I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
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When I was 15-years-old, I went forward at a Church of Christ group and was baptized. I then thought myself to be a Christian
But my life didn't change at all. I just kept pursuing my own ambitions and I don't ever recall seeking God will for my life during those years. I wasn't interested in Bible or going to church.
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When I was 37, God spoke to me, saying this: "Joan ... you know all those mistakes you've been making all these years? Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins."
I was shocked! "Sins? I thought they were mistakes." God caused me to be born again and gave me HIS Holy Spirit.
Now ... I was very different.
I wanted to know about God. I wanted to go to church. I wanted to be with other Christians! And I wanted to know God's way to go on this earth so I read the Bible and began trying to do that which the Bible said to do in my own life.
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I know what it is to think you are a Christian and not be a Christian.
I believe a vast number of church goers put themselves into a church group by their own will, joining the church without seeing their sin ... no repentance! They just think they are making "mistakes". They have no idea what they are doing is sin.
And they are not really Christians with the power of God inside them by the Holy Spirit to show them truth and lead them in the way of God.
Some try to follow the "letter of the law" without being convicted by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
They try to be a Christian by doing "good works" ... going to church, giving money, signing up for various good works at the church. But having not the Spirit of God living inside of themselves.
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John 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit of God convicts us of sin.
We repent and are sorry. Then the Holy Spirit is given to us so that we can know the things 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.
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We are born onto this earth as little babies from the seed of our mother and father, through the womb of our mother. We are born in the image of our mother and father, in the flesh of man.
When God reveals Himself to us, we are born of God, of HIS Spirit.
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (the Word).
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 (the Word):
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 (the Word) 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 (the Word), 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.
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 (the Word):
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 (the Word) 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 (the Word), 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.
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The elect of God ... chosen by God:
Matthew 24:29-31 Jesus says:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And HE shall send HIS 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.
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And HE shall send HIS 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.
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