so far beond out human capacities that ONLY by His Spirit is a man born of water then born by the Spirit, born from above.
This miracle is so phenomenal that Jesus seven gave Nicodemus an analogy that had absolutely no explanation in the Old Testament and was not explained until in John Three we witness Nicodemus coming to Jesus to learn about Messiah and God's plan.
Jesus gave the following analogy to Nicodemus:
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?"
Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things? 11Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness. If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged.
Now before we replow this ground, please note that in verse eighteen the word 'believes' is derived from a Greek word meaning 'to faithe' as in to live in faith, trusting in God in you to be the Life directing you, so long as you submit to His Lordhsip. But if you fail to submit to His Lordship, notice there are no corollaries to the promise from God that whosever believes/faiths is not judged.
Understand that Jesus told Nicodemus something that had not one hint even of the reason behind the event in the desert, with the brass snake raised up on a pole so that whoever looked tot he brass snake was healed of the snake bites! There was no healing those snake bites by man's striving to do so. ONLY faithing in the gift of God resulted in the healing and delivery from death by snake bite.
Christianity is the life lesson lived for almost 200 years now first shown way back in the desert and Moses with the Brass Snake. ONLY faith makes possible God placing His life back in mankind. And He has Promised (and what Promise is more assured than one from God) to cleanse you from all sin when you trust/believe/ faithe in Jesus Christ as Lord and your Savior. Once born from above, His Life is responsible for your eternal Life in the now and forever.
One last question you might want to face: If you bow your head right now and acknowledge your need for His Salvation, His eternal Life, what sin could you commit in the future that would take God by surprise? ... He sees the end from the beginning. That's why Jesus said No Man can take those in Him from His hands. That no man includes you for your deliverance. Once He delivers you, not even you can take you from Him. That is utter defeat for satan.
Meant to ping you to the above post.
Make that lived now for nearly 2000 years. Tired hands. stiff fingers.
“First you offer this: “The Holy Spirit is well worth striving for.” Apparently you are under some erroneous impression that one can ‘strive’ for the Holy Spirit.”
The mere act of asking Jesus or God to help you is asking for the Holy Spirit.
John 14
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
“Then you make this comment in your next post: “How many different religions and versions of the Bible exist? Man has been doing this forever.” And perhaps this is a clue from whence your error springs.”
You cling to your beliefs just like the Pharisees clinged to their beliefs. That’s why Jesus had to keep correcting them.
Just what if, what if... as this is really important.. What if you are not correct in some important aspect because of your rigid legalism. It is good to be cautious and not gullible, but I ask you, have you allowed God’s advocate the Holy Spirit to enter you. It really changes your life in many ways. It is the only way that you will truly see Jesus again.
I’m not talking about all the imitation charismatic church experiences. They are far from what Jesus was teaching as they require an individual to surrender to another human being. I’m talking true total surrender within to Jesus Christ. True communion with Jesus. Being one with Him and Our Father.
Don’t listen to me. Be alone and pray to Jesus from the depths of your soul. You will meet Him. But be ready to be changed and be forced to let go of all that you have considered valuable in your past. You can’t hold onto the old and still have room for Jesus to move into you.
I responded to your post before I read the entire post. The scripture you quote is saying the same thing I did in my last post.
“We know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?
11Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged.
This is exactly what I am saying to you. Accept Jesus into you. Accept the Holy Spirit into you as your teacher. They will lift you up and you will meet Jesus who is already here right now. (this is the rapture) When you feel His Love you will know Him. That is one thing satan cannot imitate. When you meet Him, you will feel no fear as it is impossible to experience fear and Jesus’ Love at the same time. That is why John said, “If you say you Love God but do not Love your neighbor, then you are a liar.”
Reread the scripture you quoted and pray from your heart for guidance. If you feel that I am in error, then pray for me that I will gain better understanding. I always welcome those prayers on my behalf. I offer the same.
“That is utter defeat for satan.”
God is in control, period. Even satan is under God’s control and is being used to fulfill God’s promise. Often, satan plows the field with turmoil in order to prepare people so that God’s seeds may sprout.