For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. -- Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
spirit birth
Ask the Creator to birth your spirit in Jesus and to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Commit yourself to turn away from all evil, and to allowing Holy Spirit to change your thinking and transform you into a new person.
If you are uncertain, then ask God to show you the truth, and to give you personal revelation.
If you are uncertain, then ask God to show you the truth, and to give you personal revelation.
God soon showed me… true religion was a union of the soul with God, and Christ formed within us… and from that moment… I knew that I must be a new creature. George Whitefield, A Short Account of God’s Dealings with the Reverend Mr. George Whitefield (London: W. Strahan, 1740), 27–28.
The Book of John at Chapter 3 (TPT):
Now there was a prominent religious leader among the Jews named Nicodemus,[a] who was part of the sect called the Pharisees and a member of the Jewish ruling council. One night he discreetly came to Jesus and said, “Master, we know that you are a teacher from God, for no one performs the miracle signs that you do, unless God’s power is with him.”
Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, listen to this eternal truth: Before a person can perceive God’s kingdom realm, they must first experience a rebirth.” Nicodemus said, “Rebirth? How can a gray-headed man be reborn? It’s impossible for a man to go back into the womb a second time and be reborn!”
Jesus answered, “I speak an eternal truth: Unless you are born of water[c] and Spirit-wind, you will never enter God’s kingdom realm. For the natural realm can only give birth to things that are natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to supernatural life! “You shouldn’t be amazed by my statement,[d] ‘You must be born from above!’[e] For the Spirit-wind blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound,[f]but you don’t know where it came from or where it’s going. So it is within the hearts of those who are Spirit-born!”[g]
Then Nicodemus replied, “But I don’t understand, what do you mean? How does this happen?”
Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, aren’t you the respected teacher in Israel, and yet you don’t understand this revelation? I speak eternal truths about things I know, things I’ve seen and experienced—and still you don’t accept what I reveal. If you’re unable to understand and believe what I’ve told you about the natural realm, what will you do when I begin to unveil the heavenly realm? No one has risen into the heavenly realm except the Son of Man who also exists in heaven.”[h] “And just as Moses in the desert lifted up the brass replica of a snake on a pole for all the people to see and be healed,[i] so the Son of Man is ready to be lifted up, so that those who truly believe in him[j] will not perish but be given eternal life. For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift.[k] So now everyone who believes in him[l]will never perish but experience everlasting life.
“God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it![m] So now there is no longer any condemnation for those who believe in him, but the unbeliever already lives under condemnation because they do not believe in the name of God’s beloved Son.[n] And here is the basis for their judgment: The Light of God has now come into the world, but the hearts of people love their darkness more than the Light, because they want the darkness to conceal their evil. So the wicked[o] hate the Light and try to hide from it, for their lives are fully exposed in the Light. But those who love the truth[p] will come out into the Light and welcome its exposure, for the Light will reveal that their fruitful works were produced by God.”[q]
Now there was a prominent religious leader among the Jews named Nicodemus,[a] who was part of the sect called the Pharisees and a member of the Jewish ruling council. One night he discreetly came to Jesus and said, “Master, we know that you are a teacher from God, for no one performs the miracle signs that you do, unless God’s power is with him.”
Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, listen to this eternal truth: Before a person can perceive God’s kingdom realm, they must first experience a rebirth.” Nicodemus said, “Rebirth? How can a gray-headed man be reborn? It’s impossible for a man to go back into the womb a second time and be reborn!”
Jesus answered, “I speak an eternal truth: Unless you are born of water[c] and Spirit-wind, you will never enter God’s kingdom realm. For the natural realm can only give birth to things that are natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to supernatural life! “You shouldn’t be amazed by my statement,[d] ‘You must be born from above!’[e] For the Spirit-wind blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound,[f]but you don’t know where it came from or where it’s going. So it is within the hearts of those who are Spirit-born!”[g]
Then Nicodemus replied, “But I don’t understand, what do you mean? How does this happen?”
Jesus answered, “Nicodemus, aren’t you the respected teacher in Israel, and yet you don’t understand this revelation? I speak eternal truths about things I know, things I’ve seen and experienced—and still you don’t accept what I reveal. If you’re unable to understand and believe what I’ve told you about the natural realm, what will you do when I begin to unveil the heavenly realm? No one has risen into the heavenly realm except the Son of Man who also exists in heaven.”[h] “And just as Moses in the desert lifted up the brass replica of a snake on a pole for all the people to see and be healed,[i] so the Son of Man is ready to be lifted up, so that those who truly believe in him[j] will not perish but be given eternal life. For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift.[k] So now everyone who believes in him[l]will never perish but experience everlasting life.
“God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it![m] So now there is no longer any condemnation for those who believe in him, but the unbeliever already lives under condemnation because they do not believe in the name of God’s beloved Son.[n] And here is the basis for their judgment: The Light of God has now come into the world, but the hearts of people love their darkness more than the Light, because they want the darkness to conceal their evil. So the wicked[o] hate the Light and try to hide from it, for their lives are fully exposed in the Light. But those who love the truth[p] will come out into the Light and welcome its exposure, for the Light will reveal that their fruitful works were produced by God.”[q]
Statement of faith
1. I believe in One God - the Almighty - the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.
2. I believe God created humans to be like Him, and to be with Him, and He assigned us to be the stewards of this earth, but we (each of us) blew this assignment and fell away from God's purposes.
3. I believe in Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Chosen One, the Anointed One - he is God incarnate, God himself come to earth in human flesh, the Son of God, God from God, Light from Light, and is one in being with the Father.
4. The cost of my errors and malfeasance was a death sentence. But Jesus took my place. For my sake Jesus was killed and was buried -- and on the third day -- he was alive again in fulfillment of the Scriptures, and he ascended into heaven. Jesus' kingdom is here, is coming, and is eternal, and I can ask Him to include me with Him.
5. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and I can ask Him to live in me.
One God, our God, in three manifestations -- who is good -- and who loves me -- and loves us.
YIELD TO JOY! GOD LOVES YOU! ENJOY LIFE! BE THANKFUL!
2. I believe God created humans to be like Him, and to be with Him, and He assigned us to be the stewards of this earth, but we (each of us) blew this assignment and fell away from God's purposes.
3. I believe in Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the Chosen One, the Anointed One - he is God incarnate, God himself come to earth in human flesh, the Son of God, God from God, Light from Light, and is one in being with the Father.
4. The cost of my errors and malfeasance was a death sentence. But Jesus took my place. For my sake Jesus was killed and was buried -- and on the third day -- he was alive again in fulfillment of the Scriptures, and he ascended into heaven. Jesus' kingdom is here, is coming, and is eternal, and I can ask Him to include me with Him.
5. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and I can ask Him to live in me.
One God, our God, in three manifestations -- who is good -- and who loves me -- and loves us.
YIELD TO JOY! GOD LOVES YOU! ENJOY LIFE! BE THANKFUL!
further explanations of christianity
CBN provides a free course, simply presented, explaining Christianity.
CBN offers other basic courses too, all free.
Samaritan's Purse free course: www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/knowing-god/
Once you are Spirit-birthed, you are Born to Grow!
CBN offers other basic courses too, all free.
Samaritan's Purse free course: www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/knowing-god/
Once you are Spirit-birthed, you are Born to Grow!
| Born to Grow: CS Lewis Institute.pdf |
|
|
|
nicene creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Apostles' creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
The meaning of life, as stated in John 17:3 (HSCB) This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.
Your life's work as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-24 (ESV): See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Your life's work as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-24 (ESV): See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
"If I wanted to find out whether a man was a Christian, I wouldn’t go to his minister. I would go and ask his wife. I tell you, we want more home piety just now. If a man doesn’t treat his wife right, I don’t want to hear him talk about Christianity. What is the use of his talking about salvation for the next life, if he has no salvation for this? We want a Christianity that goes into our homes and everyday lives. Some men’s religion just repels me. They put on a whining voice and a sort of a religious tone, and talk so sanctimoniously on Sunday that you would think they were wonderful saints. But on Monday they are quite different. They put their religion away with their clothes, and you don’t see any more of it until the next Sunday. You laugh, but let us look out that we don’t belong to that class. My friend, we have got to have a higher type of Christianity, or the Church is gone. It is wrong for a man or woman to profess what they don’t possess. If you are not overcoming temptations, the world is overcoming you. Just get on your knees and ask God to help you. My dear friends, let us go to God and ask Him to search us. Let us ask Him to wake us up, and let us not think that just because we are church members we are all right. We are all wrong if we are not getting victory over sin."
Source: A sermon by Dwight L. Moody, Public Domain http://www.ccel.us/moody.ch3.html
Source: A sermon by Dwight L. Moody, Public Domain http://www.ccel.us/moody.ch3.html
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless indeed you fail the test? ---2 Corinthians 13:5
Paul sums up Christianity into one reality: "Jesus Christ is in you." This is the one thing that Jesus said was necessary. We might be misinformed about the timing of the Rapture or misguided in our administration of church government, but Paul says a true Christian is one who has accepted the living reality of Christ into their hearts!
We are saved because when we prayed the Spirit of Jesus Christ actually entered our life! When He promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5 NKJV), He means He is with us forever. We are Christians not because we carry a Bible but because we actually carry Christ; Christ’s presence is a flame of eternal life within us. It is Christ dwelling in us that produces fruit, works deliverance, and manifests power through us. Our living union with Him makes us His temple; our connectedness to Him enlivens us as His body.
In the swirl of religious deception in our world, all we need to know about truth and error can be found by focusing on Jesus.
He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). I believe it is vital to have right theology, but truth is more than theology. "Truth," Paul tells us, "is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21). And when Jesus is in us, He transforms us.
Consider also the profound words Paul wrote to the Galatians:I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ---Galatians 2:20.
Paul wrote, "Christ lives in me." The Son of God is Emmanuel, "God with us."
Eternal life comes from knowing God "and Jesus Christ whom [God has] sent" (John 17:3).
-- Francis Frangipane (from the book "Spiritual Discernment and the Mind of Christ"
Paul sums up Christianity into one reality: "Jesus Christ is in you." This is the one thing that Jesus said was necessary. We might be misinformed about the timing of the Rapture or misguided in our administration of church government, but Paul says a true Christian is one who has accepted the living reality of Christ into their hearts!
We are saved because when we prayed the Spirit of Jesus Christ actually entered our life! When He promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5 NKJV), He means He is with us forever. We are Christians not because we carry a Bible but because we actually carry Christ; Christ’s presence is a flame of eternal life within us. It is Christ dwelling in us that produces fruit, works deliverance, and manifests power through us. Our living union with Him makes us His temple; our connectedness to Him enlivens us as His body.
In the swirl of religious deception in our world, all we need to know about truth and error can be found by focusing on Jesus.
He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). I believe it is vital to have right theology, but truth is more than theology. "Truth," Paul tells us, "is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21). And when Jesus is in us, He transforms us.
Consider also the profound words Paul wrote to the Galatians:I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ---Galatians 2:20.
Paul wrote, "Christ lives in me." The Son of God is Emmanuel, "God with us."
Eternal life comes from knowing God "and Jesus Christ whom [God has] sent" (John 17:3).
-- Francis Frangipane (from the book "Spiritual Discernment and the Mind of Christ"