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THE SINNER’S PRAYER:
What seems on the surface to be a wonderful thing, is in reality a horrible deception in the Church. I have heard it said many times that just REPEATING the "Sinner’s Prayer" will save anyone.
I recently heard an altar call on international television wherein the pastor told those coming to the altar that "In just two minutes, many of you will be saved and destined for eternity in heaven." Two days ago I clicked on The Trinity Broadcasting Network airing a program on creationism hosted by a man with a doctor’s degree (which I did a check on and found his degree to be bogus). Anyway, he invited his audience to say a "sinner’s prayer" with him. I timed it—twenty seconds exactly. Do twenty-second prayers really save people? Or is the "sinner’s prayer" just one more giant deception of the Church?
Is there Scriptural backing for such utter nonsense? Is there really a Scripture somewhere that suggests the repeating of a short prayer of confession or acceptance will of Jesus will instantly save him? (That a short prayer could well be the beginning of "being saved" [future], I have no doubt).
But no one is actually saved in the past tense until he is given IMMORTAL life in the First Resurrection of the dead (more on this subject near the end of this paper).
I am not denying that most of those who repeat some form of a sinner’s prayer are called of God. But are all who are called in this life, actually SAVED in this life?
Is the repeating of a sinner’s prayer (a call to repentance and acceptance of Jesus as your Saviour) sufficient to gain one entrance into the Kingdom of Christ? Many would cry heresy to suggest otherwise.
Here’s Christ’s own answer:
"For MANY are called, but FEW are chosen" (Matt. 22:14).
"So the last [called] shall be first, and the first [called] last: for MANY be called, but FEW chosen [in this church age]" (Matt. 20:16).
Oh yes, the "first shall be last"—they will be saved, but they will be the "last" to be saved in the Great White Throne Judgment.
If someone repeated a sinner’s prayer at an evangelistic campaign and then died in any auto accident on the way home, would they be qualified to be in the Kingdom of God based on their heart-felt sinner’s prayer? Is there nothing more required?
Theologians have taught the ministers in seminaries that all that is needed for salvation is the repeating of a few magic formula words, and presto-chango; YOU ARE SAVED. Nonsense! It is believed that all one has to do is find a Scripture verse with the lowest possible denominator of requirements, with the least possible number and difficulty of commandments, then simply pronounce those words with your lips, and YOU ARE SAVED. Oh really?
But didn’t Peter address all those visiting in Jerusalem on that momentous Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection and boldly proclaim:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be SAVED" (Acts 2:21)?
I mean really, how hard can this thing of "getting saved" be? "CALL upon the Name of the LORD" and "be saved." Is not this formula for salvation CONTAINED IN the "sinner’s prayer?" What else could possibly be missing?
Two things we are told:
[1] CALL upon the Name. Whose name?
[2] of the LORD. Who is the Lord, but JESUS CHRIST?
And what did the "LORD Jesus Christ" have to say about those who call Him, Lord?" Do you really want to know? Or would you rather not go that far in your quest to understand what calling upon the "Name of the LORD" really means, entails, and DEMANDS? Well, ready or not, here’s Christ’s own answer:
"And why call ye [all of you] Me, LORD, LORD, and DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY?" (Luke 6:46).
"For whosoever shall DO THE WILL of My Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matthew 12:50).
The apostle John says,
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof [of the world]: but he that DOETH THE WILL of God abideth for ever [for the eons]." (1st John 2:17).
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS is righteous, even as He [Jesus] is righteous." (1st John 3:7).
The Lord's brother James says,
"But be ye DOERS OF THE WORD and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22).
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man SAY he hath faith ['And why call ye Me, LORD, LORD'], and have not works ['and DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY']? can [saying or confessing that you have] faith save him ['... you hypocrites ...This people honoreth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me...']? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you SAY unto them, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled'; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith [SAID OR CONFESSED], if it hath not works [ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS], is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may SAY, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith [SAID OR CONFESSED] without thy works, and I will show thee my faith BY MY WORKS. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble [AND THEY HAVE NO ACTION OR INTENTION ON DOING WHAT JESUS SAYS TO DO]. But wilt thou know, O vain [USELESS] man [HYPOCRITE], that faith [SAID OR CONFESSED] without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought [prepared] with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:14-22).
Jesus then tells what happens to people who "hear and do not" the things He says and teaches. Their spiritual house will come under trial and attack and it will FALL:
"…and the ruin [fall] of that house was GREAT."
We CANNOT "call upon the Name of the Lord," and "DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH HE SAYS."
Now then, WHAT "things which he says?" EVERYTHING THAT HE SAYS! Can’t we do just some of the things He says? No, EVERYTHING. What if we do just some of the more important things He says? No, EVERYTHING. Here are but a few:
"For I [Jesus] say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).
Many Pharisees (like Saul/Paul) kept the Law of Moses nearly flawlessly to no avail. Jesus set a standard of righteousness and morality FAR ABOVE the carnal ten commandments (Hebrews 7:16).
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again [spiritually begotten, spiritually converted, spiritually regenerated] he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
A twenty-second sinner’s prayer does not accomplish any of these mammoth spiritual accomplishments of God in us.
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed ADULTERY with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:28).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ADULTERY… they which do such things shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19 & 21).
"But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39).
How many Christians do this? Yet it must be done.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone, but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.
"He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that HATES his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:24-25).
Do we "hate" our lives in this world? Are we "dying" to all the illegal pulls of the flesh? The last thing on earth Christians want to do is DIE. Yet, unless we do die (as a seed put in the earth), we will not be living in the Kingdom of God.
"Verily, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the LEAST of these, ye did it not to Me" (Matt. 25:45).
Whenever we fail to do GOOD to others, is exactly how we fail to do GOOD TO JESUS. Are you convinced that Jesus is happy with the way you treat your family, your neighbors, YOUR ENEMIES?
"Verily I say unto you, that a RICH man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19;23).
And yet, one of the major thrusts of all modern evangelism is their "prosperity gospel" in which they extol the virtues of WORLDLY MATERIALISM! They have no shame.
"But I say unto you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that hate you, and PRAY for those which despitefully use you, and persecute you [WHY?]; [ANSWER:] that you may be the SONS OF YOUR FATHER which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:44-45).
No one will enter the Kingdom of God unless and until he obeys this commandment of Jesus Christ from his heart. And the ONLY way that one can do this is if he is SPIRITUALLY CONVERTED. And a twenty-second sinner’s prayer saves NO ONE. Millions and millions of naive people believe they are already saved, and there is little if anything left for them to do.
COUNTING THE COST
God has already outlined a training course for those who would be Sons and Daughters of God. It involves a whole lot more than just enunciating a phrase of faith in Jesus. Acknowledging Jesus as your Saviour is certainly the starting point, but it is far from the complete requirement for those who would reign with Jesus as Judge, Lord, Priest and King. Here are just a few of the things that God requires of us. There are, of course, dozens, even HUNDREDS more declarations and admonitions to those who would become manifest Sons and Daughters of our God and Father:
1. "LOVE your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that hate you, and PRAY for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you [Why?]; that ye may be the children [Greek: ‘SONS’] of your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:44-45)!
2. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matt. 7:12).
3. "For I say unto you, That except YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL EXCEED righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in NO CASE enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).
4. "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let Him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and FOLLOW ME" (Matt. 16:24).
5. "Jesus said unto him, You shall LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind… YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matt. 22:37-40).
6. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved" (Matt. 24:12-13).
7. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye My disciples indeed" (John 8:31).
8. "Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but HE THAT DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).
9. "COME OUT OF HER [Mystery Babylon the Great and all of her evil teachings], My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4).
10. "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. IF YOU ENDURE CHASTENING, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if ye be without chastisement [Gk: 'TUTORAGE, i.e. EDUCATION or TRAINING, by implication: DISCIPLINARY CORRECTION:--CHASTENING, CHASTISEMENT, INSTRUCTION (doctrinal), NURTURE, figuratively: JUDGEMENT, THE LAKE OF FIRE, GRACE, (GREAT) PERSECUTION, (GREAT) TRIBULATION, AFFLICTION, SCOURGE (to beat severely with a whip or rod), SUFFERING, BURDEN (with much PRESSURE), ANGUISH, TROUBLE'], whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons" (Heb. 12:5-8).
11. "Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as YE ARE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1st Pet. 4:12-13).
12. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it BE TRIED WITH [SPIRITUAL] FIRE, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1st Pet. 1:7).
13. "LOVE NOT THE WORLD [that is the social system of this world, we are to love the people of the world], neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1st John 2:15-16).
14. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: but be ye transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:1).
15. "But Jesus called them unto Him and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But IT SHALL NOT BE SO WITH YOU: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister [servant]" (Matt. 20:25-26).
16. "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES" (Phil. 2:3).
17. "Let this MIND BE IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:5).
18. "SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you. DRAW NIGH to God, and He will draw nigh to you. CLEANSE your hands, ye sinners; and PURIFY your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:7).
19. "REPENT ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15).
20. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE" (Phil. 1:29).
21. "But I say unto you, That ye RESIST NOT EVIL: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39).
22. "Then said Jesus unto him, PUT UP AGAIN YOUR SWORD into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt. 26:52).
23. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY [PUT TO DEATH] THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, ye shall live" (Rom. 8:13).
24. "WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).
I know that it sounds overwhelming that we should actually live by all of these commandments. And actually, there are many more like commandments in God’s Word. How are we to perform all these impossible tasks? Well certainly not by our own will and power.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD
Thankfully, we don’t have to accomplish all these many commands by our own power. God also gives us many promises to be with us in every way necessary to assure our success:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me [‘I have strength for all things in HIM which GIVES ME POWER’ {Henry Alford}, ‘Nothing is beyond my power in the strength of HIM Who MAKES ME STRONG’ {The Twentieth Century New Testament}, ‘I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who LIVES WITHIN ME’ {Phillips Translation}]" (Phil. 4:13).
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and HE SHALL LIFT YOU UP" (James 4:10).
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you though the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord… Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [LOVE]. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ… Wherefore the rather, brethren given diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, YE SHALL NEVER FALL" (1st Pet. 1:2-10). We will expand on this one more a little later.
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season WE SHALL REAP, if we faint not [Gk: ‘do not lose heart’]" (Gal. 6:9).
"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto ALL THEM ALSO THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING" (2nd Tim.4:8).
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment [remember that, ‘judgment is upon the House of God NOW,’ 1st Pet. 4:17] : because as He is, SO ARE IN THIS WORLD" (1st John 4:17).
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [‘faith’ is] NOT OF YOURSELVES: [So where does 'that faith' come from?] it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP [Gk: ACHIEVEMENT], CREATED IN Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-9).
"If God be for us, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? (Rom. 8:31).
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" (Rom. 8:38-39).
And likewise, there are many more such Scriptures of comfort and assurance that God is able and willing to see us succeed once He has begun a work in us.
It is true that
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [‘faith’ is] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."
But let’s not stop reading in the middle of a thought…
"For we are HIS [God’s] workmanship [Gk: ‘achievement’], created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS, which God has before ordained that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM" (Eph. 2:8-10).
Is God creating and accomplishing in you ‘GOOD WORKS?’ If not, you are a "Christian" in name only, and all the sinner’s prayers in the world won’t save you.
Here is the briefest outline of how God "saves us:"
Jesus Christ must first "CHOOSE us" (John 15:16). You don’t choose Him until He first chooses you. You have no "free will" by which you choose Christ. Christ CHOOSES YOU, or you aren’t chosen. (Be sure to read the four-part series on "Exposing the Myth of Free Will" on this).
The Father then "DRAWS us [Gk: ‘drags us’]" to Christ (John 6:44). You don’t come without an invite. What may seem like a "free choice" on your part to come to Christ, in reality is the Father dragging you by many unseen circumstances beyond your view or control.
By GRACE, God gifts us with FAITH (Eph. 2:8). Both are from God; man contributes NOTHING. If you don’t give God credit for all of your faith then you don’t have any faith, because faith comes ONLY from God.
Then "the goodness of GOD leads you to repentance" (Rom. 2:4). Our repentance originates in GOD, not in ourselves. If God doesn’t lead someone to repentance then they CAN’T REPENT.
We are spiritually "BAPTIZED into Christ’s death" (Rom. 6:3).
"For he that is dead is freed from sin… For SIN SHALL NOT have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under GRACE" (Rom. 6:7 & 14).
And it is the grace of God ONLY that will save us. But HOW and WHEN? What does it mean to be "under grace?" Answer:
"For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, TEACHING US [Gk: ‘to train, educate, discipline, punish, chasten, instruct, learn, teach’] that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly [with a sound mind], righteously, and GODLY, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12).
If you are not doing this and growing every day, then you are not being graced by God, and you are not on your way to salvation. The grace of God WILL DISCIPLINE AND CHASTEN us into obedience to all of God’s Spiritual laws and commandments.
"Whosoever will come after Me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and FOLLOW ME" (Mark 8:34).
This is not an "option" to salvation; this is an absolute REQUIREMENT. I am not trying to paint a picture of doom and gloom, but the reality of living as Jesus Christ demands is not a walk in the park or a stroll through a rose garden. You can pursue a life obsessed with beauty, fame, vanity, materialism, and worldliness, but don’t think you can also coordinate all that with a life of following Jesus Christ.
"For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow [By suffering with Him—‘Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL SUFFER persecution’ (2nd Tim. 3:12)] His steps" (1st Pet. 2:21).
"He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He [Jesus] walked" (1st John 2:6).
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He IS, SO ARE WE in the world" (1st John 4:17).
If you do not "suffer persecution," then you clearly are not "living godly in Christ Jesus."
"To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES; To him that OVERCOMES" (Rev. 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21).
"Overcomes" WHAT?
Overcomes the sins of the FLESH, the sins of the CHURCH, and the sins of the whole WORLD. We must overcome just "AS" Jesus overcame:
"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even AS I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21).
Jesus Christ overcame His own FLESH (Heb. 4:15), and Jesus overcame the sins of the whole WORLD:
"These things I have spoke unto you, that in Me [Jesus] ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have OVERCOME THE WORLD" (John 16:33).
We must all overcome as Jesus overcame, and we must all live as Jesus lived, and anything less is a shame and heresy.
And just how long must we be put up with all this persecution and trials of the cross? Again, let Jesus answer:
"And ye [Gk: ‘all of you’] shall be hated of all men for My Name’s sake [Does that include ALL Believers? ‘YEA, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus, SHALL suffer persecution’]: but he that endures [Gk: 'remain, under go, bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, suffer’] TO THE END shall be saved" (Matt. 10:22).
Are we to foolishly conclude that "he that endures NOT to the end," and "he that does NOT overcome," and "he that does NOT suffer persecution," and "he that does NOT take up his cross," and "he that is NOT baptized into Christ’s death," and "he that does NOT live godly and righteously," shall ALSO be saved just as long as he speaks a twenty-second sinner’s prayer? Nonsense. There are HUNDREDS of Scriptures which tell us the many, many things that God will do in and through us before He actually "SAVES us."
Most of the nearly 50 New Testament verses regarding spiritual "salvation" in the King James are in the Greek aorist tense (equating to the ‘indefinite’ in English). Most of these 50 verses are translated correctly in the King James. The following are found many times in our Bibles:
"BE saved," "TO BE saved," "SHALL BE saved," "SHOULD BE saved," "MUST BE saved," "MAY BE saved," [and] "MIGHT BE saved."
Where you find "saved" or "HAS saved," it usually has reference to someone whom Jesus healed, rather than spiritual salvation into the Kingdom of God. A few times we find the phrase: "ARE saved." This, however, is not telling us WHEN we are saved, but rather HOW we "ARE saved." (Scripturally we "are saved" by hope, grace, and the gospel).
Although Eph. 2:8 tells us that, "By grace ARE ye saved through faith…" This is a statement of HOW we get saved—by grace, those in the past "are saved," those living now "are saved" by grace WHEN they get saved, and those in the future also "are saved" by grace (as opposed to some other means). A very few King James renderings such as 1st Cor. 1:18 & 2nd Cor. 2:15 should also read, "are BEING saved" (as it is in the Greek), whereas 2nd Tim. 1:9 & Titus 3:5 should read, "SAVES us [an ongoing process]."
REBIRTH/BORN AGAIN:
"...that which is conceived [Gk: gennao] in her is of the Holy Spirit... Now when Jesus was born [Gk: gennao] in Bethlehem..." (Matt. 1:20 & 2:1).
Notice that words "conceived" and "born" are both translated from the same one Greek word gennao.
Strong’s #1080, gennao, to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother), figuratively to regenerate, bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceived, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
So what are we to do with this verse:
"Except a man be born [Gk: gennao] again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
Should this verse read: "born again," or "begotten anew?" I once believed this verse should be "begotten" rather than "born," seeing that no one is literally "born" again in this life, but I now believe that context forbids this translation. But how can Believers be literally born again in this life based on the context of Jesus' statement:
"That which is born of the flesh [that's all of us] IS FLESH [that too is all of us] and that which is born of the Spirit [are we now born of the Spirit? NO, and here's why...] ...that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT" (John 3:6).
Is anyone human flesh and at the same time SPIRIT? No, I think not. Jesus adds more proof of what it is like to be "born of the Spirit" -
"The wind [Gk: pneuma-'spirit'] blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell whence it comes, or whether it goes: so is everyone that is BORN of the Spirit" (Verse 8).
Right there are three reasons why no one except Jesus has been born of the Spirit:
[1] We are not composed of spirit,
[2] We are not powerful like the wind,
[3] Neither are we invisible like the wind.
And so, we as Believers as "conceived" by the Spirit of God and have the "earnest" of His Spirit (Eph. 1:14), but we will not be born again (or anew) until we are resurrected with "incorruptible, glorified, powerful, SPIRITUAL bodies" - like the WIND (I Cor. 15:42-44).
Jesus taught that the seed that fell on the stony ground did ‘endure for a time,’ but since it had not deep root, the cares of this world caused it to ‘wither away.’ Is it not clear that we must 'endure unto the END’ to be saved?
And Paul absolutely proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, that NO ONE is saved (in the past tense) IN THIS LIFE. Here is why:
"For we are saved BY HOPE: [also by "grace," and "the gospel,"] but hope that is seen [seen as a fact, as in, ‘I am already saved’] is NOT HOPE: for what a man sees, why does he YET HOPE FOR [it]? But if we hope for that we see not [is not a fulfilled fact as yet] then do we with PATIENCE [perseverance] WAIT FOR IT" (Rom. 8:24-25).
It should be obvious to all that there is no need whatsoever to "patiently WAIT" for something that we already have. What a horrible lie and heresy the Church teaches on this most important subject, by deceiving billions into thinking they can be saved by mouthing a 20 second prayer!
THE SCRIPTURAL PROCESS OF CONVERSION
The truth of conversion is a simple one, if we believe the Scriptures and don’t try to bring it about by some phantom free will. It is all of God.
How do the Scriptures say we become converted? Does an ounce of "free will" enter into the conversion process according to the Scriptures?
"Or despise you the riches of HIS goodness [‘His goodness;’ not our free will] and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God LEADS [God’s ‘leading’ is the CAUSE] you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4). Where is the ‘free will’ in this statement? "God LEADS…" is the cause of repentance, not free will.
"No man CAN come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw [Gk: ‘drag’] him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). This verse is plain: "No man CAN…" come to Christ of his own will. It is the Father "dragging" him that is the cause of one coming to Christ, not his own supposed free will.
"You have not chosen Me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU…" (John 15:16). "I have CHOSEN you…" is the CAUSE and it is by Christ’s will, not man’s will.
"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God [not faith ‘IN’ the Son of God, but the very faith ‘OF’ the Son of God—it is His faith, not ours until He gives us some of it] Who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). It is not by the ‘free will’ of our faith that we live, but the by the faith OF Jesus. There is no human free will in all this.
"I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without ME YE CAN DO NOTHING" (John 15:5). According to God’s Word, what is it that we can do by our own will? Answer: "NOTHING." It is Christ "IN him" that brings forth much fruit. Man does not bring forth much fruit by his fabled free will.
"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:11). Is this man’s part in his own salvation? Must man confess that Jesus Christ is his Lord by his OWN FREE WILL, or it will have no real meaning? Is that how this confession is made? Answer: "…no man can say [with his fabled free will] that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit" (I Cor. 12). Do we profess Jesus as our Lord by our own will or by the Holy Spirit? "By the Holy Spirit" is the cause. Our own will is not the cause of our calling Jesus, Lord.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [‘that faith’] not of yourselves [NOT of your own faith or will] it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).
Are we saved through the faith of our own will? NO. Do we do good works by our own will? NO. It is: God’s faith, God’s gift, God’s Workmanship, God’s creating, God’s ordaining. The cause is "His workmanship," not our own will.
"And we are His [Christ's] witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost [is also a witness], [The Spirit of Christ] whom God hath given to them that OBEY Him." (Acts 5:32).
"Being confident of this very thing, that He [He who? You? Nope! GOD] which hath begun a good work in you [He, GOD] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto [Who? You? Nope again!] Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured [Like we must 'endure to the end' (Matt. 24:13)] the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ["To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even AS I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21)]." (Hebrews 12:1-2).
"Faithful is He [God] that calleth you, Who also will do it." (1st Thessalonians 5:24).
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