Jesus says:
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear HIS voice: and HE calleth HIS own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when HE putteth forth HIS own sheep, HE goeth before them, and the sheep follow HIM: for they know HIS voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
*****
Comments by Joan Boney:
That person who has "always been a Christian", is probably not born again, changed by God into a new creature.
There are people who were taken to church as babies and always went to church and they think they are born again, but they have never had a personal experience with God where God changed them into a new creation.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Pam Padgett's great aunt Eunice had always gone to church. When she was about 83, there was a family reunion. Aunt Eunice stood up before all and said with great excitement: "I'm now born again! I thought I was born again but now I am born again."
Her eldest daughter was sitting beside Pam when Aunt Eunice said this. Her daughter said to Pam,
"I don't know why mother is saying this. She just started saying this all of a sudden. But everyone knows mother has always been a Christian. She cleaned the church building and when they needed her to do something she always did it at the church."
"I don't know why mother is saying this. She just started saying this all of a sudden. But everyone knows mother has always been a Christian. She cleaned the church building and when they needed her to do something she always did it at the church."
But Pam understood Aunt Eunice because Pam had been born again by God and changed and had the Spirit of God living in her.
As a teenager, one of Pam's classmates was killed on a motorcycle. That was the first time Pam had realized someone her age could die. She was terrified. Somehow she knew the things she had learned in the Catholic church could not save her. She knew her only hope was God. She cried out in prayer: "I know there is God the Father, and Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But I don't know which one we are supposed to pray to. So would you please get this to the right one? I need help! If there is any way you can save me, please do it."
After that, she realized there was something "of God" now in her. But she didn't know what it was. It was years later when she read the following scripture in the Bible, and then she knew what it was of God that was in her.
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We who belong to God know the voice of God when HE speaks to us by HIS Spirit, for God HIMSELF puts HIS Spirit into us so we can hear HIM.
When we are born again, we are changed by God. It is not that we learned and then were changed. Instantly God changed us and we know we are different now and we know we are not the same person that we were before God changed us. Born again.
Jesus says:
John 3:3 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
No one can understand things of God unless he is born again by the Spirit of God.
I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The apostle Paul says: They are "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:7)
(We had a woman like that in our church group. After 39 years she left us.)
They try to learn things with their natural mind. We can't learn spiritual things by our fleshly mind. We must be born again by the Spirit of God, for it is the Spirit of God who teaches us things of God for the Spirit of God searches the heart of God to show us the things of God.
I Corinthians 2:9-13 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love HIM.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
***
The elect of God are those persons who are chosen by God and are born again by the Spirit of God. Then that Holy Spirit of God lives in us and we are children of God.
Ephesians 1
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as HE hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will,
6 To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In Whom we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS grace;
8 Wherein HE hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of HIS will, according to HIS good pleasure which HE hath purposed in Himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times HE might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in HIM:
11 In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of HIS glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of HIS glory.
***
The elect of God, chosen by God, changed by God:
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
I Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Matthew 24:31 And HE shall send HE angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
***
Jesus separates HIS sheep from the goats:
32 And before HIM shall be gathered all nations: and HE shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And HE shall set the sheep on HIS right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on HIS right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
***
Matthew 7 Jesus says
21 Not every one that saith unto ME, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.
22 Many will say to ME in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from ME, ye that work iniquity.
***
We, who are born again, are different than we were before God spoke to us by HIS Spirit, and we know we are different, and we know God has changed us and we have not changed ourselves.
(If this has never happened to you, I suggest you fall down before God and beg God to have mercy on you.)
***
The apostle Paul says:
Romans 9:15-18 For HE saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew MY power in thee, and that MY name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath HE mercy on whom HE will have mercy, and whom HE will HE hardeneth.
***
After we are born again we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God and the Spirit of God lives in us to lead us and guide us and teach us.
I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.
Now we can hear the things brought to us by the Holy Spirit and we can follow HIM.
Before we were born again, changed by God, we followed our own ideas and we tried to learn things by our own fleshly mind. Sometimes we watched people who seemed "spiritual" and tried to copy them.
But the most significant thing about being born again is being changed by God.
After we are born again, we are a "different" person and we recognize that. We no longer want to do those things we once did. Some people we were once around, we no longer want to be with. Now we want to read Bible and hear things of God. Now the Holy Spirit leads us by bringing ideas or scriptures to our mind and we follow HIM.
***
Jesus said to the Jews:
John 10
27 My sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of MY hand.
29 MY Father, which gave them ME, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of MY Father's hand.
***
Have you had that personal experience with God where HE changed you, causing you to be born again as a new creature, giving you HIS own Spirit to live in you to teach you and guide you?
Are you a different person from that person you once were?
Each of us are born of the flesh of man and woman.
But we must be born of the Spirit of God to be children of God and to follow Jesus.
(Dream: 5-1-2021 ... The children of God are the ones who really matter! Focus on them.)
*****