Since I've been born again, I began realizing how many people who go to church are not saved and think they are. The teachings of certain churches have done much to perpetuate this deception. The notion that we are saved when we're baptized is not only erroneous but purposely deceptive.

I was baptized as an infant but hadn't a clue that Jesus was real until the Holy Spirit entered me in my late 30's. Since then, I've found out that most of the people I've talked to who have been baptized as infants don't KNOW Jesus Christ. They don't even know what born again means. They are taught that they receive the Holy Spirit at baptism. But how can they reject His words and then be saved again? I was baptized and rejected His words. That's because I didn't have the Holy Spirit in me to interpret His words. If I had received the Holy Spirit at baptism then how can i reject it and then be saved later if it's an unforgivable sin? How did i all of a sudden know he was real? Just a guess? The bible is very clear about baptism with water and baptism with the Holy Spirit being 2 entirely different entities. What's sad is that many people are being denied the opportunity to seek out salvation because they think they are already saved.

It's a harsh but simply reality that we can't be forgiven unless there is something to forgive, hence we can't have grace without sin. If it were a perfect world and there was no pain, not only would we feel entitled to happiness, but we wouldn't seek God or care about anything but our own satisfaction. That would breed arrogance and no desire to seek eternal life. We cannot receive love from God unless we ask for it. But who would ask for it in a perfect world? God allows pain in our lives in order to seek something far better than a perfect life on earth because when that's gone, we will have nothing. Pain is as necessary as grace.

God is trying to show humanity that life in this world is not as important as eternal life. When Jesus asked God why He had abandoned Him, he said it was because His flesh was weak. Even in His death he knew that His sacrifice was far more important than His own fleshly life. He said that you have to lose your life in order to save it. We humans who are attached to life in this world find death a tragedy. But the ones who are filled with the spirit know that our death can bring about something even more glorious.

When approached by the rich man Jesus said "Why do you call me good?"..."No one is good but God alone." It is only by Jesus's forgiveness that we are saved. We all sin everyday. We all engage in some form of envy, pride, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath, and sloth. But now that we are forgiven, we no longer CONDONE our sins. We ask for forgiveness and continually ask God to bring us closer to the fruits of the spirit. None of us is righteous. But paradoxically, by admitting our sins He can take them away from us little by little. Then all that is left is love. How can we receieve His love, mercy, or forgiveness if we don't admit we need it? I personally would rather have His love in me than to try to be righteous.

Read in the Gospel of John. Jesus specifically says that we don't choose Him, He chooses us. He also explains why. But He also says that no on can come to the Father unless the Father draws him. If God is drawing you then He will make sure that you are saved. It has nothing to do with choice. The apostle Paul didn't wake up one day and decide to become a Christain. He was zapped because God knew his heart. He then believed because the Holy Spirit ruled him.

I am a born again Christian. Christ said that unless you are born of water and the spirit you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Sorry, I'm paraphrasing). I'm starting to realize how few people in the world are true Christians. But Jesus also said that very few people will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Most of the churches are ensuring this by stating that we are saved when we are baptized. Yet most of the people I know who have been baptized as infants don't KNOW Christ personally. In John, 17:3, Christ says: "Eternal life is this: that you will know the one true God and His son, Jesus Chrst." That's all He says. Heaven is having the Holy Spirit in us forever. It will never go away. It's the only thing that no one can take away from us and that's why it is eternal life. No other religion offers the Holy Spirit.