Are you born again?

Mike sounds like there must have been a master list of sermons for pastors, since our associate preached on John 3 also. BTW, I have a good friend theologically trained and it is very hard to convince him of the idea of God’s Sovereign Sovereignty (an old S Lewis Johnson term.) People just don’t get it that even that 0.1% of the will they hold on to in coming to faith is more than enough to result in our being the source of our own faith. The text says being born again, how much did we have to do with our first birth?

I personallly like the other verses….if one is really given, really heard and learned (normally through the preaching of the Gospel and the Word of God, the Bible), then all these are saved.

John 6:39  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Old John Gill said it this way:
“that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing; that is, that of all the elect which were given to Christ by his Father, in eternal election, he should not lose anyone of them, not the meanest among them, nor anything of theirs, their grace, or glory, or anything belonging to them, either to their souls or bodies, and particularly the latter;
but should raise it up again at the last day; even every part of their bodies, and every dust belonging to them; their bodies being given to Christ, and redeemed by his blood, as well as their souls: so the Jews (o), speaking of the resurrection, and making mention of that passage in Num 23:10, “who shall count the dust of Jacob?” add,
“and he (i.e. God) shall order it all, ולא יתאביד כלום, “and not anything shall be lost”, but all shall rise again; for, lo, it is said, Dan 12:2, “and many of them that sleep in the dust”, &c.”
(o) Zohar in Exod. fol. 43. 4.”

Like the tax collector or the thief on the cross beside Jesus those truly called cry out for mercy, and once aware they are saved express so much joy about the amazing grace that saved so wretched a wretch like they are……

And as Peter preached for those who actually do hear there are a few simple things to begin to do…we are not left alone to our own means, but rather instructed to…

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

But most of all we are called to just believe it……and help overcome any unbelief.

Mark 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Sorry this got too long….