is salvation really only for people who call themselves "born-again"?

Question

since they are very few, should people just conclude that Jesus' death is senseless because He was only able to save few people, which are the "born-again", even though those "born-again" are not really acting according to God's will, but just because they call themselves "born-again" they will go to heaven regardless of injustice they may have committed against other people?

they say "once saved always saved". does that make sense at all?

I'm trying to grasp some sense into that belief but I really can't. can anyone help me out? a sane mind perhaps?

dze, then what do you call this first answerer here? he sure does sound very judgmental to me.

dze, is that first answerer what a "born in spirit" should be? just look at his answer, very judgmental if I must say.

superfoot23, well, let's say that they are just reaping what they sow. look at the first answerer. am I being unreasonable for disliking the "born-again" if I have been expose for too long to people like the first answerer I have here?

Answer 1

Good luck.

The problem with 'born agains' is that they believe themselves to be less judgemental than other Christians because they believe they are filled with the Holy Spirit, who is perfect and guides their steps.

But, given a chance, they tend to be the first group to claim others are hell bound, because they can't manufacture speaking in tongues.

Every tongue speaker knows this to be true, because they were all coaxed into doing it at a meeting for the first time, and wondered whether they manufactured it right after the event. They then justify it, and overtime change the story into a miraculous, wonderful event.

I have personally seen it happen time and time again, its incredible.

Answer 2

Those who call themselves "born again" clearly do not understand the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. This phrase, 'born again' comes from John 3:3:
"Jesus answered and said to him [Nicodemus], "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Jesus went on to describe some of the attributes of someone who is born again:
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (vss. 6-8)

If you can see someone, who claims they are "born again," coming and going, then they are deceived.

In reality, the greatest part of Jesus' work of salvation hasn't even begun yet. His intent is to save EVERYONE, even those who have died in their sins -- that's what the resurrection is for (1 Corinthians 15:22-24, Revelation 20:12, also, read Ezekiel 37). God WILL save all that WANT to be saved, once he opens their minds to understand the Way to salvation. People CANNOT understand the Way of God without his holy spirit:
1 Corinthians 2:14 -- But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Luke 8:10 -- And He said, "To you [his chosen disciples] it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but TO THE REST it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may NOT see, And hearing they may NOT understand.'

Those who have God's holy spirit now ARE few (Matthew 7:13-14, 13:31-33). God's plan allows Satan to "deceive the whole world" (Revelation 12:9), but only for a time. Then God will open up salvation to ALL -- from Adam to the last person born; they will ALL be given God's holy spirit and, for the first time, understanding of God's Ways.

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1 Corinthians 15:22-24 -- For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
. . .
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Matthew 7:13-14 -- "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it."

Matthew 13:31-33 -- Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

Revelation 12:9 -- So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Answer 3

You are right. to be born again is to be be baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the hoyl spirit. Jesus explained this to nicodemus. this is the most basic requirement or better yet it is the first sacrament to be recieved by a christian. therfore, to call one self a born again christian is redundant. Not so much literal but ignorant. By definitaion a christian is baptized(born again). It's a way to get attention. Evidently being a christain does not attract enough attention so, the must call themselves born againers. as, if they are some how better, not just chirtsians but "born again" christians. so, it's igornace and pride. Pride the first sin, and paproaite because it is sin right off the bat, as soon as they say I'm a born again christian they need to head to the confessional.

Answer 4

Salvation is ONLY for sinners.

If you are not a sinner, you cannot be saved because there's nothing for you to be saved from.

But Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' (Luke 5:31) The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sinfulness, they repent and are born again of the Holy Spirit. God decides who will be born again. He chooses those whom he will adopt into his family. Start with that, friend! The rest will make sense once you are brought to spiritual life.

Answer 5

Jesus told Nicodemus that, "Ye must be born again to enter into the kingdom of heaven." Being born again is the new birth in Christ whereby you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Man is born of water, a physical birth. After accepting Christ as your LORD and Savior you are born of a spiritual birth. Many people today refuse to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and this is, as you say, why so few are saved. It is because of their unbelief that so many are destined to eternity in hell for their denial of God's will for man to live holy lives unto the LORD. And yes, there are many who forsake the will of God and call themselves Christians yet seek to please themselves, instead of God.
Each one will stand before God come judgment day and be held accountable for all that they have done, whether bad or good. The choice is yours as to who you will follow: Christ to life everlasting, or self to eternal condemnation and separation from God.
Choose life. Choose Christ.

Answer 6

salvation is for EVERYONE! some except it and some dont. Jesus's death wasnt senseless! if He had not done what He did NONE of us would have salvation. i dont believe in once saved always saved. there are some verses in Ezekiel 18:21-28 explains, if a righteous man turns from righteousness and commits sins, all his righteousness will be forgotten and he will die. and the same with the wicked. if the wicked turns from his sins and keeps God's statues all his sins will be forgotten and he will live.

Answer 7

I see that you are brand new to Yahoo Answers, having only asked three questions and that you have given no answers yet.

All three of your questions appear to have been directed at and against people who have been born again.

Why do you seem so angry at people who have been born again according to the teachings of Jesus Christ?


God bless you.

Inquiress: You will always find faults with people no matter who they are. That is why it is important to put your faith and trust in the One who will not let you down, in whom there are no faults - God. God says that NO hypocrite will enter heaven and neither will anyone who is not born again, born from above. Consider that very carefully. If you are going to point to the faults of people and refuse to be born again because they have faults and are perhaps hypocrites, you will exclude yourself from a place in heaven and will instead spend all of eternity with them in hell. Is that what you want?

Answer 8

Being 'born again' is the first step, not the last. First you walk the walk before you could ever talk the talk.
Being 'born again' is the first step where you leave sin behind, and start to live without it, it is only a step towards salvation. You become a new creature, of spirit, and a 'child of God'. Jesus taught:
You must be born again. -John 3:7.
He is of course speaking in spiritual terms, of a spiritual birth. Even Jesus contemporaries, such as Nicodemus marveled at this doctrine.

Answer 9

The bottom line is this:

We are all sinners in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Here is the answer to sin:

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Answer 10

All I can say is that all those who are truly born again of the Holy Spirit will be saved. In fact they're saved already. As for others, it isn't my place to speculate.

Answer 11

Being "born again" is a reference from John. In it Jesus was referring to what Paul would later speak of - the need for spiritual change within our lives. It has become popular to speak of being born again.

The truth is that IF a Christian has been born again they don't act like some on this forum. By definition a born again Christian doesn't threaten people with hell. The Bible tells the story of the greatest Evangelical Revival in the world and I don't read in it a desire to threaten people with hell. I read about people who talk about the power of God to change lives and make a difference in how people live. I read about people who reached out and healed and helped others in need. NO born again Christian wishes the fires of hell on anyone. My heart breaks at the thought that even one person would suffer that fate.

My life didn't change because God showed me a picture of hell. My life changed because a loving God entered my life and helped me through a time of great need. I found one who was greater than me. He had created me and given me life. And when I chose sin he saved me from it.

I speak of my Lord who saved me from hell by bearing my sin on the cross. Such thoughts don't bring me to boast - they bring me great pain. So when I see others who are where I once were I don't brag or threaten I just care about them and pray that they can experience what I have.

I'm not sure that I share the belief in "once save always saved". It is a variant of the doctrine of predestination. It is beyond my conception that a Christian who commits the vilest sins will go to heaven simply because he had once been saved.

That is perhaps where I struggle with my own Protestant heritage. I believe that we are saved by faith alone and not by works. But I believe that the truly saved life will reflect the fruit of God's Spirit.

Pastor John