If Christianity was true, would you become a Christian?

Author: CatholicApologetics

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#31
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@Tradesecret
At what point does the Holy Spirit come into a person?
According to the New Testament, a person receives the Holy Spirit immediately upon believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior: Ephesians 1:13-14: "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit"

How do you get the Holy Spirit to enter you?

The only thing necessary to receive the Holy Spirit is that you must have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Once you've confessed Jesus as your Savior, God gives you the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). You don’t have to be a certain denomination, or be a pastor or evangelist to receive the Holy Spirit. Whether you have been a believer for 50 years or five minutes, you can receive the Holy Spirit right where you are, right now.
We don't get the Holy Spirit to enter us. He's God. He's not on a string. John 3:5-9 tells us that the Spirit goes where the Spirit desires. Not where we desire. He's like the wind. It blows where ever it pleases.  

God is not a man. God is sovereign. Ephesians 1:4 actually says God chose those whom he would save before the beginning of the world. Those whom he predestined. 

So again, you need to stop putting the horse before the cart. Faith is a gift of God. It is not the cause of salvation. We cant just drum up faith to believe in God. And part of the evidence for this truth is seen on this particular forum question. Look at the answers of those who are not Christians. The truth wouldn't convince them. That's what they all said. 
The apostle Paul clearly taught that we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. First Corinthians 12:13 declares, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
#32
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@Shila
The apostle Paul clearly taught that we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. First Corinthians 12:13 declares, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
Did you see who was doing the Baptising? And did you see who gave us the Spirit? This verses isn't saying what you think it is. 

Now how about you address some of my points and stop wasting your and my time?

#33
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@Tradesecret
The apostle Paul clearly taught that we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. First Corinthians 12:13 declares, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
Did you see who was doing the Baptising? And did you see who gave us the Spirit? This verses isn't saying what you think it is. 

Now how about you address some of my points and stop wasting your and my time?
Paul clearly taught we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we receive /accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
#34
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@Shila
Repeating something doesn't make it true. 

Repeating something without adding something just affirms that you are stuck. 

Jesus said, and let me quote him, unless you are born again, you will by no means see the kingdom of heaven.  That clearly demonstrates that the Spirit regenerates the person - before they can even see - let alone believe.  So you need to refute Jesus and then we can discuss further. 
#35
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@Tradesecret
Jesus said, and let me quote him, unless you are born again, you will by no means see the kingdom of heaven.  That clearly demonstrates that the Spirit regenerates the person - before they can even see - let alone believe.  So you need to refute Jesus and then we can discuss further. 
What did Jesus say about being born again?

In the New International Version of the Bible, John 3:3 reads: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” In the New Living translation, the verse reads: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

What does it mean to be born again in Jesus?

Born again is a phrase used by many Protestants to describe the phenomenon of gaining faith in Jesus Christ. It is an experience when everything they have been taught as Christians becomes real, and they develop a direct and personal relationship with God.

A born-again Christian is someone who has repented of their sins and turned to Christ for their salvation, and as a result has become part of God's family ...
#36
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@Shila
What did Jesus say about being born again?

In the New International Version of the Bible, John 3:3 reads: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” In the New Living translation, the verse reads: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

What does it mean to be born again in Jesus?

Born again is a phrase used by many Protestants to describe the phenomenon of gaining faith in Jesus Christ. It is an experience when everything they have been taught as Christians becomes real, and they develop a direct and personal relationship with God.

A born-again Christian is someone who has repented of their sins and turned to Christ for their salvation, and as a result has become part of God's family ...
You keep putting the cart before the horse. 

How can someone see the kingdom of heaven if they haven't been born again?   When one is born again by the Spirit of God, then their eyes are open to believe and repent and follow Jesus.  One cannot believe something one cannot see. One cannot repent for sins that they don't believe they've committed. One cannot turn to God or to Jesus if you don't already have the Spirit to believe. It is the work of the Spirit to regenerate us. And then our eyes are opened and we can see that we are sinners and need to turn to him in repentance. As Acts tells us - to them God granted repentance. 

Faith is the result of being saved - or being regenerated. It is a gift of God to the individual. A gift that causes them to believe. Salvation belongs to God, it doesn't belong to us. God saves us. We don't save our selves.  You are demonstrating a lack of understanding of the historic church. And putting yourself outside of the church and its teachings. 

You need to read Augustine, Luther, and Calvin.  Read the Council of Chalcedon Creed. Your position is the same as Pelagius. Someone declared by the historic church to be outside of the church and a heritic. It is at odds with much of the American culture of Christianity. It is because it is not based on the individualism of the West, but on the covenantal culture of the Middle East. 
#37
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@Tradesecret
Faith is the result of being saved - or being regenerated. It is a gift of God to the individual. A gift that causes them to believe. Salvation belongs to God, it doesn't belong to us. God saves us. We don't save our selves.  You are demonstrating a lack of understanding of the historic church. And putting yourself outside of the church and its teachings. 
What did Jesus teach about faith?
“Everything is possible for one who believes.” (John 11:25-26) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

How does Jesus define faith?
The closest that the Bible comes to offering an exact definition is Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” From this particular passage we see that the central feature of faith is confidence or trust.

How is salvation granted?
According to the Bible, all humans are born with a sinful nature and are separated from God. However, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be saved from our sins and reconciled with God. This salvation is described as a gift from God that cannot be earned through good deeds or actions, but only through faith.


#38
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@Shila
Faith doesn't earn us salvation. It doesn't give us salvation. But the person without faith will not be saved. It is a gift.  You are saved by grace through faith. And that is a gift. 

Of course everything is possible for a person who believes. But for the person who has no faith or does not believe - it is not possible. And in your view - a person without faith cannot suddenly become a man of faith by himself. He needs the Spirit of God to regenerate him and give him faith. And then he will believe. 


#39
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@Tradesecret
Faith doesn't earn us salvation. It doesn't give us salvation. But the person without faith will not be saved. It is a gift.  You are saved by grace through faith. And that is a gift. 

Of course everything is possible for a person who believes. But for the person who has no faith or does not believe - it is not possible. And in your view - a person without faith cannot suddenly become a man of faith by himself. He needs the Spirit of God to regenerate him and give him faith. And then he will believe. 
To begin with you have to have belief in Jesus.

What do we need to believe about Jesus?
What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus? 
This means acknowledging that he is not just a good teacher or a prophet, but rather he is the Savior of the world who came to give his life for us. By believing in Jesus as the Son of God, confessing and repenting of our sins, we can experience the forgiveness and salvation that he offers.

What did Jesus teach about faith? By simply believing in Jesus everything is possible.
“Everything is possible for one who believes.” (John 11:25-26) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

How is salvation granted?
According to the Bible, all humans are born with a sinful nature and are separated from God. However, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be saved from our sins and reconciled with God. This salvation is described as a gift from God that cannot be earned through good deeds or actions, but only through believing in Jesus.