Born again, and again, and again?

[Brian_Crane]

Debating with a protestant friend about eternal security:

He says: born spiritually dead > reborn spiritually thru HS > cannot spiritually die again!!!

I say: born spiritually dead > reborn spiritually thru HS (via baptism) > CAN spirtually die again (through mortal sin)!!! > can be reconciled with God through Confession/Penance

He will say to this (if I know him well enough): You can’t be born again and again and again.

My question: Is this true? Can a Catholic say that we are born again when our mortal sins are forgiven, even though we have already been born again through baptism? How do we properly describe what happens with mortal sin and forgiveness thereof?

 

[jennyr]

I tend to not use the term “born again”. I would say we are 'born again" through baptism and then either remain or choose to rebel against God.

Going to confession, I would say that you are “refreshed”, i don’t know, im kinda rambling.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Debating with a protestant friend about eternal security:

He says: born spiritually dead > reborn spiritually thru HS > cannot spiritually die again!!!

I say: born spiritually dead > reborn spiritually thru HS (via baptism) > CAN spirtually die again (through mortal sin)!!! > can be reconciled with God through Confession/Penance

He will say to this (if I know him well enough): You can’t be born again and again and again.

My question: Is this true? Can a Catholic say that we are born again when our mortal sins are forgiven, even though we have already been born again through baptism? How do we properly describe what happens with mortal sin and forgiveness thereof?

Baptism is the only Sacrament which fogives Original Sin as well as Actual sin. The Sacrament of Reconciliation only forgives actual sin.

You are “born again” once and that is through Baptism (Jn3:5).

The Bible is clear that a Christian turning their back on the Christian faith is worse than simply being an unbeliever (ie never “born again” in the first place).

 

[alexaustralia]

The claim that we can rest assure that our salvation is secure when we become born again Christians cannot really be supported. When the scenario is given of a fallen away Christian that due to terrible circumstances denounce God, the only response is that that person was never a born again Christian in the first place. The problem is that the person would have had the conviction in their heart that they were truly born again. If that person could have deluded himself to think he was really born again what is stopping any one else to wrongly assume they are truly born again when in reality they are not? How can one tell for certain if one is saved? Whatever interior testimonies/witnessing one tries to validate is not sufficient for equally the fallen away Christian would have had similar inner experiences that would have convinced him he was saved…faith is not about certainty, its about trust in God…

Alex

 

[Lillith]

Debating with a protestant friend about eternal security:

He says: born spiritually dead > reborn spiritually thru HS > cannot spiritually die again!!!

He will say to this (if I know him well enough): You can’t be born again and again and again.

Yes…he will say that. Give him a scenario. Someone has professed faith in Jesus…had a born again conversion experience…for two years follows the law without fail…seemingly through no power of his own. It is the Holy Spirit at work! Then he slips. Apparently he was an alchoholic before, and at a party with friends he drinks, and suddenly finds himself battling that addiction again.

What would a born again friend suggest he do…and how would he explain his friends fall? He would say that the initial conversion was not real. He was not really born again…and this fellow must confess that Jesus is Lord Again, and pray that it sticks…
Basically, the two views Protestant and Catholic are not that far apart