How do I know if I'm born again?

[misslollipops]

Now you are getting it! What post number are we on?

Well, yes an no. What you are saying is true, that this practice has been going on for 2000 years until today. However, not everyone baptized holds onto their faith (you make a good example of that ) And not everyone is able to go through their whole life without sin, so repentance is still needed.

Yes, repentance is the key to continue walking in a state of grace. In baptism, sins are washed way, both original, and personal. After that, repentance washes away personal sin.
Why do you think the Apostles Creed says “one baptism for the forgiveness of sin”? Did you think that was made up recently?

Yes, persons who are able to repent are required to do so. The very young, very old, and incapacited are not.

Maybe that is the subject for another thread?

James 5:19-20

19 My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way **will save his soul **from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Jude 22-23
2 And convince some, who doubt; 23 save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Rom 11:13-15
I magnify my ministry 14 in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.

Are you saying that YOU can save someone?

 

[jabelltulsa]

A person must repent before being baptized. I have been saying this since the beginning.

An infant cannot repent because they cannot understand sin.

Repentence comes first.

What would a baby have to repent?

Where does it say that you must understand sin before being baptized?

 

[misslollipops]

.

What miss is saying is that this scriptural view of baptism and the teaching of the church is not her view, and that she believes people are only saved when they have a “road of Damascus” type of experience that is emotional and moving.

I am not saying that . To be saved or born again a person needs to repent. That is what I have been saying from the beginning.
True repentance is the beginning of salvation.
All should come to repentance 2pet3:9

 

[misslollipops]

What would a baby have to repent?

Where does it say that you must understand sin before being baptized?

ACTS2:38

 

[jmcrae]

I am not saying that . To be saved or born again a person needs to repent. That is what I have been saying from the beginning.
True repentance is the beginning of salvation.
All should come to repentance 2pet3:9

Are you of the opinion that the only people who can be saved are people who have sinned in the past?

What becomes of people who never commit any actual sin (for example, mentally retarded people, or people who die before they reach the age of accountability, or people with the dumb luck never to encounter any unsavoury companions who entice them to sin), and have nothing for which to repent? Do they just go straight to Hell, because they never repented of sin?

 

[jmcrae]

ACTS2:38

**Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. **

That verse actually supports infant baptism.

 

[Gamera]

So a baby can’t sin until he reaches the age of reason?

Correct. Sin requires a moral choice.

Are you saying it is impossible for the baby to sin or whatever a baby does it is not ‘considered’ sin until the age of reason?

Yes. Babies and toddlers lack the capacity to make a moral choice. They therefore cannot commit personal sins (although, as we have all agreed, they are conceived in a state of original sin).

And when is the age of reason?

Seven is used in the Latin Rite – that’s when we are eligible (and required) to receive the sacraments. As you may recall, baptized children must first receive the sacrament of penance before they can receive the sacrament of the Eucharist (or any other sacrament). That is precisely because they now possess sufficient discretion to make moral choices, and therefore to commit personal sin.

“According to the Church’s command, ‘after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.’ Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 1457

 

[misslollipops]

Are you of the opinion that the only people who can be saved are people who have sinned in the past?

What becomes of people who never commit any actual sin (for example, mentally retarded people, or people who die before they reach the age of accountability, or people with the dumb luck never to encounter any unsavoury companions who entice them to sin), and have nothing for which to repent? Do they just go straight to Hell, because they never repented of sin?

We aready covered this in previous posts. If you go back you can find the answer. Thanks

 

[historyb]

** How do I know if I’m born again?**

No such animal. When I was a Protestant I thought there was, when I was a Calvinist I was sure there wasn’t and now as a Catholic know it’s a misinterpretation where most Protestants (notice not all) think that one is not a Christian if there is no bang experience.

 

[misslollipops]

No such animal. When I was a Protestant I thought there was, when I was a Calvinist I was sure there wasn’t and now as a Catholic know it’s a misinterpretation where most Protestants (notice not all) think that one is not a Christian if there is no bang experience.

read jn3:3

 

[krissy343]

Ok, this may have been posted on further down the line but I have to get to work soon and don’t have time to read everything. First off, I would like to say, Misslollipops, I give you credit for sticking around and reading what everyone has to say. Most would have given up by now. You said at one point, you were done with this thread, the fact that you are still here is proof enough that you are SUPPOSED to be here. I believe when we have open hearts and an open mind, God leads us to where he wants us to be. I just pray that you open up your heart and mind a wee bit more and just try to see where the posters are coming from. God may, and most likely is, leading you back here time and time again to show you the Truth.
Now, on to what I was originally going to say. Again, I apologize if I’m repeating what someone else has already said. As a parent, you repeatedly make choices for your children that they are unable to make on their own. What they eat, when you dress them up or down depending on the weather, what schools they will attend so on and so forth. By baptizing our infants, we are making that choice for them for their own good. Just as you give your children veggies rather than potato chips because it’s what’s good for them. When we baptize our infants, original sin has been removed. They, at that young age are not capable of making a personal choice to sin yet so they are “saved”. ONCE they reach the age where they DO sin at their own free will, they are bound to Church law and they must repent their sins. As parents, we should do whatever is best for our children, that includes making decisions for them until they are of age of reason. Why should baptism be left out of it? We can make EVERY OTHER decision for our young child but baptism is the exception? We’re talking about salvation here! The salvation of our children if, God forbid, they die before the “age of reason”.

 

[misslollipops]

Ok, this may have been posted on further down the line but I have to get to work soon and don’t have time to read everything. First off, I would like to say, Misslollipops, I give you credit for sticking around and reading what everyone has to say. Most would have given up by now. You said at one point, you were done with this thread, the fact that you are still here is proof enough that you are SUPPOSED to be here. I believe when we have open hearts and an open mind, God leads us to where he wants us to be. I just pray that you open up your heart and mind a wee bit more and just try to see where the posters are coming from. God may, and most likely is, leading you back here time and time again to show you the Truth.
Now, on to what I was originally going to say. Again, I apologize if I’m repeating what someone else has already said. As a parent, you repeatedly make choices for your children that they are unable to make on their own. What they eat, when you dress them up or down depending on the weather, what schools they will attend so on and so forth. By baptizing our infants, we are making that choice for them for their own good. Just as you give your children veggies rather than potato chips because it’s what’s good for them. When we baptize our infants, original sin has been removed. They, at that young age are not capable of making a personal choice to sin yet so they are “saved”. ONCE they reach the age where they DO sin at their own free will, they are bound to Church law and they must repent their sins. As parents, we should do whatever is best for our children, that includes making decisions for them until they are of age of reason. Why should baptism be left out of it? We can make EVERY OTHER decision for our young child but baptism is the exception? We’re talking about salvation here! The salvation of our children if, God forbid, they die before the “age of reason”.

I know this for certain: I was baptized as an infant , Confirmed at age twelve,then Holy communion and in church for many years.
But it wasn’t until many years later that I became born again of the spirit. I learned about true repentance and turned my whole life over to God.
As soon as I did that I began to see a change in my life. The old me was going away and there was a new me emerging.
The new person looks nothing like the old person.
So Pauls words in Romans really strike home about putting to death the flesh.
Baptism by the spirit is like cutting your flesh, that is why it is compared to circumcision. I have never felt anything like this before.
My life is so radically changed, my old friends do not even want to be around me anymore. I talk different, think different, I am immersed in the Word, go to my church 4 times a week, head up an evangelism team, and a bunch of other stuff.
So did I get born again as an infant?

 

[thomasf]

What you had was a conversion. Not a salvation. You changed your life because you started listening to God, what He was telling you. And that caused a change in your life. That’s great. But it is not an act of salvation.

I was baptized and confirmed and grew up catholic. I walked away from it as well. Then I came back to the church and started to listen to what God was telling me. I had a conversion and began to understand and believe and it changed my life. But that did not ‘save’ me. I was not ‘born again’ as the scriptures tell. That happened when I was baptized as a baby. I was converted. That does not spell my salvation. Only God will know if I am saved and only God can judge me and reveal that upon my death.

 

[Gamera]

I was baptized as a baby. As a teenager I utterly rejected my faith. At 19 I rediscovered it and I put God first in my life. Now at 42, I have built my life on Jesus Christ. But returning to my faith was not when I was born again. Baptism was when I was born again.

 

[misslollipops]

What you had was a conversion. Not a salvation. You changed your life because you started listening to God, what He was telling you. And that caused a change in your life. That’s great. But it is not an act of salvation.

I was baptized and confirmed and grew up catholic. I walked away from it as well. Then I came back to the church and started to listen to what God was telling me. I had a conversion and began to understand and believe and it changed my life. But that did not ‘save’ me. I was not ‘born again’ as the scriptures tell. That happened when I was baptized as a baby. I was converted. That does not spell my salvation. Only God will know if I am saved and only God can judge me and reveal that upon my death.

I had a conversion from what to what?

 

[Gamera]

I had a conversion from what to what?

Conversion doesn’t always mean changing from one religion to another. Here is what the CCC teaches regarding conversion of the baptized.

III. THE CONVERSION OF THE BAPTIZED

1427 Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."16 In the Church’s preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the principal place for the first and fundamental conversion. It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism17 that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life.

1428 Christ’s call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal."18 This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a “contrite heart,” drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.19

1429 St. Peter’s conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this. Jesus’ look of infinite mercy drew tears of repentance from Peter and, after the Lord’s resurrection, a threefold affirmation of love for him.20 The second conversion also has a communitarian dimension, as is clear in the Lord’s call to a whole Church: "Repent!"21

St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church, "there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."22

IV. INTERIOR PENANCE

1430 Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.23

1431 Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart).24

1432 The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart.25 Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him: "Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored!"26 God gives us the strength to begin anew. It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him. The human heart is converted by looking upon him whom our sins have pierced:27

Let us fix our eyes on Christ’s blood and understand how precious it is to his Father, for, poured out for our salvation it has brought to the whole world the grace of repentance.

1433 Since Easter, the Holy Spirit has proved "the world wrong about sin,"29 i.e., proved that the world has not believed in him whom the Father has sent. But this same Spirit who brings sin to light is also the Consoler who gives the human heart grace for repentance and conversion.30

 

[maurin]

I am not saying that . To be saved or born again a person needs to repent. That is what I have been saying from the beginning.
True repentance is the beginning of salvation.
All should come to repentance 2pet3:9

And you’re still wrong. Why do you continue to ignore this?

And at least you are consistent in your error:

Let’s look at Acts 2:38 and 39:

Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.

The Greek is: ‘metanoesate kai bapistheto hekastos hymon’, literally, ‘if you repent then each one who is a part of you and yours must each be baptized.’

‘then each one who is a part of you and yours’ clearly teaches that even children and babies are baptized based on their parents’ faith, and not on their own. This dovetails very nicely with the Healing of the Centurion’s Servant.

ACTS2:38

thanks for proving the Catholic point!

 

[rlg94086]

I know this for certain: I was baptized as an infant , Confirmed at age twelve,then Holy communion and in church for many years.
But it wasn’t until many years later that I became born again of the spirit. I learned about true repentance and turned my whole life over to God.
As soon as I did that I began to see a change in my life. The old me was going away and there was a new me emerging.
The new person looks nothing like the old person.
So Pauls words in Romans really strike home about putting to death the flesh.
Baptism by the spirit is like cutting your flesh, that is why it is compared to circumcision. I have never felt anything like this before.
My life is so radically changed, my old friends do not even want to be around me anymore. I talk different, think different, I am immersed in the Word, go to my church 4 times a week, head up an evangelism team, and a bunch of other stuff.
So did I get born again as an infant?

We call this the “second conversion”:

III. THE CONVERSION OF THE BAPTIZED
[1427](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1427.htm’) Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."16 In the Church’s preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the principal place for the first and fundamental conversion. It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism17 that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life.
[1428](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1428.htm’) Christ’s call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. ***This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal."18 This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a “contrite heart,” drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.19 ***
1429 St. Peter’s conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this. Jesus’ look of infinite mercy drew tears of repentance from Peter and, after the Lord’s resurrection, a threefold affirmation of love for him.20 The second conversion also has a *communitarian *dimension, as is clear in the Lord’s call to a whole Church: "Repent!"21
St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church, "there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."22

As 1429 states, this is the conversion St. Peter had after denying Jesus three times. He was already saved through Baptism.

 

[andy120]

Are you born again?
If so how do you know?

Yes.

I was baptized into the Church several years ago.

Baptism was a life changing conversion experience for me! All sin was washed from my soul and I was truly “born again”! I was no longer the sinful being I was before. I was a new creation in Christ. My family was present at the moment as well to welcome me into the Christian life. It was amazing!!!

Now to be honest, I don’t quite remember the actual moment since I was a baby at the time. But I don’t see how my feeble memory could change the saving power of God.

 

[Miserissima]

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call…

YES! Your text in red answered my question: What if you’re brought up in the faith, and never have a moment of epiphany like Saul/Paul did? What if you’re brought up to accept and believe, and never have a conversion experience? The church can’t be made up solely of those Tiber Swimmers.

So both converts and people who are born into the faith practice continual repentance for the sins that come from concupiscence, after their baptism. Repentance ongoing, not just a one-time thing.

We aready covered this in previous posts. If you go back you can find the answer. Thanks

As you yourself requested that we do: quote the post or give the post number. Thank you.

Baptism by the spirit is like cutting your flesh, that is why it is compared to circumcision. I have never felt anything like this before.

Could you cite that please? I understood that baptism in the Spirit was like cicrumcising one’s heart (spiritually), not one’s flesh.

Deuteronomy 10:16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer…

Romans 2:28 - 29 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.