God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Religion represents works. God sees the heart. He saw the heart of the thief crucified next to Him.
I think being born again from above by the spirit has to do with the mystical experience of being in the spirit which is a heightened state of awareness of the soul. In this state the soul gains inner illumination (theoria) and reaches divine union (theosis). The soul is no longer attached to its fleshly aspects which come from the appetites, desires, and passions. The soul is born the first time from flesh, a natural birth, and hopefully the second time in the spirit, a spiritual birth. Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:46 that the natural soul comes first and then the spiritual. If this doesn't happen to the soul in this lifetime by, in a sense, putting the flesh to death (katharsis), it will happen to the soul at the literal death of the flesh if the soul is faithful to Christ. As our prime example, Christ discipled and prepared his own disciples to receive the Holy Spirit, and he can do so for souls faithful under his discipleship. The Holy Spirit didn't come to his disciples until after Christ's own flesh was put to death. He told his disciples the Spirit couldn't come to them until he left them returning to his Father. Thanks (eucharist) to Christ's death and resurrection, his Spirit can come to souls faithful to him to resurrect or rebirth them when they die to their flesh. They become reborn.
There is no command that water baptism saves. Acts 10:47 is a direct example that it is merely a profession of salvation already received (by faith/belief). Water on your skin nor church can heal you: only the transformation of your spirit from dead to living by the Person (ie, not a religion/church) Jesus Christ can, hence 1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:6, and John 10:1-9.
Hence why, in John 3:6, Lord Jesus distinguishes between fleshly birth (your mother's birthing waters) and being born AGAIN of the Spirit by faith in Jesus' precious blood in place of your sinful blood.
St. Gregory The Theologian “The Word knew three births for us: bodily birth, birth through baptism, and birth through resurrection.”
Fasting has caused me to pray more and really take up my cross
Thank you, Father Heers ☦️ 🙏
I think it’s more of a “coming back to life.” From one lowly sinner to another. ❤ May God have mercy on us.
❤✝ CHRIST IS RISEN ☦❤
❤💪☀️🙏✝ GOD GIVES US STRENGTH ☦🙏🕊️🦾
Jesus lives, and we've met!!
Αμήν
Amen ☦️
Absolutely excellent.
Thank you for your mission, Fr. Heers. Could your channel consider posting on Telegram for those who have limited access to this service, please?
God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Religion represents works. God sees the heart. He saw the heart of the thief crucified next to Him.
💙💛🤎💚💓💗💜🩷🩵❤️🧡
I think being born again from above by the spirit has to do with the mystical experience of being in the spirit which is a heightened state of awareness of the soul. In this state the soul gains inner illumination (theoria) and reaches divine union (theosis). The soul is no longer attached to its fleshly aspects which come from the appetites, desires, and passions. The soul is born the first time from flesh, a natural birth, and hopefully the second time in the spirit, a spiritual birth. Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:46 that the natural soul comes first and then the spiritual. If this doesn't happen to the soul in this lifetime by, in a sense, putting the flesh to death (katharsis), it will happen to the soul at the literal death of the flesh if the soul is faithful to Christ. As our prime example, Christ discipled and prepared his own disciples to receive the Holy Spirit, and he can do so for souls faithful under his discipleship. The Holy Spirit didn't come to his disciples until after Christ's own flesh was put to death. He told his disciples the Spirit couldn't come to them until he left them returning to his Father. Thanks (eucharist) to Christ's death and resurrection, his Spirit can come to souls faithful to him to resurrect or rebirth them when they die to their flesh. They become reborn.
There is no command that water baptism saves. Acts 10:47 is a direct example that it is merely a profession of salvation already received (by faith/belief). Water on your skin nor church can heal you: only the transformation of your spirit from dead to living by the Person (ie, not a religion/church) Jesus Christ can, hence 1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:6, and John 10:1-9.
Hence why, in John 3:6, Lord Jesus distinguishes between fleshly birth (your mother's birthing waters) and being born AGAIN of the Spirit by faith in Jesus' precious blood in place of your sinful blood.
1 Peter 3:21
@@gunstar168 Born of water is Baptism.