Question about being a christian....?

Question

I have been a christian all of my life, but, when I was younger I definitely felt lost at a time in my life, and I had sex before marriage, and I had my child out of wedlock. Of course, I am now happily married to my son's father, but I still have guilt of having a child out of wedlock. Our son was born when we were engaged. Now that I am back on track with my life, I wonder if I am still considered a christian or if I need to become a born again christian? i'm not entirely sure what 'born again' christian means but I will happily take any advice not criticism.

Answer 1

I appreciate your honesty and the fact that you have a conscience. Concentrate on the fact that God forgives in a large way as long as we are truly repentant (which sounds like you really are).

Can you imagine your son doing something wrong and coming to you feeling bad about it. Would you not forgive him?

God is even more forgiving then we are. Read 1 John ch. 4.

Once your baptized you are born again. You died to your former course of life and were born into your new life that of a Christian. That's all that born again means.

Keep up the good work and keep seeking the truth from the Bible. There is alot of falsehood out there. Remember Matthew 7:13-25.

Learn to forgive yourself, we are not perfect. That is why we are grateful for the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. Because of his shed blood we have forgiveness of sins.

Answer 2

Whenever you gave your life to Christ that's when you become a born again Christian. Because when you live life not knowing God or living for him and then you decide to follow Him that's like literally being born again. Because you change into a completely different person. Don't feel guilty about having a child out of wedlock. You knowing that that was a sin and asking God for forgiveness is all He wants from you with that. He has forgotten that sin and forgives you if you've asked for forgiveness. You are still a Christian. People forget that Christians make mistakes too. We're human beings. It's in our nature. That's why Jesus was sent and died on the cross. Sin is all the same. No sin is worse than another. Hating someone or a kid stealing candy from a store is the same as having sex before marriage and getting pregnant. So don't beat yourself up for that. God loves you so much girl. And we all go through times in our relationships with God where we may stray away and not be as close to him. But it's ok, cause He's right there waiting when you come back to him. I hope that helps, sorry for rambling on so much!

Answer 3

great question. When you say you have been a Christian all your life, do you mean at sometime as a child you accept Him as your personal Lord or Savior, or were you "just" born into a Christian family. I was raised in the church and until I was 17 I thought I was a believer. I never remember not believing there was a God. That is different then being a born again Christian however. Being a born again Christian is the only way to be a true believer and follower of Christ. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and when we accept Him as our Savior He gives us new life- If you have turned your life over to Jesus at one time and fell away, you just need to rededicate your life to Him- however if you never admitted to yourself and God that you are a sinner, repented and asked Him to forgive you and give you new life, then you are not a Christian, just someone who was raised in a home that had Christians in it. God has only born again children- no grand children. You can email me if you choose and we can talk more.

Answer 4

Have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Then, if you still have guilt, just repent and ask God for forgiveness specifically for having sex before marriage (the child was the consequence, but the sin was the sex out of wedlock). And remember 1 John 1:9, That if we confess our sins he will forgive us. If you have done so, rebuke the condemnation in the name of Jesus.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Your question suggests that you have doubts about what it means to be a born again Christian. Don't feel bad even Nicodemus a priest did not know either. Jesus chided him and then explained it to him. Nice guy that Jesus.

To be born again Christian is to accept the Spirit as part of you (and your Life) as a voluntary choice. No one can tell you just how to do that but I can promise if you really want that you can ask the One that created all things (John 1:13,14) and He will tell you and then you will understand and your doubts will subside.

Answer 6

First off, being born again simpy means you gave your life to Christ. You are still a Christian, but every Christian, even pastors and ministers, make mistakes. We all need to repent and re-evaluate ourselves every day.
If you have already prayed about it and accepted forgiveness, then you're forgiven. It sounds to me like you need to forgive yourself so you can move on.
I also agree, the short answers you get on here shouldn't determine your life. Find a good Christian woman and get some counsel, and she can help you get over the past.

Answer 7

If there was a time in your life that you repented for your sins and accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, you don't need to, you are already a child of God John 1:12 once we are children of God we are his children, but we do sin and fall so we need to repent and ask for forgiveness, there are 2 types of repentance

if you are an unbeliever (non christian) it is=repentance unto salvation
if you have been saved and accepted the Jesus as your Lord and savior and have sinned it is=repentance unto restoration

Sometimes as Christians we stumble and fall but we are still God's children, we just need to go back and ask for forgiveness, it like if your child has done something wrong against you who are their parents, that doesn't mean they stop being your child right? your relationship with each other may get sour or bad but it doesn't change the fact that he or she is your child, same is with God, once you become His child you will always be, if you are a Christian and you feel dry in your spiritual life and relationship with God you need to have a renewal and revival in your life, but you don't need to become born again if you already had a personal encounter of accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior once in your life, God Bless

Answer 8

Ok well you didn't loose your Christianity so you don't need to be born again (that just means accepting Christ). You just had a backslide. Christians aren't perfect, remember that. We all sin. But God does give forgiveness if we ask for it. Ask God to forigive you and help you get over the feelings of guilt. Once God has forgiven you, you are not guilty anymore! :-)

Answer 9

Death is inevitable. The thief on the cross knew when his would occur, but we can not predict our own. After his death, the crucified criminal went to live in paradise with Jesus. Some of us will also live eternally in God's presence. But others will experience everlasting torment, forever separated from Him.
If we receive Jesus as our Savior, our penalty for sin is paid. We are adopted into God's family, and Heaven is our eternal home. If we reject Jesus, we remain alienated from the Lord and under condemnation for our sin. We are destined to experience eternal judgment. God won't accept any of man's excuses because there is no acceptable defense for unbelief. (Acts 4:12)
Become part of God's family today. Acknowledge your sinfulness, and express your faith in these words:
"God, I have sinned against You. (Romans 3:23) I've followed my own way and refused to give You the right to rule in my life. (Romans 3:10-12) I recognize I am separated from You and cannot rescue myself. I do believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I accept the truth of the Scriptures? that His death on the cross paid my sin-debt in full. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) And I ask You to forgive me of my sins. (1 John 1:9) By faith, I receive You, Lord Jesus, as my personal Savior from this moment on."
If you just spoke those words to God, then, like the thief on the cross, you have received salvation? a gift of God's grace. The heavenly Father welcomes every person who comes to Him through His Son, regardless of background, age, or current situation. Through Jesus, the right to enter paradise is yours!

Answer 10

"Born Again" Christian eh?
Well,there are many definitions for that. It can be very confusing,I know.

"Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "



And don't worry about your son,I think it's fine. My parents had me outside of marriage as well.