Sacred-Heart[1]

If a Catholic is asked if he is "born over again," his reply should be a resounding "Yes!" This is because the Bible tells him that he has been built-in once more through Baptism.

Expect at 1 Peter iii:xx, where God prefigured our Baptism with Noah beingness saved through h2o. In verses 21 and 22, it goes on to say this:

"21 It is the baptism respective to this water which saves you now — non the washing off of concrete clay but the pledge of a proficient censor given to God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has entered sky and is at God's right hand, with angels, ruling forces and powers subject to him."

The Bible farther goes on to say that it is through Baptism, through the water and the Spirit, that a person is "built-in again." In John iii:v, it goes on to say just that:

"five Jesus replied: In all truth I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being built-in through water and the Spirit; six what is born of human nature is human; what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised when I say: You must be born from above."

And in the aforementioned Chapter, afterwards finishing the above soapbox with Nicodemus, Jesus goes with his disciples and baptizes people in the Judean countryside and in Aenon.

At that place are a multitude of places in the Bible that talk most how we are saved – just not i of those passages talks nearly our beingness saved by a single human activity of faith at just one point in time.

Look at these examples:

In Hebrews, it tells united states that nosotros volition not see God unless we are holy and that we must strive to maintain this.

In Matthew, we larn that nosotros must forgive others to be forgiven.

In I Timothy, women are saved through bearing children and continuing in faith and love and holiness with modesty.

John six:54 tells u.s. nosotros have eternal life by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus.

In John 3:15, the Holy Scriptures tell usa that belief in Christ gives us eternal life, and

In Matthew 19, Jesus tells u.s. continue the commandments to accept eternal life.

We:

ane.  "are Saved" in Rom. 8:24;

ii. "being Saved" in 1 Cor. i:xviii; and

3.  "will be saved" in Romans 5:9-10.

Our salvation is, was and will ever exist — a process.  It is not a unmarried deed in and of itself.

So, when did the concept of being born again by "accepting Jesus" come into being? This perversion of the faith came into being in the 19th Century. Information technology was popularized past the televangelist Pentecostal Kenneth E. Hagin and other "Word-of-Faith" Pentecostals, such as Kenneth Copeland, Marilyn Hickey, Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch and others.

Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego on August x, 2004, said this about the Word-of-Faith, Born Again Movement:

"Co-ordinate to Hagin, there are many things that this new nativity is non.

"The new birth is not: confirmation, church building membership, water baptism,the taking of sacraments, observing religious duties, an intellectual reception of Christianity, orthodoxy of faith, going to church, saying prayers, reading the Bible, being moral, being cultured or refined, doing good deeds, doing your best, nor any of the many other things some men are trusting in to salvage them.

"Those who have obtained the new nascence did the 1 thing necessary: they accepted Jesus Christ equally personal Savior past repenting and turning to God with the whole heart every bit a lilliputian child." That one act of the volition, he explains, is all they needed to do. But is this true? Does the Bible support this concept?

Scripture teaches that one'south concluding salvation depends on the state of the soul at decease. As Jesus himself tells united states of america, "He who endures to the end will exist saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31–46). One who dies in the state of friendship with God (the land of grace) volition go to heaven. The one who dies in a state of enmity and rebellion against God (the state of mortal sin) will go to hell."

It is SO important what we believe in. In fact, it is the departure between eternal life and eternal suffering. Well-pregnant fundamentalists spread the "built-in again" doctrine out of love and concern for the souls of others – and non for their ain personal proceeds or exaltation of pride or superiority.

Nosotros Catholics can rest bodacious that eternal salvation is the result of a lifelong walk with God. I pray that nosotros can be diligent in spreading this truth to those who practise non sympathise.

References:

ane.  http://www.catholic.com/tracts/assurance-of-salvation

2.  https://www.biblechristiansociety.com/apologetics/two_minute#viii

3.  http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=67&bible_chapter=3