Christian Living

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   Pratonixposted 14 years ago

   There is no option to the Christian life, but that of carrying the cross. Jesus said: 'If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.' Matt 16:24. Paul said, 'I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I love; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.' Gal 2:20.
   
   There is too much of a shallow Christianity that is prevailing in the world today. True Christians are able to say, as Paul the apostle said, 'Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body' 2 Cor 4:10.
   
   Of course, the starting point for understanding the words of the Bible is that one should be Born Again. Our Lord told Nicodemus that though he was THE teacher in Israel, knowing all the law and the Scriptures, yet he would not be able to understand the things of God and heaven unless he was Born Again. John 3:3,5,7. Also 3:9-12.
   
   Hope there are other Christians here on HubPages who will respond positively to this. So what do you say about being Born Again, Carrying the Cross and Experiencing Resurrection Life in Christ Jesus?

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      the pink umbrellaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      jesus christ................

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      1. 66

         Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         LOL That's a good one

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            the pink umbrellaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            so tired of these posts! lol boreing!

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               Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Nice new old pic you have. Loving it

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                  the pink umbrellaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  its not that old, i just took this picture a few weeks ago... but thank you!

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                     Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     LOL I meant I saw this pic before, as your avatar

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   2. 74

      IntimatEvolutionposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You had me until the "born again" comment.  What you said up until then was right on.  However, someone does not have to be "born again." I have this opinion because Christ did not put conditions on his love.  Christ did not put conditions on his peaceful message.  He did not walk this earth persecuting people for not being born again.  In John 17:7-10 Christ is speaking to God.  Verse 9 he says, "I pray for them(speaking of his flock of followers).  I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours. 
      
      Christ fully acknowledges the fact that a big portion of the world will not believe he is the son of God, or won't believe in his message of brotherly love.  So Christ prays some more.  And John 17:11-26 is a beautiful passage where Jesus is expressing his love for his followers, and for God.  It is also a very intimate moment where Christ pleads mercy for humanity. 
      
      He prays.  That is it.  Prays, and there are no mentioning of being born again this, no born again that.  He prays. 
      
      John 17:26 is the ending to his prayer.  It says, "I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me, may be in them and I in them."  Period.  It is that simple to be Christ-like. 
      
      However, how we live that life is an entirely different matter.  You are absolutely correct on your points of not living in Christ, but, solely for selfish reasons instead.  In fact it is quite fruitful to be a Preacher.  They make a ton of cash, free living expenses, and major tax write offs. What do you think Christ would say about that?  He did turn over the tables of the money changers.  I don't think he be none too happy.  So your points there I agree on wholeheartedly. 
      
      Nevertheless, I just don't feel all that born again stuff is really necessary to get the true meaningfulness of Christ across the board.

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         Pratonixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I was trapped in a sabbatarian cult for about 18 years. I know what it is to be in bondage to legalism. I never knew what it is to be 'born again'. In fact, I used to attack those who preached that we must be 'born again'.  Then one day in a marvellous way, in answer to 10 years of prayer, I was born again.
         
         I know what it is to come out of darkness into God's marvellous light; I know what it is to come out from bondage into liberty. I know what it is to experience the forgiveness of sins through the power of the shed blood of Jesus sprinkled on one's heart by faith. I know what it is to be indwelt by the Spirit of God. And I know, above all, that the Bible is a Living Book, and it contains the words of eternal life.
         
         I know, because being 'born again' is an experience that is true. Jesus was telling Nicodemus about just that. You will not understand what I am saying unless you too are Born Again. Born of the Spirit, from heaven above.
         
         My main concern however in putting up this thread is that many so-called Christians are NOT born again, and they think they are. To be born again is to have Christ living in you through the Holy Spirit. Rom 8;9b, Gal 2:20.
         
         May God grant you this wonderful experience, just as He did to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.

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         1. 74

            IntimatEvolutionposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Well, for your hard work and dedication he did this for you.  However, it does not mean that everyone has to be born again. 
            
            See you say it yourself that basically what you experienced, was a cherished event.  I envy that.  Still however, it was a personal experience none the less.  It is not something that has to happen.  It is not something that has to be done.
            
            You are a traveler like Paul it would so seem.  What is hidden in that message, only you and Paul know.
            
            To be Christian is an individual experience.  To be Christ-like is an individual experience.  Like Christ said, he doesn't pray for the world, he prays for the ones who believe like him. 
            
            You poetic experience speaks volumes of the love of Christ.  But in no way, does Christ forsake his love from those who are not "born again."  Sorry, he doesn't.  I feel his powerful love everyday of my beautiful life.  Therefore as one not born again Christian, but rather, a dedicated believer in his love and faith..., your experience will not get you to heaven any differently than I.
            __________________________________________________________
            People, if you want a new life.... I have one I could suggest.
            If you think that Christianity and the belief in God might be right for you.......... then go for it.  If getting baptized makes you feel closer to god, so be it.  It spending 40 days in and nights in the Sahara desert makes you feel closer to God, then by all means go do it.
            
            But YOU do not have to do that. 
            Jesus never commanded anything of you, except to believe in him and to keep his father's (God) commandments holy.  That's it.  If you need a copy of those commandments, I'll be happy to send them to you.  Email me.
            
            But don't let anyone tell you "have to" do any ritual.  Jesus's only ritual was to pray.  Yes he got baptized.  But that was of his own accord, and he didn't say we had to either. 
            
            Take your own journey with Christ.  Be passionate and committed, and I'll see you in heaven.  Thanks for the platform, Julie

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               Dave Barnettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               The act of Baptism by water is a symbolic death and resurrection.

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                  Pratonixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  The main thing is to be born again. To be washed of your sins and to receive the Holy Spirit.
                  
                  After one is born again, he testifies in the waters of baptism. And baptism is your commitment and surrender to the Lord. You identify yourself with Him in His death, burial and resurrection.

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         Pratonixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Does it mean that we ignore what Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3, that he MUST be born again, John 3;7.
         
         What about the experiences of those who came to the Lord in Acts of the Apostles? Like Paul, Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and others.
         
         Man is tripartite: spirit, soul and body. Because of sin we are spiritually dead. When we are born again, we receive eternal life through the power of the precious Blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then our spirits become alive. The spirit of man includes the conscience. Our conscience is cleansed. We become aware that we have entered a new realm. All things become new.
         
         If you ignore being Born Again, you are ignoring the key to understanding the Bible. And if you invalidate the Word of God, you invalidate God.

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      exorterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am not going to get int all the details, it would make this comment way to long. I was in the world, I would go to church sometimes, I thought I was a christian. if I ran into a conflict I would not argue about anything, there was no benefit in it. our Lord stepped into my life, I was born again, I went to church every time the doors was open, I even found other churches, one open everyday of the week except tuesday.  I was a different person, if something was said from the pulpit that I felt was going against the word, I would be up there talking to the preacher after the service, I wanted to learn all I could, but I was not going to follow blindly.  I became a born again, Holy Ghost filled Christian, that was ready to stand up for The Word

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         "  I became a born again, Holy Ghost filled Christian, that was ready to stand up for The Word"
         
         You forgot to add "and therefore much smarter and better off in life than you other people who don't "know" as I know."
         
         It must be wonderful to be you!

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   CYBERSUPEposted 14 years ago

   IntimatEvolution has put this question to rest. Read her post again, thank you very much IntimatEvolution

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   1. 70

      Pratonixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would rather go by what the Bible says. Our Lord Himself said, "It is written...'. Rather than having our own interpretations, let us go by the Word of God.

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   IntimatEvolutionposted 14 years ago

   Thanks.

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   Greek Oneposted 14 years ago

   why do you newcomers to Christianity always pervert the meaning of the original Greek texts?

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