Knowing how to be a Chrisitan is very different than being born-again in heart, mind, and soul.

Acts 26:27-29

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
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“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:27-29

Paul asked king Agrippa, the expert in Jewish affairs, if he believed the prophets of the Old testaments, and Paul asserted that he knew Agrippa did. Of course Agrippa would believe the prophets, according to the laws of Judaism, how else could he have the “inside track” on the Jewish culture. What Agrippa didn’t believe was that the prophets pointed to Jesus as being the Christ and Savior and through Him comes the forgiveness of sin. He believed as the Jewish customs directed him to believe.

In today’s culture, many might believe in the Bible without believing in Jesus as the Son of God, who was raised from the dead, forgives unbelief, and brings eternal life in a new heaven and earth. They certainly do not believe that today’s events are the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible [such as those described in the post on Micha 3:1-3].

Politicians routinely invoke the word “God” but never once mention Jesus Christ, the need for the forgiveness of sin, and eternal life in the New Jerusalem. In other words, they only believe in humanitarian principles, things explained through human reasoning, and limited to the elements of this earth. People like this are missing life in the Holy Spirit, Holiness, the work of sanctification. Their beliefs are rooted in humanism, which is the fig leaf worn by those who serve the entity that gives them what to think, say, do, and feel. Humanism is, “…an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems…”

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

King Agrippa, the expert on Jewish affairs, customs, and their laws of Judaism, replied to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Unfortunately, almost becoming a Christian and actually being a follower of Jesus Christ is a difference as far as the east is from the west. It’s a difference as far as the Spirit of Holiness is from evil spirits. It’s one thing to have an understanding and knowledge of the scriptures and how Christians believe, but quite another to have a born-again experience within the heart, mind, and soul. After all, our born-again experience is the testimony of Jesus written on our heart. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:5-7

Paul said to Agrippa, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:27-29 Paul was a born-again Pharisee and a born-again naturally born Roman citizen. One encounter with Jesus Christ, which caused Paul to see the great Light, changed his heart, mind and soul to erase his previous behavior as a Pharisee and Roman citizen. Paul went from a life in service to God without Jesus and the Holy Spirit to a life pursuing Holiness by the sanctification of mind, spirit, and emotions. He went from being one of the Jewish rulers to becoming a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wished that all of the Jewish representatives and Roman governors could have the same born-again experience that he had. Except for the chains that bound him in that courtroom. Today, true believers would not want the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be bound in chains, prohibited from circulating through the community. It’s one thing to invoke the word “God” and quite another to give freedom to the word of God, and Jesus is the word made flesh. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1