24 days ago

Is This A Strange Paradox?
The issue concerns confusion over what it means to be born again as differentiated from being saved. Many if not most Christians do not know the difference if they are aware of one at all. In fact the dissimilitude is substantial.

Born Again Verses Salvation
Few issues contribute to more disunity in the body of Christ than an ages old debate over eternal security. Some say "once saved always saved" while others make the case for Christians being able to lose their salvation. The former crowd points to verses like John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." The same would be said for the verses Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified, John 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 Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Can We Fall From Grace?
Those that believe in what John Wesley called "backsliding" to the point of returning to a lost condition refer to verses like Hebrews 6:4-6 " For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." 2 Peter 1:10 seems to indicate the possibility of a fall with the words "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" This sounds like the writer is saying it takes diligence on the part of Christians to avoid a fall from grace much like is referred to in Gal 5:4 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

Which Side Is Right?
Each side of the argument has ample scriptural evidence to support their view point and this begs the question about which group is right. I believe that both sides are correct about what they espouse and both sides are wrong for not accepting the belief of the other camp. It is time for the church to come to agreement and settle this dispute.

The reason for the confusion is lack of understanding as to where the experience of being born again or saved take place. The Bible teaches that in much the same way God is three in one we are also tripartite. In a similar way to God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit we are spirit, soul and body. This is illustrated in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We can see in this verse that we are spirit, soul and body. This is reinforced in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 " And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The born again experience takes place in the human spirit. Jesus explained this to Nicodemus in John 3:5 when he said " Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". Jesus tells Nicodemus that being born again is a spiritual event in verses 6-8 " That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

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