Let's have a Testimony!

[steaver]

Greetings board!

We hear alot on here about how one can stop believing on Jesus Christ. Now there are thousands of members here on BB, so surely there must be one here who can give their testimony of how they had been born again and then stopped believing.

As you give your testimony, please include the experience when you were born of God ( you would know this, this is the time when your spirit came alive in Christ, it is when the Holy Spirit beared witness with your spirit that you were indeed a child of God, Faith began) and also when you stopped believing (this I'm not sure how you could explain, but I'm all ears) .

Just a note; think about how you choose to explain when you stopped believing in view of Ephesians 2:8-9.

God Bless! :wavey:

 

[Oldtimer]

Just an observation, for whatever it's worth.

I doubt there's many, if any, who have stopped believing in Jesus Christ who are still hanging around this forum. They are probably posting on a forum dedicated to their new/current position.

 

[steaver]

Just an observation, for whatever it's worth.

I doubt there's many, if any, who have stopped believing in Jesus Christ who are still hanging around this forum. They are probably posting on a forum dedicated to their new/current position.

This could be the case, however, I would surely think that out of all of the hundreds of Christians that post here, who believe what was written in the OP can actually happen, there would be at least one here who had it happen to them and then they began believing again. If this can actually happen, there surely must be a testimony.

But if if there is none, anyone can simply do it and then they can give a testimony of what the experience was like. Just stop believing for a short time, even a minute or two, and then tell us how that experience felt.

Here, I will get us started....ready? When you read this begin....NOW! Stop believing and time yourself, one minute, now tell us how that felt, how you know at that moment you were lost to hell, how the Holy Spirit left you and from without testified to your spirit that you were now a child of the devil.

 

[JarJo]

As you give your testimony, please include the experience when you were born of God ( you would know this, this is the time when your spirit came alive in Christ, it is when the Holy Spirit beared witness with your spirit that you were indeed a child of God, Faith began) and also when you stopped believing (this I'm not sure how you could explain, but I'm all ears) .

Hi Steaver,

I think I'm born again, but after reading your description, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by born again. Does it always center upon a new knowledge that you are a child of God? I'm sorry if this is distracting from the primary purpose of your thread. Does it always include an instant moment where you completely changed so much that you seem to be a new person?

What about this testimony for example, a moment of illumination that this person was a true child of God (this isn't meant to be a trick, I should warn you this was a catholic priest)

In mid-October, 1931, while in a streetcar he received the gift of an exalted form of prayer. “I felt the action of God, bringing forth in my heart and on my lips, with the force of something imperatively necessary, this tender invocation: Abba! Pater! (‘Abba! Father!’). Probably I made that prayer out loud. And I walked the streets of Madrid for maybe an hour, maybe two, I can’t say; time passed without my being aware of it. People must have thought I was crazy. I was contemplating, with lights that were not mine, that amazing truth. It was like a lighted coal burning in my soul, never to be extinguished.”

His spiritual life already characterized by a childlike trust, now saw the mystery of his adoptive sonship in Jesus Christ with extraordinary depth.

“I understood that divine filiation had to be a basic characteristic of our spirituality: Abba, Pater! And that by living their divine filiation, my children would be filled with joy and peace, protected by an impregnable wall. And they would be apostles of joy, communicating their peace, even in the face of their own or another’s suffering. Because we are convinced that God is our Father.”

 

[steaver]

Hi Steaver,

I think I'm born again, but after reading your description, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by born again. Does it always center upon a new knowledge that you are a child of God?

The center would be that you believe Jesus is God. That simple. There are several scriptures that describe the born of God, but the center is belief.

I'm sorry if this is distracting from the primary purpose of your thread. Does it always include an instant moment where you completely changed so much that you seem to be a new person?

No destraction at all.

The spirit within is the new creation, it now crys ABBA Father, the flesh is always dying and is weak. Sanctification ministered via the Holy Spirit begins with the new birth and continues until physical death. Justification was complete at rebirth.

What about this testimony for example, a moment of illumination that this person was a true child of God (this isn't meant to be a trick, I should warn you this was a catholic priest)

I believe there are folks who are born of God and understand their spiritual connection they have with the Father through Jesus Christ. Yet do not understand their salvation (conversion) is ALL of God's Grace and nothing of self and that there is nothing they could do to add to it or make it more justified.

You have to grasp the teaching of "born again" my friend. If you cannot nail this doctrine down, you will not see the errors of the RCC. :thumbsup:

 

[JarJo]

You have to grasp the teaching of "born again" my friend. If you cannot nail this doctrine down, you will not see the errors of the RCC. :thumbsup:

Could I describe my 'born again' experience and get your opinion on whether it is valid? I've shared it with Catholics but since a born again experience is considered optional there isn't really a criterion other than "spiritual awakening" has to occur. Would this thread be okay for that?

 

[steaver]

Could I describe my 'born again' experience and get your opinion on whether it is valid? I've shared it with Catholics but since a born again experience is considered optional there isn't really a criterion other than "spiritual awakening" has to occur. Would this thread be okay for that?

Well I am not a moderator but I did start this thread and I would love to hear your testimony! But be advised, I am in no position to validate your conversion, this is between you and the Father. :wavey:

 

[steaver]

Goota go, I'll be back! :wavey:

 

[JarJo]

You have to grasp the teaching of "born again" my friend. If you cannot nail this doctrine down, you will not see the errors of the RCC. :thumbsup:

Here's my testimony. I would like to know if any of the experiences here qualify as being 'born again' the way Baptists understand it. I won't take it personally if people say no, I just want to know what to make of my experiences and where God wants to take me:

I was 23 and I had spent years going down a bad and dangerous path, bad even from the perspective of a non-believer, and from the perspective of the law. I believed in God and had received sacraments and knew I was wrong with God, (but the question of faith vs works was not in my mind at all at this time). I felt belonging to God was much more than external religious acts I had taken part in and I believed it required a complete giving of ourselves to God. I understood that my life was a mess and I desperately needed God to come into my life.

I decided that I wanted to be a Christian. I prayed and I asked God to come into my life. I said that wanted to give my life to Him and I believed in Him and wanted to belong to Him. I resolved from that day forward to turn away from my old life and live as He asked us to. I said from this day forward I would live my life for Him. I prayed and spent some time talking to God and thinking about this new way of life I was starting on, wondering where it would end up. But there wasn't any profound prayer, I didn't see lights or experience an unusual sense of God's presence. I felt happy and close to God but the prayer experience wasn't dramatic. But I consider that the day I was born again because it marked the beginning of my walk with God. Before that my life was distant from God, even if leading towards Him somehow, but now I was walking with God.

I expected this to mean that I would start observing religious rules and avoid the serious sins I was aware of and I that I would profess to others that I was a Christian. But it turned out so differently than I expected.

Over the next days I began to see God at work in my life. My conscience came alive showing me that there were so many things I would do differently now that I had never even considered. The first thing I noticed was that my conscience convicted me when my boss at the fast food restaurant I worked at offered me some coupons for free hamburgers that he had taken and was giving to employees. This was a far cry from the big things I had done wrong, but I realized that even in little things I would have to become righteous, and couldn't accept those coupons. I didn't know how to pray, but I asked the Holy Spirit to teach me to pray and would experience words come into my heart and mind showing me what to pray for and how to worship God. I hadn't been to the church just a block and a half from my house, but I went there and it was different from any church I had been to before and I felt a great sense of peace and connection with God and his people over the centuries while there. I feel that God's providence led me to have an apartment near this church where I would be able to feel accepted (I was quite shy). Learning from God continued over the years and I have been growing closer to God and learning how to be a Christian since then. For example teaching me how to truly love another person and leave behind unloving attitudes like jealousy. Spending time with God in prayer has changed my life.

16 years later (just last year) on a retreat I experienced 'baptism in the Holy Spirit' where I was given an interior vision of a transformation/healing worked in me and a sense of being God's child. The experience included a taste of my future in heaven worshiping God. I believe I actually experienced heaven (or aspects of it) for a few minutes. I don't understand if God was trying to make this transformation happen in me right then and there, and I didn't go along with it, or if it was meant to give me hope of His plans for me in the future. It had a huge impact on me and gave me great overwhelming joy and a knowledge that God was watching this miracle take place in me where I became a new person filled with joy and peace and was quite satisfied with himself for what he had worked in me. It came with such strong emotions that I couldn't think about it without weeping for weeks after.

 

[steaver]

Here's my testimony. I would like to know if any of the experiences here qualify as being 'born again' the way Baptists understand it. I won't take it personally if people say no, I just want to know what to make of my experiences and where God wants to take me:

I was 23 and I had spent years going down a bad and dangerous path, bad even from the perspective of a non-believer, and from the perspective of the law. I believed in God and had received sacraments and knew I was wrong with God, (but the question of faith vs works was not in my mind at all at this time). I felt belonging to God was much more than external religious acts I had taken part in and I believed it required a complete giving of ourselves to God. I understood that my life was a mess and I desperately needed God to come into my life.

I decided that I wanted to be a Christian. I prayed and I asked God to come into my life. I said that wanted to give my life to Him and I believed in Him and wanted to belong to Him. I resolved from that day forward to turn away from my old life and live as He asked us to. I said from this day forward I would live my life for Him. I prayed and spent some time talking to God and thinking about this new way of life I was starting on, wondering where it would end up. But there wasn't any profound prayer, I didn't see lights or experience an unusual sense of God's presence. I felt happy and close to God but the prayer experience wasn't dramatic. But I consider that the day I was born again because it marked the beginning of my walk with God. Before that my life was distant from God, even if leading towards Him somehow, but now I was walking with God.

I expected this to mean that I would start observing religious rules and avoid the serious sins I was aware of and I that I would profess to others that I was a Christian. But it turned out so differently than I expected.

Over the next days I began to see God at work in my life. My conscience came alive showing me that there were so many things I would do differently now that I had never even considered. The first thing I noticed was that my conscience convicted me when my boss at the fast food restaurant I worked at offered me some coupons for free hamburgers that he had taken and was giving to employees. This was a far cry from the big things I had done wrong, but I realized that even in little things I would have to become righteous, and couldn't accept those coupons. I didn't know how to pray, but I asked the Holy Spirit to teach me to pray and would experience words come into my heart and mind showing me what to pray for and how to worship God. I hadn't been to the church just a block and a half from my house, but I went there and it was different from any church I had been to before and I felt a great sense of peace and connection with God and his people over the centuries while there. I feel that God's providence led me to have an apartment near this church where I would be able to feel accepted (I was quite shy). Learning from God continued over the years and I have been growing closer to God and learning how to be a Christian since then. For example teaching me how to truly love another person and leave behind unloving attitudes like jealousy. Spending time with God in prayer has changed my life.

16 years later (just last year) on a retreat I experienced 'baptism in the Holy Spirit' where I was given an interior vision of a transformation/healing worked in me and a sense of being God's child. The experience included a taste of my future in heaven worshiping God. I believe I actually experienced heaven (or aspects of it) for a few minutes. I don't understand if God was trying to make this transformation happen in me right then and there, and I didn't go along with it, or if it was meant to give me hope of His plans for me in the future. It had a huge impact on me and gave me great overwhelming joy and a knowledge that God was watching this miracle take place in me where I became a new person filled with joy and peace and was quite satisfied with himself for what he had worked in me. It came with such strong emotions that I couldn't think about it without weeping for weeks after.

I really do appreceate you giving your testimony. I cannot know what has taken place in your heart, only God knows, but I will only say this;

You never mentioned Jesus.

It's all about Jesus JarJo. It's not about prayers, or sacraments, or following the ten commandments. It is about Jesus Christ indwelling you! Conforming you into the image of Himself. It's Jesus changing you through regeneration.

The Jews are sincere about wanting God and following God are they not? Even the Muslims do the same. But believing in God will not do, nor will trying to do good and follow God's commands.

Salvation comes to those who's heart breaks at the testimony of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When one beats upon one's chest for the sins he has committed that a righteous man of God, the Son of God, had to pay such a horrible death for. One who does not so much as lift his eyes up towards heaven and crys out to God "be merciful to me a sinner". (Luke 18:13)

Salvation comes to those who confess to God that their own righteousness is as filthy rags.

Salvation crys out, by the grace of God go I! I have nothing to offer you God that I may satisfy your condemnation of me, I only trust in my Lord and my God Jesus Christ. His grace and His mercy. My good works I will only offer You Lord as a token of my appreceation for your wonderful gift. I will not assume that my works will add anything to the great work that Jesus has done for me at Calvery!

I have met many of men who "decided" to follow Jesus. But that doesn't fill the void. These men try for awhile and they fall away, they have no root. One must see Jesus as the publican seen, and begin with God through surrendering to Jesus Christ.

I have had many people tell me that some day after they get right with god they will become a Christian or go to church. it doesnt work that way, they got it all backwards. It begins with a broken heart for sin and for Jesus Christ and Him crucified for that sin. Our sin.

Thanks again for sharing. :love2:

 

[Walter]

'You never mentioned Jesus.' Well, yes, JoJo has, plenty of times and JoJo has given enough of his testimony prior to this statement to convince me that JoJo is 'born again' in the Baptist sense of the expression.

'Not about prayers or sacraments' Well, that is your opinion. For one thing, when you gave your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, didn't you pray? What you meant to say was that it is not about the kind of prayer you suspect JoJo prayed because you know JoJo is Catholic, right?
Also,you include all Lutherans, Anglicans, Prebyterians, Methodist, etc., etc. when you say it is not about sacraments. The VAST majority of Christianity disagrees with the Baptist idea of 'ordinances'.

 

[JarJo]

Wow. A testimony with no mention of my savior's name. That is quite sad.

Even though I consider Jesus to be God, and refer to Him as God, how could I not mention his name even once?

 

[billwald]

I can't remember NOT believing the good news about Jesus in the Gospels. My problem is with the various denominational interpretations of the Bible.

 

[steaver]

'You never mentioned Jesus.' Well, yes, JoJo has, plenty of times and JoJo has given enough of his testimony prior to this statement to convince me that JoJo is 'born again' in the Baptist sense of the expression.

'Not about prayers or sacraments' Well, that is your opinion. For one thing, when you gave your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, didn't you pray? What you meant to say was that it is not about the kind of prayer you suspect JoJo prayed because you know JoJo is Catholic, right?
Also,you include all Lutherans, Anglicans, Prebyterians, Methodist, etc., etc. when you say it is not about sacraments. The VAST majority of Christianity disagrees with the Baptist idea of 'ordinances'.

Easy brother. JarJo ask for my opinion and I gave it according to what he said, no assumptions at all. I do not question his salvation, I answered to what was written.

 

[steaver]

I can't remember NOT believing the good news about Jesus in the Gospels. My problem is with the various denominational interpretations of the Bible.

Well, since no one can be perfect, where do you think your denomination is in error?

 

[Walter]

Easy brother. JarJo ask for my opinion and I gave it according to what he said, no assumptions at all. I do not question his salvation, I answered to what was written.

Yep, maybe I was jumping to a conclusion.

 

[Tom Butler]

For one thing, when you gave your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, didn't you pray?

No. My pastor did not ask me to pray. He asked me if I understood that I was a sinner. He asked me if I understood the penalty for my sin. He asked me if I trust Christ alone to save me.

But he didn't ask me to pray. He asked me to believe.

 

[JarJo]

'You never mentioned Jesus.' Well, yes, JoJo has, plenty of times and JoJo has given enough of his testimony prior to this statement to convince me that JoJo is 'born again' in the Baptist sense of the expression.

'Not about prayers or sacraments' Well, that is your opinion. For one thing, when you gave your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, didn't you pray? What you meant to say was that it is not about the kind of prayer you suspect JoJo prayed because you know JoJo is Catholic, right?
Also,you include all Lutherans, Anglicans, Prebyterians, Methodist, etc., etc. when you say it is not about sacraments. The VAST majority of Christianity disagrees with the Baptist idea of 'ordinances'.

Thanks Walter.
What I find noteworthy about my testimony is that I started with the understanding that I would have to work hard and do a bunch of things to be Christian. But what I found instead was that God (Jesus? Holy Spirit?) Was transforming me in ways that I hadn't expected. So I just had to go along for the ride as God worked in me to make me a new person. It wasn't about my effort at all.

 

[steaver]

Thanks Walter.
What I find noteworthy about my testimony is that I started with the understanding that I would have to work hard and do a bunch of things to be Christian. But what I found instead was that God (Jesus? Holy Spirit?) Was transforming me in ways that I hadn't expected. So I just had to go along for the ride as God worked in me to make me a new person. It wasn't about my effort at all.

And that is all well and good JarJo, but the OP ask for a testimony of one's experience of being born again. I did not see this is your testimony.

 

[JarJo]

And that is all well and good JarJo, but the OP ask for a testimony of one's experience of being born again. I did not see this is your testimony.

Oh no. And all this time I thought I was saved.

What must I do to be saved?